China News - 27 July 2021
International
Hong Kong: First person charged under national security law found guilty. The first person to be charged under Hong Kong's controversial national security law has been found guilty in a landmark ruling on Tuesday. Tong Ying-kit was found guilty of inciting secession and terrorism after riding a motorbike into police officers and flying a flag calling for Hong Kong's "liberation". More than 100 people have been arrested since the law came into force in 2019. BBC, 27 July
British state could buy stake in Sizewell nuclear plant to keep CGN out. The Times understands that two approaches are being considered to remove CGN involvement from Britain’s nuclear programme. The first would involve the government buying a stake in Sizewell C, and the second is finding alternative investors. The Times, 26 July
The Times view on China’s role in nuclear plants: Power Play. Extricating CGN from Britain’s future nuclear programme may not be easy. The Times, 27 July
China, US draw lines in the sand at top-level meeting but agree to keep talking. Talks with Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman ended with little sign that the two combative powers were closer to narrowing their disagreements. The statements that emerged from the meeting – albeit coupled with suggestions from officials that closed-door sessions were marginally more cordial – mirrored the tone set in Alaska in March. Reuters, NYT, SCMP, 26 July
China’s new envoy Qin Gang goes to Washington after Sherman talks. Qin, a career diplomat who has overseen European affairs, information and state protocol matters, takes over from Cui Tiankai. SCMP, 27 July
Foreign journalists harassed in China over floods coverage. Reporters from the Los Angeles Times and German outlet Deutsche Welle were confronted by an angry crowd in Zhengzhou on Saturday, while BBC reporters have received death threats and harassment linked to the Communist Youth League. The Guardian, 26 July
China focus
A second new nuclear missile base for China, and many questions about strategy. The discovery of a second field of 110 silos may signify an expansion of China’s nuclear arsenal, or may be a creative negotiating ploy. NYT, 26 July
Nanjing tests 9 million residents, again, after 88 COVID-19 cases. China reported 76 new coronavirus cases on Monday, the highest daily rise since January. Sixth Tone, 26 July
China avoids coal projects in Belt and Road for first time in the first half of the year. Bloomberg, 27 July
UK still lives in colonial days by sending navy to South China Sea. Global Times, 26 July
Economy & tech
China, Hong Kong shares tumble on regulatory clampdowns. China and Hong Kong shares fell sharply to their lowest this year on Monday, as investor worries over government regulations battered stocks in the education, property and tech sectors. Reuters, 26 July
China’s tech giants go on hiring spree for fresh graduates despite Beijing’s crackdown on the sector. Four of China’s biggest technology titans have each kicked off massive recruitment drives on thousands of college campuses across China, despite Beijing authorities’ historic crackdown. SCMP, 26 July
‘Made in China, sold on Amazon’ merchants scramble to minimise losses after US platform closes over 50,000 Chinese shops. SCMP, 26 July
Longer reads & opinion
Podcast: Black cat or white cat? Reconciling the two Deng Xiaopings. The Spectator’s Chinese Whispers, 27 July
Event - Carrier Strike Group 2021: Possible Chinese Reactions. The event will focus on how the Chinese Communist Party will react to the arrival of the UK's Carrier Strike Group in the Indo-Pacific. Council on Geostrategy paper, 28 July event, 27 July
As China boomed, it didn’t take climate change into account. Now it must. The vast expansion of roads, subways and railways in cities that swelled almost overnight meant there were fewer places where rain could safely be absorbed. NYT, 26 July
‘What can we do?’ Chinese discuss role of climate crisis in deadly floods. The Guardian, 26 July
George Osborne’s Sino-British ‘golden era’ has turned radioactive. The Telegraph City Intelligence, 27 July
The China discount widens again. Robert Armstrong on the effect of the Chinese government’s latest crackdown on Chinese equities. FT, 27 July