China News - 20 December 2022
This will be the last newsletter before the Christmas break. A reminder that applications for our Research Lead position are open until 8 January. The CRG wishes all subscribers a happy holiday season. 圣诞快乐!
International
Sunak faces grilling from senior MPs at Liaison Committee. The Prime Minister will be questioned by a panel made up of the chairs of Commons select committees, on issues including foreign policy and the state of the economy. CRG chair Alicia Kearns is expected to raise the government’s inconsistent approach toward China as well as the failure to expel Chinese officials involved in aggression against pro-democracy protesters at the consulate in Manchester. London Playbook, iNews, 20 December
China races to bolster health system as COVID surge sparks global concern. Cities across China scrambled to install hospital beds and build fever screening clinics on Tuesday as authorities reported five more deaths and international concern grew about Beijing's surprise decision to let the virus run free. There is growing concern about possible deaths, virus mutations and the impact on the economy and trade, while China’s state media have promised a return to “normalcy” within a few months. Reuters, 20 December
COP15: Nations reach 'historic' deal to protect nature. Nations have agreed to protect a third of the planet for nature by 2030 in a landmark deal aimed at safeguarding biodiversity. China, which was in charge of the meeting, brought down the gavel on the deal despite a last minute objection from the Democratic Republic of Congo. BBC, 19 December
Russia and China are sharing strategies to undermine Nato, says top US diplomat. Washington is pushing members of the transatlantic alliance to toughen their stance towards China, putting forward proposals at Nato’s Bucharest meeting aimed at better protecting critical infrastructure, supply chains of key materials and cyber assets from undue Chinese influence or control. FT, 20 December
India moves to build military road along border with China. India will build a road along more than 1,000 miles of its border with China to strengthen military resupply routes, after renewed hand-to-hand clashes with Beijing’s soldiers. The Telegraph, 19 December
Australia seeks direct resolution of trade dispute with China before WTO ruling. The international trade umpire is set to rule within months on Australia’s complaints against China’s trade sanctions, setting up a deadline for the diplomatic thaw to produce a breakthrough. The Guardian, 19 December
UK Government publishes ‘Resilience Framework’. The framework sets out how the UK will strengthen the systems and capabilities that support collective resilience. It includes a National Security Council sub-committee focused on resilience and an annual parliamentary statement on ‘risk and readiness’. Gov.uk, 19 December
Latest statistics on trade and investment between the UK and China published. Gov.uk, 19 December
New House panel on China to scrutinise US investments in country. Caixin, 20 December
Economy & tech
World Bank cuts China growth outlook on COVID, property woes. The Washington-based lender, in a report released on Tuesday, said it expected China's economy to grow 2.7% in 2022, before recovering to 4.3% in 2023 as it reopens following the worst of the pandemic. The bank's expected expansion for 2022 would be well below the official target of around 5.5%. Reuters, 20 December
Made in China 2025 is back, with a new name and a focus on database companies. The Chinese government released its Strategic Plan for Expanding Domestic Demand 2022–2035, setting out a blueprint for domesticating the country’s IT infrastructure and taking back control of its data from foreign companies. The China Project, 19 December
Apple to start making MacBooks in Vietnam by mid-2023. The iPhone maker aims to have 'out of China' production alternatives for key products. Nikkei Asia, 20 December
India overtakes China in M&A fees for western banks for first time. FT, 20 December
Long reads & opinion
Sovereignty, security and the UK emerging tech outlook. Zachary Spiro. Flint Global, 19 December
Mixed report card: China’s influence at the United Nations. Courtney J Fung and Shing-hon Lam. Lowy Institute, 18 December
Interpreting China’s 2022 Central Economic Work Conference. As one of the few top-level meetings held since China’s COVID U-turn, the CEWC’s messaging is especially important this year. Chutian Zhou. The Diplomat, 19 December
Europe must avoid wishful thinking on China in 2023. Matthew Brooker. The Washington Post, 20 December