China News - 28 April 2021
International
China set to report first population decline in five decades. The latest Chinese census, which was completed in December but has yet to be made public, is expected to report the total population of the country at less than 1.4bn, according to people familiar with the research. In 2019, China’s population was reported to have exceeded the 1.4bn mark. FT, 27 April
Beijing calls Hong Kong bar association chief an ‘anti-China politician’. Beijing and Hong Kong authorities have accused the British-born head of Hong Kong’s bar association of being an “anti-China politician” after he criticised jail sentences imposed on pro-democracy activists. The Guardian, 27 April
No need to intervene in Bar Association for now, says Carrie Lam. RTHK, 27 April
Dominic Raab’s claim of 95% aid cut to China doesn’t add up, watchdog says. A new report by the official watchdog, the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI), says that the claim is not backed by an explanation of the “levels of spending across government that will continue”. More than two-thirds of UK aid to China went to British research institutions or "diplomatic efforts". The Times, Sky News, 28 April
New campaign for Taiwan to participate in upcoming World Health Assembly. MPs from across the UK have lent their support. IPAC tweet, 27 April
G7 minister call today, hosted by Oliver Dowden. It is the first of a series of ministerial meetings planned in the run-up to the full leaders gathering in June. Politico, 28 April
Hungary to set up local campus for China’s Fudan University. Hungary’s government signed an agreement on Tuesday with Fudan University. SCMP, 28 April
Beijing takes foreign media to Xinjiang in bid to dispel suspicion. About 10 foreign media including Associated Press (AP) and TV Tokyo were invited. SCMP, 28 April
Africa should beware China’s growing role, top US diplomat Antony Blinken warns during ‘trip’ to Nigeria and Kenya. SCMP, 28 April
RTHK signs up Carrie Lam as new TV host. Lam will present her own show on Beijing's overhaul of Hong Kong's electoral system that will be aired four times a day, every day of the week. RTHK, 28 April
China watch
Xi Jinping tries to reassure China’s private firms of their place in nation’s economic development, says private sector can develop “boldly and with confidence”. SCMP, 27 April
Clean-up begins after oil spills into sea after tanker collision outside Chinese port of Qingdao. Reuters, 27 April
Economy & tech
Ant IPO-approval process under investigation by Beijing. A new central government investigation focuses on regulators who greenlighted Ant’s IPO. WSJ, 27 April
Lotus’ electric transition. It has pledged to build electric sports cars in Britain and hire an extra 250 staff, alongside plans to open its first plant outside Britain in China. The Telegraph, The Times, 28 April
Longer reads & opinion
China is wrong to think the US faces inevitable decline. Martin Wolf in FT, 28 April
The Times view on New Zealand, China and Australia: Trans-Tasman Tensions. The friends of both nations should make clear how damaging is the course the Ardern government is embarked upon. The Times, 28 April
Long read: Beijing is driving a wedge between Australia and New Zealand. The Times, 27 April