China News - 28 January 2021
International
Britain could join 'Asian Nato' under proposal to expand its membership to counter China. It is understood there is appetite in the UK Government to join a new human rights coalition, as well as the “Quad”, although no decision is imminent on either. President Biden’s new policy chief Kurt Campbell this month sketched out a proposition of drafting additional countries into the informal alliance, which is also dubbed the “Quad”, in order to deter adventurism by Beijing. The Telegraph, 28 January
Coronavirus: WHO investigation team members leave hotel quarantine in China. A World Health Organization team in China to investigate the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic ended 14 days of hotel quarantine on Thursday, kicking off the field portion of their month-long mission. SCMP, BBC, 28 January
Hong Kong’s Lam praises HSBC after CEO ‘grilled,’ slams UK. Lam welcomed an HSBC expansion in Hong Kong. Lam also added that she didn’t see how that many people would want to move to the UK, noting that its National Health Service was under “tremendous pressure” while praising Hong Kong’s hospitals. Bloomberg, 28 January
New Zealand trade minister tries to ease tensions after saying Australia should 'show respect' to China. “I can’t speak for Australia and the way it runs its diplomatic relationships but clearly if they were to follow us and show respect, I guess a little more diplomacy from time to time, and be cautious with wording then they, too, hopefully could be in a similar situation,” Trade Minister O’Connor told CNBC on Wednesday. The Guardian, 28 January
EU-China investment treaty: top European negotiator Maria Martin-Prat defends forced-labour provisions amid criticism. The chief negotiator of the European Union’s new investment deal with China has defended the forced-labour provisions, saying that Beijing’s obligations to ratify key international standards “can be measured over time”. SCMP, 27 January
Biden administration delays Chinese military investment ban. The move by the US Treasury will give new president more time to review Donald Trump’s China policies. Biden’s administration has also demanded a ‘robust and clear’ investigation amid ‘great concern’ over Covid origin ‘misinformation’ from China. FT, The Guardian, 28 January
US ambassador to UN nominee Linda Thomas-Greenfield pledges to counter China’s ‘authoritarian agenda’ and calls 2019 speech to Confucius Institute a ‘huge mistake’. NYT, SCMP, 28 January
Biden, Japan PM discuss China action near Senkaku Islands in first call. The Independent, 28 January
MIT Professor is not a spy for China, insist colleagues after arrest in final days of Trump administration. The Times, 28 January
China watch
China starts using anal swabs to test 'high-risk' people for Covid. The Guardian, 27 January
Xi Focus: Xi stresses "patriots governing Hong Kong" when hearing Carrie Lam's report on 2020 work. Xinhua, 27 January
Anti-corruption: China punishes over 197,000 officials for violating frugality rules in 2020. PRC State Council Information Office, 28 January
Beijing under pressure over rising food prices ahead of Chinese New Year celebrations. Straits Times, 28 January
Economy & tech
Apple sets record quarterly revenue amid surge in Chinese demand. The Times, 28 January
Hinkley Point C nuclear plant playing catch-up after further delay until June 2026. EDF and its partner CGN are responsible for any cost overruns. The Times, 28 January
China says Indian ban on apps violates WTO rules and would hurt Chinese firms. Reuters, 27 January
Ant Man Jack Ma can celebrate reprieve on float as China’s central bank chief signals that the country’s leading digital payments provider can go public. The Times 28 January
Chinese bots had key role in debunked ballot video shared by Eric Trump. The Guardian, 27 January
Longer reads & opinion
A look back on Boris Johnson's journalistic musings on China. Beijing to Britain, 27 January
What's one idea from Chinese tech the West should copy? Newly-launched Protocol China, 28 January
Comment: The West is being eviscerated in the new 'Model War' against China. The Telegraph, 28 January
Why Attempts to Build a New Anti-China Alliance Will Fail. Kishore Mahbubani in Foreign Policy, 27 January
To avoid an outbreak, China cancels Lunar New Year for millions of migrants. NYT, 28 January
The exiles: Hong Kong at a crossroads. BBC iPlayer, 28 January