China News - 25 September 2020
International
China is erasing mosques and precious shrines in Xinjiang, report finds. Around 8,500 mosques across Xinjiang have been completely demolished since 2017 — more than a third of the number of mosques the government says are in the region. It leaves fewer mosques in the region than at any time since the Cultural Revolution. The Chinese government continues to deny that there is any “detention camp” in Xinjiang. New York Times, The Guardian, China Foreign Ministry Press Conference, 25 September
Lib Dems to call for sanctions against China over Uyghur abuses. Layla Moran will call for sanctions over human rights violations in Xinjiang in her speech at today’s party conference, and urge the British public to consider boycotting Chinese firms such as TikTok and Huawei. The Guardian, 25 September
Merkel resists full targeted ban on Huawei in new draft 5G regulations, making Germany an outlier. Bloomberg, 25 September
Hong Kong expats are buying up luxury homes in London; now the largest overseas group investing in London. WSJ, 24 September
Wuhan journalist missing since February believed to be 'under state supervision'. BBC, The Guardian, 24 September
Arrest of Joshua Wong: German chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee calls for European strategy on Hong Kong.
Chinese commerce lobby group says EU plan to strengthen rules on state-backed foreign buyers “potentially incompatible with the EU’s WTO obligations”. Reuters, 25 September
Full transcript of Pompeo speech on State Department review of Chinese influence on US politics, and the need for US officials to show “vigilance” with Chinese diplomats. US State Gov, 24 September
U.S., Chinese diplomats signal tricky road ahead for climate diplomacy as tensions at UN. Reuters, 24 September
Economy & tech
China unveils ‘strategic emerging industries’ plan in fresh push to get away from US technologies. China has identified eight key industrial areas for state investment: biotech and vaccine development; high-end manufacturing such as industrial robotics; new materials for big aeroplanes and chip making; new energy technologies; green technologies and equipment; smart and new energy vehicles; and creative digital businesses. These will form a cornerstone in China’s aim for strategic self-reliance in key tech industries. SCMP, 24 September
Judge says US must defend or delay TikTok app store ban by Friday. Reuters, 24 September
European producers welcome EU provisional anti-dumping duties on China aluminium. Reuters, 24 September
Caught in China-US trade war, Taiwan offers support to chipmakers. Reuters, 24 September
China's No.2 property developer Evergrande pleads for government support to avoid cash crunch. Reuters, 24 September
China’s new richest person is a bottled water tycoon. BBC, 24 September
Longer reads & opinion
Long Read: London bridges gap between UK and China as a global hub for Chinese finance. The Banker, 24 September
Western influencers boost their careers by embracing Chinese nationalism, feeding pro-Beijing narratives to China’s social media users. Coda, 24 September
Calling for “reciprocity” is not making China or the West happier. The Economist, 24 September
The US needs an endgame before it plunges into the next Cold War - China makes for a tougher, longer-lasting opponent than the Soviet Union. Foreign Policy, 24 September
Threats of arrest, job loss and surveillance. China targets its ‘model minority’ in Inner Mongolia. Los Angeles Times, 23 September
Podcast: How does Australia balance its economic dependency on China with its democratic values? The Guardian, 24 September
China’s draft data security law: a practical review. The Diplomat, 24 September