China News - 29 November 2021
International
MPs seek to offer young Hong Kongers easier path to UK citizenship. Parliament is set to vote on a proposed Borders Bill amendment that would offer British Nationals (Overseas) status to under-25s fleeing political oppression. More than nine in 10 people who have faced protest charges in Hong Kong are too young to access the BN(O) scheme, according to advocates and MPs calling for new laws to assist them. CRG Chair Tom Tugendhat MP said: “This is an important amendment to support those who are more likely to be targeted.” The Sunday Telegraph, The Guardian, 28 November
90,000 from Hong Kong apply to British BN(O) visa scheme. The Times, 26 November
Hikvision/Dahua cameras monitoring Britons identified at five Uyghur internment camps. Surveillance experts IPVM found new evidence that specialist CCTV cameras of Chinese state-linked companies Hikvision and Dahua have been found monitoring detainees at the camps. CRG committee member Alicia Kearns MP commented: "I have been calling for the UK government to ban Hikvision and Dahua cameras for months.” The Mail on Sunday, 28 November
Government agrees funding for academic to investigate work of China Research Group. The Government has agreed to pay more than £80,000, through the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) scheme, for an academic at the University of Birmingham to write a thesis on the role of the CRG in influencing government policy towards China from 2020. The Telegraph, 27 November
Anti Asian racism rally in London’s Chinatown ends in scuffle. Skirmishes broke out at the rally, organised by human rights concern group Min Quan Legal Centre and several groups of businesspeople, academics and students, after counter protesters gathered and chanted pro-Hong Kong and Uyghur slogans. The Standard, 28 November
Uganda asks China to amend airport loan clauses, monitor reports. Uganda is seeking to amend a loan agreement it signed with China in 2015 to ensure the government doesn't lose control of the nation's only international airport, the Monitor newspaper reported, citing people with knowledge of the matter. Bloomberg, 28 November
Kenya returns to colonial-era railway after China-funded high speed line hits buffers. The Times, 29 November
Taiwan scrambles to see off Chinese air force as Xi meets top brass. Taiwan's air force scrambled again on Sunday to warn away 27 Chinese aircraft that entered its air defence zone as China’s president met his top generals to discuss military modernisation. Reuters, 28 November
Bosnian Serb leader: Putin and China will help if west imposes sanctions. The Guardian, 29 November
Iran, EU, China and Russia meet in Vienna ahead of nuclear talks. Bloomberg, 28 November
British Airways suspends Hong Kong flights amid crew quarantine. BBC, 28 November
Economy & tech
British economic growth ‘set to overtake China’. UK national output is forecast to grow by 5.4% in 2022, whilst China is expected to expand by 5.3%, according to analysts at BNP Paribas. China’s slowing growth has been attributed to its zero-Covid strategy and property market slump, whilst Britain could expect a “relatively robust recovery” next year. The Telegraph, The Times, 27 November
China can set the rules on Asia-Pacific digital trade, if DEPA bid succeeds. China has applied to join the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement and analysts predict that its involvement in regional digital economy deals would not only mean a bigger role in rules-setting but also help consolidate its ties with partners like Singapore. SCMP, 28 November
The Evergrande blueprint worked for other Chinese developers, until it didn’t. After borrowing heavily to fund breakneck growth, property developers are suffering financial meltdowns as credit grows scarce and home sales decline. WSJ, 28 November
China property bond fears remain as house prices fall. FT, 29 November
Taiwan’s UMC settles chip trade secrets dispute with Micron. Taiwanese chipmaker United Microelectronics Corporation will pay Micron Technology an undisclosed fee to settle a trade secrets dispute that stoked fears that China was stealing technology. UMC was fined $60m last year after pleading guilty to US charges of stealing Micron’s confidential information and sharing it with China-based Fujian Jinhua. FT, 26 November
British footwear institution Clarks looking for reboot under new Chinese leadership. The Guardian, 28 November
Record 2.1m Chinese sit civil service exam as economy slows, youth jobless rate climbs. SCMP, 28 November
Pinduoduo shares fall 15% as revenue growth disappoints. FT, 26 November
China focus
China says zero-Covid policy will protect it against Omicron variant. One of China’s top pandemic advisers, Zhang Wenhong, has said Beijing’s strict Covid-zero strategy would prevent the new Omicron variant posing a serious threat, vindicating the tough policy at a time when the rest of the world has been trying to ease restrictions. FT, Global Times, 28 November
Peking University study warns of 630,000 COVID-19 infections a day if China opens up. Reuters, 28 November
Macau casinos gamble on relations with Beijing. Hit hard by the pandemic, operators in the world’s biggest gambling hub are facing scrutiny from the Chinese government. FT, 28 November
Hong Kong to deploy over 10,000 police to ensure ‘patriots-only’ legislative polls run smoothly. HKFP, 29 November
Zhang Gaoli: official accused by Peng Shuai remains out of public eye. The Guardian, 26 November
Opinion & editorial
Does the West dare give China’s Xi Jinping an Olympic-sized snub? After the disappearance of the tennis player Peng Shuai, murmurs about a boycott of China’s winter games are growing louder. Oliver Shah. The Sunday Times, 28 November
Peng Shuai and China’s mistress problem. The polygamous lifestyle that many successful men lead - and how China has not said farewell to the concubine. Cindy Yu. The Spectator, 27 November
Richard Osman: Why visiting China changed my view of the world. The Telegraph, 27 November
Long reads
How Beijing’s billions are buying up the Commonwealth. As more countries turn to China for financial support, Britain has been asleep at the wheel – can it redress the balance? Includes a short commentary from Tom Tugendhat MP on the changing nature of the China challenge abroad. Gordon Rayner and Sophia Yan. The Telegraph, 26 November
The Gate to China by Michael Sheridan; The World According to China by Elizabeth C Economy – review. Two authoritative books reveal Hong Kong’s role in reviving China’s economic fortunes and Beijing’s attempts to impose its will abroad. Isabel Hilton. The Observer, 28 November
Over 50 groups gone in 11 months – how Hong Kong’s pro-democracy forces crumbled. Rhoda Kwan. HKFP, 28 November
Why wiping out Hong Kong's opposition may have cost China a whole generation in Taiwan. Eric Cheung. CNN, 27 November