China News - 29 June 2021
New paper: NATO for trade? Writing for the China Research Group, Robert D. Atkinson argues that like-minded democracies should develop their own strategy to compete on a more level playing field with Chinese industrial and trade policy. Read the full paper here.
International
Security sweeps of Whitehall offices ordered after Hancock CCTV leak. The cameras used in the health department’s building are produced by Chinese company Hikvision, recently the subject of scrutiny over links to the Chinese government and involvement in the repression of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. The China Research Group said Chinese state-backed surveillance technology was in various government buildings and called for a “central review of surveillance tech to assess security risks.” FT, The Australian, Coda Story, 28 June
Hong Kong to ban passenger flights from UK to curb virus. The Hong Kong government stated that the U.K. has been classified as “extremely high risk“ because of the “recent rebound of the epidemic situation and the widespread delta variant virus strain there.” Hong Kong is preparing to ease entry rules for most other places. ABC, Bloomberg, BBC, 28 June
Russia, China extend friendship and cooperation treaty. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Monday announced the extension of a 20-year-old friendship and cooperation treaty between their countries. Russia has not ruled out an eventual military alliance with China, which has the biggest armed forces in the world. The Times, Reuters, Daily Mail, 28 June
Nissan plans Sunderland gigafactory. The Japanese carmaker is close to committing to a “gigafactory” in Sunderland to make batteries for electric cars in a government-backed investment that will create thousands of jobs. The Times, 29 June
Apparel importers tripped up by U.S. ban on forced-labour goods from China. Surging enforcement by Customs and Border Protection officers of import bans on products made from forced labor is producing disputes over halted cargo and complaints from importers about the delays and a lack of transparency. WSJ, 28 June
Italy says its relations with U.S. far more important than with China. Standing beside U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Rome, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said Sino-Italian commercial ties "are absolutely incomparable with" Italy's alliance with the U.S. as well as partnerships with NATO and the EU. Politico, Reuters, 28 June
China watchers may steer clear once travel curbs are lifted. Just 44 per cent of respondents – all with professional ties to the country – say they will visit when it’s possible, citing fears of being detained and restrictions on movement, research, and reporting among concerns. SCMP, 28 June
Brazil and China in talks to strengthen science and technology ties. The countries are discussing further bilateral cooperation in areas including artificial intelligence and smart cities; China has called for financing to translate theory into practice. ZDnet, 28 June
China focus
China's leader Xi hands out medals amid party celebrations. At a ceremony following a lavish celebration at Beijing’s Olympic stadium, Xi emphasised China’s rise to economic and political prominence following reforms enacted more than 40 years ago. Bloomberg, Independent, 29 June
China turns on world’s second-largest hydropower plant in Sichuan. Days ahead of the centennial of the Chinese Communist Party, a massive showpiece of Chinese engineering began cranking out electricity in Sichuan Province. SupChina, AP, CNA, 28 June
China to build massive “international health station” quarantine complex. The southern Chinese city of Guangzhou is planning to build a 250,000-sq-m quarantine complex able to accommodate up to 5,000 travellers entering from countries affected by the Delta variant of the coronavirus. Global Construction Review, 28 June
‘Reverse migration’ is picking up in China as workers give up on big cities. CNBC, 28 June
China’s CoronaVac jab safe and effective in children as young as three. Independent, 29 June
Economy & tech
Sliding demand for steel points to a slowdown in China’s economy. Steel production is closely watched by the Chinese government, which has become concerned about high prices and their effect on manufacturers. Forbes, 28 June
China coal futures tumble as senior official signals rise in supply. Surging prices for raw materials have caused power shortages in country’s manufacturing hubs. FT, 28 June
China’s largest battery maker extends agreement with electric vehicle giant Tesla to 2025. CATL, the Shenzhen-listed electric-car battery maker, said it has reached an agreement with Tesla to provide lithium batteries electric vehicle maker’s China production plants for an additional 30 months. SCMP, Reuters, 28 June
Chinese universities rush to expand semiconductor programmes in drive for self-sufficiency. SCMP, 28 June
Longer reads & opinion
Special report: How Beijing humbled Britain's mighty HSBC. Reuters, 28 June
Reading between the lines of the CCP’s centennial propaganda blitz. Troop deployments, censorship, and exhaustive promotion point to a deep uncertainty about the party’s future. Sarah Cook. The Diplomat, 29 June
What’s fuelling China’s new online nationalists? It used to be outsiders, a US politician criticising the government for instance, who received the worst of the attacks from bloggers. Now insiders bear the brunt. Yuan Yang. FT, 29 June
Hsinchu: Taiwan’s city at the centre of China’s conundrum. Semiconductors are the drivers of the digital economy. The US needs them. So does China. And Taiwan makes the most. Perry Q Wood. The Interpreter/Lowy Institute, 29 June
The Quad is a delusion. The new grouping won’t give the United States any more leverage over China than it already has—and it might raise tensions in the region higher than ever. Rajan Menon. Foreign Policy, 28 June
Taiwan’s unity cracks under Chinese disinformation onslaught. Beijing takes advantage of country’s first coronavirus outbreak to sow divisions. Kathrin Hill. FT, 29 June
Europe eyes the Indo-Pacific, but now it’s time to act. Veerle Nouwens and Garima Mohan. War On The Rocks, 24 June
China’s Communist Party turns 100: how each generation justifies its rule. Jun Mai. SCMP, 29 June