China News 29 June 2020
AP report reveals mass sterilisation programme for Uighurs. According to an AP investigation and a report by China scholar Adrian Zenz: “The Chinese government is taking draconian measures to slash birth rates among Uighurs and other minorities as part of a sweeping campaign to curb its Muslim population, even as it encourages some of the country’s Han majority to have more children”
AP notes that “starting in 2016, the Xinjiang government began pumping tens of millions of dollars into a birth control surgery program and cash incentives for women to get sterilized. While sterilization rates plunged in the rest of the country, they surged seven-fold in Xinjiang from 2016 to 2018.” The report describes an event in which residents were forced to chant: “If we have too many children, we’re religious extremists....That means we have to go to the training centers.”
“It’s genocide, full stop. It’s not immediate, shocking, mass-killing on the spot type genocide, but it’s slow, painful, creeping genocide,” said Joanne Smith Finley, who works at Newcastle University in the U.K. “These are direct means of genetically reducing the Uighur population.” AP, SMH, Telegraph, 29 June
Die Welt runs interview with Xinjiang camp survivor. Die Welt interviews Sayragul Sauytbay about her experiences. She says “A few years ago there was no talk of re-education camps. But then suddenly it started to happen that friends of mine or people from the neighbourhood just disappeared. One of them was picked up at midnight.” She notes the case of Mesut Özil, who spoke out for the Uighurs, but was criticised by the club after Arsenal games were then withdrawn from TV in China. She says: “It is very important that celebrities like Özil do not stop criticizing China, but continue doing so.” Welt, 29 June
Lords rebellion over Huawei. The Mail reports that “a group of peers led by Tory Lord Forsyth and cross-bencher Lord Alton will seek to amend legislation going through the upper house to make it illegal for Britain to use technology from firms linked to human rights abuses. Labour and the Lib Dems are set to back the 'ambush'. The Telegraph reports that, “The row centres around the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill, which regulates the installation of broadband in leasehold flats. If the amendment is passed, it would create a human rights threshold for firms that bid for the right to supply equipment for the UK's 5G infrastructure - potentially blocking Huawei altogether.”
Forbes reports that the case shows that links to human rights abuses in Xinjiang could become “a serious new problem for the company.” Mail on Sunday, Telegraph, Forbes, 28 June
Hong Kong
Amnesty: National security law for Hong Kong risks turning city into police state. Amnesty International, 28 June
China to impose visa restrictions on U.S. individuals over Hong Kong. Reuters, 29 June
PR firm which did work for Saudi Arabia wins contract to 'relaunch' Hong Kong. HKFP, 29 June
Universities given tools to defend freedoms amid fears over China. The Times reports that: “British universities will be told how to protect themselves from interference by foreign powers amid growing fears about the influence of China on campuses.” It notes that UK universities are increasingly dependent on fee income from Chinese students, and that last November a foreign affairs committee inquiry found “alarming evidence” of Chinese interference on UK campuses, including instances where Chinese embassy-linked groups were monitoring students and reporting them to authorities in attempts to “stop discussion of topics sensitive to China”. Times, 27 June
Obama criticises Trump over “Kung Flu” remarks. During a Zoom meeting Mr. Obama expressed outrage at the president's use of '“kung flu” and “China virus” to describe the coronavirus. “I don't want a country in which the president of the United States is actively trying to promote anti-Asian sentiment and thinks it's funny. I don't want that. That still shocks and pisses me off.” NY Times, 28 June
Prepare for India border row to escalate, Chinese strategists warn Beijing. SCMP, 27 June
State media: China could help India with locust problem, but won’t unless it changes stance. Global Times, 28 June
Economy / tech
The Telegraph reports on the rise of state-sponsored Chinese energy firm Goldwind. Telegraph, 29 June
Inside the battle for Arm China. The FT reports allegations that Arm China’s boss Allen Wu offered discounts on Arm’s cutting edge chip technology:= in return for investments in his personal fund. Mr Wu is in possession of the company seal, giving him control under a centuries-old Chinese system. “He (Mr Wu) knows he will eventually be removed. But this is his weapon to get a separation agreement,” said one lawyer with close links to Arm China. FT, 26 June
Longer reads and comment
The Chinese Communist Party’s Ideology and Global Ambitions - Speech by US National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien. White House, 26 June
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