China News - 29 January 2021
Next CRG event: In what Patrick Wintour of The Guardian calls a rare chance to hear different sides of UK's China debate leave their ‘echo chambers’ - join our conversation between Sherard Cowper-Coles of the China-Britain Business Council and Tom Tugendhat on Tuesday 2nd Feb at 10am.
International
Hong Kong BNO visas begin on Sunday, Beijing retaliates. Boris Johnson said the move honoured the UK's "profound ties of history and friendship" with the ex-British colony. Over 5 million residents are eligible but the government currently expects about 300,000 people to take up the offer. Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the CRG, welcomed the decision, which he said had “long recognised the duty we owe to those in Hong Kong”. In response, the Chinese foreign ministry today announced that it would no longer recognise the BNO passport as a valid document for either travel or identification, and said it reserved the right to take further actions. BBC, The Times, FT, 29 January
Beijing expands liaison office in Hong Kong with around 100 new cadres, as Beijing tightens supervision of city. SCMP, Reuters, 28 January
China warns Taiwan independence 'means war' as US pledges support. China has warned that attempts by Taiwan to seek independence "means war". It comes after new US President Joe Biden reaffirmed his commitment to Taiwan. The US has called China's latest warning "unfortunate", adding that tensions did not need to lead to "anything like to confrontation". The FT reports that Chinese military aircraft simulated missile attacks on a nearby US aircraft carrier during an incursion into Taiwan’s air defence zone three days after Joe Biden’s inauguration, according to intelligence from the US and its allies. BBC, FT, The Guardian, 29 January
China-US tension: Biden administration pledges to back Japan and Philippines in maritime disputes as he begins to lay out Asia strategy. SCMP, 28 January
UN court rules UK has no sovereignty over Chagos islands. Britain and the US are anxious to counter the potential expansion of Chinese military power in the Indian Ocean. BBC, 28 January
WHO says team in Wuhan to visit labs, markets and hospitals as field investigation begins. Reuters, 28 January
Vaccine diplomacy: Hungary could sign Chinese vaccine deal imminently, closely monitoring Serbia situation - PM Orban says. Polls shows Hong Kong residents' distrust of Chinese vaccines, with fewer than 30% willing to take one. Reuters, Reuters, 28 January
Meet the Chinese woman who has become the top town planner in the UK and Ireland. CGTN, 28 January
China watch
Xi stresses implementation of new development philosophy in next five years in address to Politburo group study session. Xinhua, 29 January
China's fiscal revenue down 3.9 pct in 2020. ECNS, 28 January
Lunar New Year: Clamping down on going home for the holidays. A strict testing regime has made it difficult for migrant workers to return home. BBC, 28 January
Economy & tech
Taiwan GDP growth outpaces China for first time in three decades. Taiwan's economic growth last year outpaced China for the first time in 30 years, while Hong Kong logged back-to-back annual contractions. Nikkei Asia, 29 January
China paper urges tougher curbs on algorithms used by online platforms in continuing Big Tech crackdown. Reuters, 28 January
China’s commercial jet ambitions shaken as US blacklists state-owned Comac. Beijing’s chosen rival to Airbus and Boeing is heavily dependent on US suppliers. FT, 27 January
Longer reads & opinion
Assimilation of Chinese minorities is not just a Uyghur thing. The fate of Yanbian—a region that finds itself accused of unconstitutional acts—points to a bleak reality for ethnic minorities. Loyalty is not enough. Their duty is to become more Chinese. The Economist, 28 January
Meet IPAC, the international alliance keeping the UK government on its toes over China. London Influence (Politico), 28 January
A world divided: the conflict with Chinese techno-nationalism isn’t coming - it’s already here. War on The Rocks, 28 January
To counter China’s rise, the US should focus on Xi. A new anonymous piece on US-China strategy, published by the Atlantic Council, argues that the US should focus on weakening Xi’s leadership. Politico, 28 January
Xi Jinping shows his nerves over decoupling. The Chinese leader’s speech at the World Economic Forum reveals his worries about Beijing’s place in the post-Trump era. Foreign Policy, 28 January
The West needs to respond to China’s bid for technology dominance: New report. LSE Ideas, 28 January
Book Review: Hidden Hand. Asian Affairs, 20 January