China News - 27 October 2020
Watch back: If you missed this morning’s CRG panel discussion on higher education, the recording will be uploaded shortly on the China Research Group’s YouTube channel.
International
German politicians call for US, Europe to form united front on China. Two high-ranking German officials have called on the United States to work together with Europe in response to China, ahead of the US election next week. The push for a united front on China from the German defence and foreign ministers comes after the launch of a new US-Europe forum to discuss China-related issues, with the first talks to be held next month. It was announced following a phone call between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his EU counterpart Josep Borrell on Friday. SCMP, 27 October
CRG save the date: China: The View from Europe panel on Tuesday 17 November, 10 - 11am with Johann Wadephul, Pavel Fischer, Janka Oertel and chaired by Tom Tugendhat MP.
China tightens rules on US media outlets in 'reciprocal' move. The world’s two largest economies, sparring over issues from trade and technology to human rights, have restricted visas for each other’s reporters, while China has expelled journalists. After the US declared several more Chinese media outlets to be “foreign missions”, Beijing on Monday demanded that six US media groups report to the government about their staffing, finances and real estate. The Guardian, 26 October
Hong Kong leader to visit Beijing to discuss plans to revive economy. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam will travel to Beijing next week for a three-day visit to discuss plans to revive the global financial hub’s economy, which has been battered by the COVID-19 pandemic and anti-government protests. Reuters, 26 October
Ireland suspends extradition treaty with Hong Kong, joining UK, US, Australia and conclusions of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. Independent Ireland, 23 October
Academic freedom: Two Mainland Chinese professors from Tsinghua University named for top roles at University of Hong Kong. One of them, Max Shen Zuojun, was listed as a Chinese Communist Party member on Tsinghua’s website until Thursday, with the title later removed, sparking calls for clarification from an opposition lawmaker and HKU’s student union. SCMP, 23 October
Pompeo in Asia: Pompeo says U.S., India must focus on threat posed by China. The United States and India must work together to confront the threat posed by China to security and freedom, U.S. Secretary Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday as he prepared for talks with Indian leaders. This month, India invited Australia to join naval drills it holds each year with the United States and Japan, brushing off Chinese concerns that the exercises destabilise the region. Reuters, 27 October
China tells U.S. not to bully Sri Lanka ahead of Pompeo's visit. China has raised objections to what it called U.S. bullying of Sri Lanka after Washington said the Indian Ocean island must make “difficult but necessary choices” regarding its ties with China.
China watch
China launches crackdown on mobile web browsers, decries 'chaos' of information, tightening strict information censorship rules. Reuters, 27 October
China needs more carers so may scrap two-child limit. China’s Civil Ministry of Civil Affairs has laid out plans to train 10,000 care home directors and 100,000 social workers for the elderly in the next two years. The Times, 27 October
Economy & tech
Chinese financial officials have made fresh promises to open up the financial sector and attract investors in Shanghai, with HSBC, Goldman answering. The pledges were made during the Shanghai Bund Summit. SCMP, 26 October
Jack Ma's Ant set for world's biggest share offering at £26bn, after setting price for world’s biggest ever IPO. The Guardian, 26 October
All About Ant Group, the next big tech IPO. New York Times, 27 October
Longer reads & opinion
China’s Covid triumphalism could be premature. Gideon Rachman opines that the cult of personality around President Xi threatens to bring bad government in its wake. FT, 26 October
University’s stance on China scholar should worry us all. Charles Parton writes on the University of Canterbury’s legal review of Anne-Marie Brady’s work on Chinese influence and the importance of academic freedom in The Times, 27 October
What to Expect from China’s New Five-Year Plan. GDP targets have always featured in past Five-Year Plans, but Beijing may gain policy flexibility by eliminating a target. Rhodium Group, 26 October
China aims to end extreme poverty, but Covid-19 exposes gaps. New York Times, 27 October
Forecast 2025: China Adjusts Course. Macro Polo, 26 October