China News - 20 July 2022
International
China seeks to stop UN rights chief from releasing Xinjiang report - document. China is asking the United Nations human rights chief to bury a highly-anticipated report on human rights violations in Xinjiang, according to a Chinese letter seen by Reuters and confirmed by diplomats from three countries who received it. They said China began circulating it among diplomatic missions in Geneva from late June and asked countries to sign it to show their support for blocking outgoing UN High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet’s report. Reuters, 20 July
Chinese regulator to fine Didi more than $1 billion over data security breaches. Once the penalty is unveiled, the government plans to ease a restriction banning Didi from adding new users to its platform, and to allow the Beijing-based technology company’s mobile apps to be restored to domestic app stores, according to people familiar with the issue. The fine will also pave the way for Didi to kick-start a new share listing in Hong Kong. WSJ, 19 July
China’s new data export rules cast doubt over Hong Kong’s role as gateway to the mainland. SCMP, 20 July
China’s military threat is greater than Russia, British admiral says. China’s military strength must not be underestimated as it becomes one of the greatest winners from Russia’s war in Ukraine, the head of the navy has warned. Admiral Sir Ben Key, the First Sea Lord, said that: “We see Russia as the clear and present danger, but China will pose the greater long-term challenge.” The Times, 20 July
Senate ‘test vote’ shows support for bill providing $52 billion to US semiconductor industry to out-compete China. The US Senate appears likely to pass legislation that would deliver billions of dollars of federal funding to the American semiconductor industry. But other China priorities in the competition bill could falter as negotiations get entwined in policy debates and political divisions in Congress. SCMP, 20 July
EU and China hold trade talks after delays, though few advances are made. EU-China trade negotiations on Tuesday yielded few concrete results, save for the commitment to continue cooperating. SCMP, 20 July
Hangzhou Asian Games to begin in September next year. The announcement seems to indicate that China will abandon its zero-Covid policy by this time. Reuters, 19 July
Kissinger warns Biden against endless confrontation with China. Bloomberg, 19 July
China warns of 'forceful measures' if US House Speaker Pelosi visits Taiwan. The Independent, 19 July
Economy & tech
China’s Premier signals flexibility on economic growth target. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang signalled a focus on jobs, flexibility in the government’s target economic growth rate of 5.5% and a shift toward making its Covid control measures more targeted. Li added that “painstaking” efforts are needed to stabilise overall economic performance. Bloomberg, 20 July
China debuts $3 billion state iron ore giant. China’s central government formally launched a state-owned iron ore giant to consolidate China’s mining investments and coordinate global purchases of steelmaking materials. With registered capital of 20 billion yuan ($3 billion), China Mineral Resources Group was established Tuesday in the Xiongan New Area, an economic zone near Beijing. Caixin, 20 July
Manolo Blahnik wins decades-long trademark battle in China. The British shoe brand made famous by its celebrity fans says it has won a legal battle in China to use its own name, paving the way for the brand’s expansion across the country. The Guardian, 20 July
China courts foreign firms for cross-border listing drive. Bloomberg, 19 July
China focus
Covid: Officials sorry for break-ins amid hunt for contacts. Chinese officials have apologised to residents of a locked-down community in Guangzhou for removing the locks on the doors to their homes. Officials were searching for close contacts who may have been hiding in an attempt to avoid being moved to a quarantine centre. BBC, 19 July
China introduces electronic cuffs on suspected petty criminals. The news follows a privacy backlash in Beijing last week over the use of electronic monitoring bracelets for residents returning from domestic travel. The Times, 19 July
Long reads & opinion
The Party cements central control over China’s regional and local administrations. Legal reforms give the CCP another framework with which to discipline officials who deviate from its line. Valarie Tan. MERICS, 18 July
Corporate jitters over Taiwan and China on the rise. Companies have rushed to assess the likelihood of Chinese invasion since the war in Ukraine began. Kathrin Hille. FT, 19 July
‘Run philosophy’: the Chinese citizens seeking to leave amid Covid uncertainty. Vincent Ni. The Guardian, 20 July
Podcast: China’s Gold Rush Migrants. Andrew Liu and Thomas Jones. London Review of Books, 19 July