International
Joshua Wong arrested over illegal assembly by Hong Kong police. News broke this morning on Twitter that Joshua Wong, one of Hong Kong’s most high-profile pro-democracy campaigners, has been arrested as authorities crack down on protest leaders in the city. The arrest is one of scores in Hong Kong since Beijing imposed the national security law in June. SCMP, FT, 24 September
Fresh evidence of almost 400 interment camps in Xinjiang - despite Chinese authorities claiming that inmates had all “graduated”. New satellite imaging obtained by ASPI showed construction in at least 61 internment camps between July 2019 and July 2020 - despite Chinese authorities saying their “re-education” system was winding down. The Guardian, FT, 24 September
Pompeo warns US politicians to be alert to Chinese 'influence and espionage'. Reuters, 23 September
Bundestag committee sought to keep China petition secret for “international relations” - but petition recommending sanctions over Hong Kong security law set to be published this week. Business Insider (DE), 22 September
Australian academics Clive Hamilton and Alex Joske banned from entering China, dubbed as “anti-China scholars”. The Guardian, 24 September
Duterte’s UN speech stiffens Philippines’ stance on the South China Sea. The Diplomat, 23 September
PLA rallies troops with propaganda music video “if war breaks out, this would be my answer” as Taiwan tensions mount. SCMP, 23 September
Coronavirus: China eases visa restrictions for foreigners. SCMP, 23 September
China’s foreign minister responds to Trump’s UN speech: “US is attempting to shift the blame for its bad handling of the virus onto others”. FMPRC, 23 September
Economy & tech
Tesla, Volvo, Ford and Mercedes sue US over 'unlawful' tariffs on Chinese parts. The Guardian, 24 September
China’s banks are dodging bailouts with stealth mergers. Bloomberg, 22 September
TikTok: How a marked-up term sheet and messy rollout threw TikTok deal into disarray. Reuters, WSJ, The Guardian, 23 September
China used AI-generated faces for Facebook pro-Beijing propaganda network. The Telegraph, 23 September
China’s consumption growth stalls — dampened by cautious lower-income houses. CNBC, Reuters, 22 September
China's post-pandemic recovery has severe regional imbalances - survey. Reuters, 24 September
Longer reads & opinion
China’s pledge to be carbon neutral by 2060: what it means. NYT, 23 September
Opinion: China backslides on economic reform. Kevin Rudd and Daniel Rosen analyse the role of state-managed solutions in China’s economic recovery - backed by mounting costs from domestic debt. WSJ, 22 September
This Pacific Island province is so frustrated with China's presence that it's pushing for independence. CNN, 18 September
As decoupling grows, the West risks losing insight into China. Foreign Policy, 23 September
Serbia’s participation in China’s Digital Silk Road might be in trouble after breakthrough Serbia-Kosovo agreement appears to ban Huawei tech. The Diplomat, 23 September
As China ages, Premier Li Keqiang seeks to build elevators as a new form of economic relief. NYT, 23 September