China News - 28 September 2022
International
Xi makes first public appearance in Beijing since trip to Central Asia. Xi led the Standing Committee, the rest of the Politburo, and many other top leaders on a visit to the “Forging Ahead in the New Era“ exhibition in Beijing yesterday. His absence from public view since he attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting sparked speculation on social media that Xi had been deposed following a military coup. The party announced it would publish a “library” of China’s past pursuit of “national rejuvenation”, in an apparent attempt to shore up support for Xi’s policy goals. Reuters, WSJ, 27 September
Meta removes Chinese effort to influence US elections. The parent of Facebook and Instagram said that it had taken down what was the first targeted Chinese campaign to interfere in US politics, aimed at swaying views on the US elections and the war in Ukraine. Chinese influence operations were adjudged to have been poorly executed, appearing during working hours in China, typically when Americans were asleep. NYT, 27 September
A delegation from British defence and security think tank RUSI is visiting Taiwan:
Pacific leaders seek to shed political pawn status at Biden summit. The first-ever meeting between US President Joe Biden and the leaders of 18 Pacific nations and territories this week comes after China proposed alliances in the region, creating anxiety in the US over the possibility that Beijing might try to set up military bases in the area. Nikkei Asia, 28 September
Overseas student cash to dominate Scottish university funding. Overseas students are now poised to provide a greater proportion of university income than the Scottish Funding Council, which invests public money in universities for the government. China is the biggest source of overseas undergraduates in Scotland, with 17,165 full-time placings in 2020-21. The Times, 28 September
Harris says US intends to deepen Taiwan ties, defying China. Bloomberg, 28 September
China repeats call for stability in Korean peninsula. Reuters, 28 September
Economy & tech
China prepares to tweak yuan fixing process to slow its fall. Chinese monetary authorities are asking local banks to revive a yuan fixing tool it abandoned two years ago as they seek to steer and defend the rapidly weakening currency, a Reuters source said on Tuesday. Reuters, 27 September
TikTok’s owner ByteDance to add four directors amid growing scrutiny over the app’s Beijing links. ByteDance, the Chinese owner of short video hit TikTok, will add four seats to its board, increasing the number of directors to nine, according to two people familiar with the matter, a move that comes as the company faces an increasingly complex global environment. SCMP, 28 September
Chinese carmaker Nio warns energy crisis slowing European expansion. The head of Chinese electric carmaker Nio has warned that Europe’s energy crisis is slowing its expansion in a region where it is aiming to take on dominant players such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Nio recently acquired a 12% stake in Australian lithium mining company Greenwing Resources Ltd., becoming the first Chinese new-energy vehicle maker to enter the mining industry. FT, 27 September
China focus
Cash-strapped local governments turn to financing vehicles to plug fiscal shortfalls. Local government financing vehicles (LGFVs) have played a key role in funding and building infrastructure investment on behalf of local authorities across the country. They’ve now been given yet another task — buying land and building homes to fill a massive funding gap triggered by a slump in revenue from land as cash-strapped developers disappeared from the market. Caixin, 27 September
Return to Dust, Chinese hit film about rural hardships, disappears from streaming platforms. The film had been widely praised by audiences for its realistic and moving depiction of rural life in China. For the same reason it had also drawn criticism from nationalistic voices accusing it of portraying China in a negative light. The Guardian, 28 September
Beijing bus drivers get health-alert wristbands to protect passengers. The Times, 27 September
Long reads & opinion
Time to prioritise US-UK combined sea power. Our two nations must act to uphold free navigation against China and Russia’s attempts to undermine it. Mike Gilday. The Telegraph, 27 September
Will Beijing follow Hong Kong and loosen COVID-zero? Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan have eased up on COVID restrictions. Could the Chinese mainland be next? Nadya Yeh. The China Project, 27 September
Italy’s right is torn on Ukraine but united on China. Giorgia Meloni has built long-term ties to Taiwan. Ludovica Meacci. Foreign Policy, 28 September