China News - 21 April 2021

International

Xi to join Biden’s climate summit despite tensions. Xi Jinping will attend a US-led climate summit this week, marking the first time the two leaders will participate at the same event since Joe Biden became US president. Biden has invited 40 world leaders to a two-day virtual gathering starting on Earth Day. FT, The Guardian, 21 April

Jacinda Ardern says New Zealand's new stance on Five Eyes isn't a backdown to China. Ardern said New Zealand believed that the Five Eyes group was not the best platform to deliver messages about democracy and human rights. “Those collective voices are important, but let's make sure we do it with the appropriate platform,” Ardern said. Stuff, 21 April

Two comment articles in today’s UK papers: Jacinda Ardern is now the West’s woke weak link, writes defence editor Con Coughlin in The Telegraph. Thunderer: New Zealand’s response to China abuse is spineless. The Times.

HSBC chief vows not to ‘flip-flop’ on China strategy. Noel Quinn refuses to redraw bank’s core business plan on basis of geopolitical tensions, saying HSBC will not “flip-flop” on strategy every time there is a flare-up in tensions between Beijing and the west. FT, 20 April

Liz Truss to hold ‘showdown’ talks with Australia over 'glacially slow' trade negotiations. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, The Telegraph’s report that Truss was ‘planning on seating Tehan in an “uncomfortable chair”’ was met with “disbelief” in Australian quarters. The Telegraph, Sydney Morning Herald, 20 April

First jab of Chinese Sinovac vaccine does little good, says Chile. A Chilean study of 10.5 million people showed that the vaccine was 16 per cent effective after one dose, rising to 67 per cent efficacy after the second dose. The Times, 21 April

Henry Jackson Society think tank claims its staff were targeted on LinkedIn in suspected recruitment bid by Chinese spies. The Times, 20 April

‘China is not a cow’: embassy chief accuses Australia of working with US to ‘illegally’ hamper Huawei. The Guardian, 20 April

China watch

Biased tone, misinformation ‘major mistakes’ by BBC Newsnight on HK riot: Chinese scholar. People’s Daily, 20 April

Shutdown of Jimmy Lai's Apple Daily in HK possible amid sale of paper's Taiwan edition: observer. Global Times, 20 April

China vows ‘bigger contribution’ in helping poor countries, with an emphasis on profitable infrastructure projects. SCMP, 21 April

Xi, Putin congratulate 9th meeting of China-Russia dialogue mechanism between ruling parties. Xinhua. Xi says China to work with Saudi Arabia to build fair climate governance regime. Xinhua, 20 April

Economy & tech

China tech groups hire ex-regulators to fend off Beijing’s crackdown. While it is not uncommon for officials in the US and Europe to move between the government and private sector, it was largely unheard of in China until recently. FT, 21 April

Tesla apologises after Chinese state media attacks. Tesla has apologised after being attacked by Chinese state media for its treatment of customers, days after a protest at the Shanghai Autoshow against the company. FT, The Times, 21 April

ByteDance seeks to launch payments platform to take on Ant Group. Tech in Asia, 21 April

Plan for ‘Europe’s first’ large-scale lithium refinery in the UK backed by £631k grant. Energy Live News, 21 April

Longer reads & opinion

Life after Merkel: Germany’s ties with China head into the unknown. “I think [Laschet] at the moment promises continuity in terms of policy towards China, but he would be coming into a very different environment, probably have a coalition partner in the Greens that are much more hawkish on China and have a very human rights-focused foreign policy approach,” said Noah Barkin. SCMP, 20 April

UK can't expect to have it both ways. China Daily, 21 April