China News - 20 January 2021
President Biden’s inauguration: Join us tomorrow at 6:30pm GMT for insight into the the next four years of US-China relations under Biden with Gideon Rachman, Evan Medeiros, Jude Blanchette and Tom Tugendhat. Register here.
International
UK MPs reject ‘genocide amendment’. There was a significant Commons rebellion yesterday when MPs narrowly voted by 319 to 308 to reject the Lords ‘genocide’ amendment to the Trade Bill. 33 Tory MPs backed the amendment, including Tobias Ellwood and the CRG's Tom Tugendhat and Damian Green. Former Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt abstained. MPs voted yesterday on Lord Alton’s Amendment - which would have given UK courts the power to determine genocide and forced the government to revoke the corresponding international bilateral trade agreement. The bill will now return to the Lords, where IPAC legislators are set to table a new ‘compromise’ amendment that explicitly preserves parliamentary sovereignty over trade agreements while enabling UK courts to rule on genocide. Politico, The Times, FT, 20 January
US declares China’s repression of Uyghurs is ‘genocide’. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo released a statement yesterday where he said “we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uyghurs by the Chinese party-state.” In an indication of the Biden team’s approach to China, incoming Secretary of State Antony Blinken also endorsed the Trump administration’s accusation of genocide. NYT, BBC, State Dept statement, 19 January
David Perry QC quits prosecution of Hong Kong activists. In a statement on Wednesday the Hong Kong government said there had been “growing pressure and criticism from the UK community directed at Mr Perry QC for his involvement in this case”. The Guardian, The Telegraph, 20 January
British Embassy releases response to misleading claims over Hong Kong BNOs. UK Gov, 20 January
Jack Ma reappears. After a three-month absence, the billionaire behind e-commerce giant Alibaba emerged Wednesday in an online speech congratulating rural teachers who were receiving an award from his philanthropic campaign.The Times, WaPo, 20 January
Biden picks: U.S. Treasury nominee Yellen says China guilty of 'horrendous' rights abuses. Director for National Intelligence nominee, Avril Haines, is expected to tell Congress that she will continue tough US scrutiny of China. And Biden’s former deputy national security adviser Ely Ratner is expected to be the incoming Pentagon’s chief principal adviser on China matters. Reuters, Politico, 20 January
Blackstone's Schwarzman: New U.S. admin going to take a 'softer tone' towards China. Reuters, 20 January
China has recruited ‘hundreds’ of academics in Australia through its talent recruitment programmes, says ASPI analyst Alex Joske. The Australian, 20 January
China's COVID-19 vaccine makers apply to join COVAX scheme, in the country’s first formal move to provide locally developed shots to the initiative. Reuters, 20 January
China watch
China locks down two Northeast cities amid Covid-19 resurgence. China is taking action to contain a new coronavirus outbreak, with 130 new infections in Jilin province. Caixin, 19 January
World Insights: China's vaccine cooperation gains momentum worldwide. Xinhua, 19 January
Economy & tech
HSBC chairman gives hint of looming strategy revamp on 23 Feb. HSBC is likely to accelerate its Asian expansion, from where it already derives 90% of revenue. Bloomberg, 20 January
TikTok was told the 'strictly confidential' identity of the UK's next ambassador to China, before the appointment was confirmed. Business Insider, 20 January
Hong Kong stocks at 20-month high as record China cash floods in. Bloomberg, 19 January
Longer reads & opinion
UK’s pitch to Biden: We’ll work with you on China. London hopes to distinguish itself from Brussels, whose new investment deal with Beijing has gone down badly with the Biden team. Politico, 21 January
Long read: Hong Kong pro-democracy activists are escaping to the UK – but still feel nervous about being watched. The I, 19 January
Vaccine diplomacy: As WHO fumes at Western drugmakers, China fills void on vaccines. Bloomberg. Analysis: China is hitting back at criticism of its vaccines with a dangerous disinformation campaign. CNN, 20 January
The Times view on using legislation as a proxy for diplomacy: Fair Trade. The Times, 20 January
The 2021 Red Paper: A guide to the critical issues in China news for 2021. Sup China, 20 January