Event reminder: The CRG is hosting a virtual panel on higher education with Steve Tsang (SOAS), Cindy Yu (The Spectator) and Will Tanner (Onward), chaired by Tom Tugendhat MP - with discussion on issues including academic freedom, financial reliance and partnerships. 27 October, 10 - 11am. Sign up here.
The UK government has confirmed Hong Kong BNO visas - official estimates suggest around 300,000 may emigrate in the next five years. The Home Office’s economic impact assessment calculates a “normal” scenario of 123,000 to 153,000 people with BNO status and their dependants arriving in the UK in the first year and between 258,000 and 322,400 over five years. There will be no quota and applications will be open to all Hong Kongers with BNO status, regardless of whether they are BNO passport holders. A five-year visa will cost £250 per person, with a clear route to citizenship. The Guardian, UK Gov announcement, 22 October
China’s foreign ministry has doubled down on its threat to stop recognising BN(O) passports, in response to the UK government’s announcement. SCMP, 23 October
On Korean War anniversary, Xi makes nationalistic speech asserting that China's interests won't be undermined. Seventy years after Chinese troops entered the Korean War to fight against U.S. troops, President Xi Jinping said on Friday that China will never allow its sovereignty, security and development interests to be undermined. Xi repeated his call to expedite the modernisation of the country’s defence and armed forces. “Without a strong army, there can be no strong motherland,” he said. In a thinly veiled jab at the US, he also said that “any country and any army, no matter how powerful they used to be” would see their actions “battered” if they stood against the international community. CNN, SCMP, Reuters, 23 October
Analysis: China Daily has published an English summary of key parts of the speech. China's version of the Korean War is now one of resisting (American) imperialist invasion, which you can read on the PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. The changing historical narrative under Xi was the subject of FT analysis in “Beijing deploys role in Korean war in fight against the US”, Oct 20.
Nato Secretary General welcomes Britain's rejection of Huawei as alliance reaches out to Australia. In an interview with The Telegraph, Jens Stoltenberg “welcomed the fact that allies are now imposing more strict policies on 5G. We have to have secure and reliable systems.” He added that Nato does not regard China as an enemy but must respond to the security consequences of the nation’s rise - and one way of responding to an increasingly muscular China is to work closer with partners in the Asia-Pacific region. Mr Stoltenberg was Prime Minister of Norway when China imposed heavy economic sanctions on the country after jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Telegraph, 21 October
Biden and Trump clash over business dealings in China in US presidential election debate. Trump alleged Biden profited from his son’s business dealings in China while Biden attacked Trump over his business ties to China. BBC, 23 October
China warns Canada to halt ‘blatant interference’ as feud continues after Canadian parliamentary committee concluded China’s actions against ethnic Uyghurs in Xinjiang constituted a genocide. The Guardian, 23 October
More than 60 MPs sign letter urging Dominic Raab to demand China return detained Hong Kong protesters. The Guardian, 23 October
Annual UK-Taiwan trade talks take place. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), the UK is Taiwan’s third-largest trade partner in Europe.
Yang Hengjun: Australian writer detained in China on charges of espionage spent a decade working in Hong Kong and US as a Chinese spy, a close friend claims. The Guardian, 22 October
China watch
Xi chairs Politburo Standing Committee meeting ahead of 13th Five Year Plan - the first full five-year plan overseen by Xi (Xinhua).
China is encouraging domestic institutional investors to invest more into foreign capital markets as the yuan appreciates strongly against the dollar (Caixin)
Global Times editorial: UK’s post-Brexit trade network shouldn’t leave China out "...It is clear that the UK needs to seek and integrate with large developing economic partners and emerging markets, and during the process, China is the one that it must deepen ties with.” (GT).
Economy & tech
China's new law restricts transfer of personal data abroad. China began soliciting public comment on Wednesday for draft legislation to place tight limits on the transfer of personal data outside the country. If passed, the Personal Information Protection Law will become China's first unified piece of national legislation on the safeguarding of personal data. The bill explicitly enables Beijing to take retaliatory steps against countries or regions that impose discriminatory measures against China in this area. Nikkei, 23 October
Biden ‘might de-escalate’ China tech war, according to senior Democratic Party leader Barney Frank. He suggested that a Biden Administration would look to ease some of Trump’s tech war restrictions in return for Chinese concessions. Asia Times, 23 October
Huawei’s revenue growth slows significantly as US tightens sanctions, restricting Huawei’s component supply. FT, 23 October
Longer reads & opinion
Xi’s world: Covid has accelerated China’s rise. Rana Mitter in The Spectator, 22 October.
Dreams of a Red Emperor: The relentless rise of Xi Jinping. LA Times, 22 October.
UK Conservatives ponder global trade reboot. Politico, 23 October
In Xi Jinping’s China, Nationalism Takes a Dark Turn. WSJ, 23 October.
Analysis: Silence in Beijing as Suga builds anti-China coalition. Nikkei Asia, 22 October
Inkstone Explains: How WeChat censors content for over a billion users. Inkstone, 22 October
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