China News 22 July 2020
As Parliament rises for Summer Recess the CRG newsletters will be sent out with weekly intervals. We will resume daily newsletters upon Parliament’s return in September.
International
Chinese firm accused of spying on Uighurs ramps up UK business. The Telegraph, 22 July
Xi starts another fight in China to control law enforcement. Nikkei Asian Review, 22 July
China says US has ordered it to close Houston consulate. A US spokesperson said the decision was made “in order to protect American intellectual property and American's private information.” FT, BBC News, 22 July
U.S. charges Chinese hackers for targeting COVID-19 research. Axios, BBC News, NY Times, The Telegraph, WSJ, 21 July & The Guardian, 22 July
Australia taps China ‘knowledge boom’ despite espionage fears. FT, 22 July
World is legally obliged to pressure China on Uighurs, leading lawyers say. The Guardian, 22 July
Senior US senator pushes for new tools to rein in China. FT, 22 July
Taiwan rejects Hong Kong officials visas as tensions over Beijing's security law escalate. The Telegraph, 22 July
Western clothing brands buy from group facing US Xinjiang sanctions. FT, 22 July
China seeks closer ties with Vietnam, neighbours as tensions rise with US. SCMP, 22 July
Mike Pompeo claims China 'bought' WHO chief. The Telegraph, 21 July
Economy & tech
Global banks scrutinize their Hong Kong clients for pro-democracy ties. Bankers at HSBC, Credit Suisse, Julius Baer Gruppe and UBS, among others, are examining whether their clients in Hong Kong have ties to the city’s pro-democracy movement, in an attempt to avoid getting caught in the crosshairs of China’s new national security law. Reuters, 20 July
How deep are Britain and China's economic ties? BBC News, 22 July
Washington blacklists key Apple supplier amid US-China decoupling. Nikkei Asian Review, 21 July
South Korea’s Naver relocates Hong Kong data centre to Singapore. FT, 21 July
Banned Chinese Companies Deny Allegations They Abused Uighurs. NY Times, 21 July
US dollar payment system debate continues, can America cut China off from Swift? SCMP, 22 July
Longer reads & opinion
Iain Duncan Smith: China is our greatest threat, not Putin’s Russia. The Telegraph, 21 July
Carolyn Fairbairn: The UK cannot afford to self-isolate from China. FT, 22 July
Roger Boyes: Britain doesn’t need a Cold War with China. The Times, 21 July
India’s Pivot to Australia. Foreign Policy, 21 July
China’s five-finger punch. ASPI, 22 July