International
China launches first module of new space station into orbit. China was barred in 2011 from the International Space Station, which was principally built and operated by the US. China’s manned space programme has progressed rapidly since President Xi Jinping made cosmic exploration a central part of Beijing’s technology ambitions. FT, The Guardian (video), The Times, 29 April
Hong Kong passes law that can stop people leaving. Activists, lawyers and some business figures have sounded the alarm over provisions in the bill, including one allowing the city’s immigration chief to bar people from boarding planes to and from the city. The Guardian, 28 April
Germany’s Angela Merkel asks China to resume human rights dialogue. In a ministerial China-Germany meeting on Wednesday, Merkel reiterated that the CAI was “transparent and reciprocal” and would provide more guarantees for economic and trade cooperation between the two sides. SCMP, 28 April
30 EU lawmakers vow to kill China investment deal over Beijing’s sanctions. SCMP, 29 April
How ‘breathtakingly naive’ Brit unis may be helping China build hypersonic missiles, stealth jets & doomsday nukes. The Sun, 28 April
China says population grew last year, refuting Financial Times report of first decline in nearly 60 years. SCMP, 28 April
Australia splashes out over £400m on defence upgrade of northern military bases and expanding joint exercises with the US. The Telegraph, 28 April
Disney unapologetic over Mulan credit thanking Chinese Communist party. The Guardian, 28 April
Businessman Qin Shuren admits smuggling US marine tech to China. SCMP, WSJ, 29 April
Economy & tech
G7 Digital and technology issue ministerial declaration support open societies in the digital and data-driven age. G7 statement, 28 April
Major Chinese investors in talks to buy 1% Aramco stake in Saudi Arabia, insiders say. SCMP, 29 April
China-Africa trade leaps in first quarter on post-pandemic rebound. SCMP, 29 April
Longer reads & opinion
“Correct choice” on strategic autonomy: What China wants from the EU. On April 7, Xi expressed hopes that “the EU will make the right judgment independently and truly achieve strategic autonomy”. MERICS, 28 April
EEAS Special Report: Covid-19 disinformation. The general message spread by Chinese state-controlled media is that Western countries politicise the vaccines and contribute to a “vaccine divide”. EEAS, 29 April
Big Four auditors squeezed between US and China. FT, 29 April