China News - 29 October 2021
International
China’s new climate plan falls short of Cop26 global heating goal, experts say. Beijing published updated climate pledges, known as nationally determined contributions, ahead of the opening of the COP26 summit. However, the plan revealed on Thursday represents little progress on the previously announced ambitions of the world’s biggest carbon emitter. China has also indicated it will send the country's top climate envoy to the Glasgow summit, according to Britain's UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward. FT, Politico, The Guardian, Independent, Bloomberg, Reuters, 28 October
Hikvision refused public Xinjiang meeting with UK camera commissioner. In July, Biometrics And Surveillance Camera Commissioner Fraser Sampson questioned Chinese video surveillance supplier Hikvision about its association with human rights abuses in Xinjiang. In response, Hikvision offered to arrange a private meeting with its human rights investigator, Ambassador Pierre-Richard Prosper, which Sampson refused “as an independent officeholder advocating for transparency on the part of Hikvision”. IPVM, 28 October
US trade chief Katherine Tai says she aims to reduce US-China tensions. Tai said on Thursday that her engagement with China is aimed at reducing the temperature of a trading relationship between the world’s two largest economies that has become dangerously heated. SCMP, Reuters, Nikkei Asia, CGTN, 28 October
US senators push to upgrade Taiwan’s status in regional development bank while China pushes back at US. Democratic and Republican senators introduced legislation on Wednesday seeking backing for Taiwan’s admission to the Inter-American Development Bank as a non-borrowing member. Meanwhile, Chinese defence ministry spokesman Tan Kefei and foreign ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin protested to the US about its military ties with Taiwan. SCMP, Xinhua, 28 October
China’s Wang Yi warns European nations not to develop ties with Taiwan. SCMP, SupChina, 28 October
China pledges Covid-19 support, puts focus on regional economy in ASEAN talks. China will provide 20 million yuan for emergency medical supplies and is developing a global Covid-19 data analysis platform to improve pandemic readiness in East and Southeast Asia, according to Premier Li Keqiang. China is also set to forge a ‘comprehensive strategic partnership’ with the bloc. The Japan Times, Reuters, CGTN, NHK, 28 October
China's Xi to participate in G20 leaders' summit via video link. Reuters, 29 October
French and Australian leaders hold first talks after submarine row. BBC, 28 October
FBI director asks US businesses to work more closely with the agency to defeat Chinese espionage efforts. SCMP, 28 October
India tests nuclear-capable missile amid tensions with China. Bloomberg, Nikkei Asia, Al Jazeera, The Telegraph, Independent, 28 October
Economy & tech
China drafts tough rules to stop data from leaving its borders. A new set of draft rules released on Friday by the Cyberspace Administration of China have proposed additional requirements for businesses wanting to transfer Chinese information abroad. The draft regulations are set to have a far-reaching impact on the overseas listings of Chinese companies, and even the day-to-day operations of multinational companies in the country. SCMP, 29 October
Evergrande struggles to revive projects after last-minute payments. Beijing’s invisible hand can be seen in Evergrande’s efforts to avoid default as the indebted Chinese property developer managed to pay a $45.2 million coupon payment that was initially due on September 29. FT, Reuters, Bloomberg, 29 October
China says state-owned enterprises do not enjoy special treatment. China's state-owned enterprises do not enjoy special treatment and participate in the market competition on a fair basis, Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen said at a press conference in Beijing. CGTN, 28 October
China's growing middle class drives South West exports rise, China Britain Business Council report finds. New analysis has suggested that China’s growing middle class has driven a 43% rise in exports from the South West of the UK to China since 2015. BusinessLive, 29 October
US lawmakers pass tighter restrictions on Huawei, ZTE, sending bill to Biden. SCMP, 29 October
China warns unlicensed online brokerages they are breaking the law. Reuters, 28 October
Chinese banks set to report strong third-quarter profit. SCMP, Reuters, 28 October
China focus
In effort to curb China’s pollution, Beijing aims to cut PM2.5 by 4% in key cities over winter. China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment aims to cut the number of smoggy days using ‘more sophisticated measures’ than merely closing factories across the board. SCMP, 29 October
Third Chinese city placed under Covid-19 lockdown as Beijing chases zero cases before Winter Olympics; Covid guidelines for athletes in bubble eased. NYT, Reuters, WSJ, 28 October
Chinese influencers head to Shanghai Costco to pretend they are in the US. Independent, 28 October
An online platform is making Chinese men more aware of their health. SixthTone, 28 October
Opinions & editorial
China says it defends women’s rights. So why attack feminists? If women are not allowed to organise, they will struggle to achieve equality. The Economist, 28 October
Taiwan is relying more and more on American protection against China. Michael Evans. The Times, 28 October
The Cop26 conundrum: why does China’s eco-warrior Xi Jinping keep building coal plants? Ambrose Evans-Pritchard. The Telegraph, 28 October
China needs to learn lessons from Japan’s 1990s collapse. Robin Harding. FT, 28 October
China’s state-controlled media are put on an even shorter leash. The Economist, 28 October
Grandstanding or sincere? China’s move to join the CPTPP. Aya Adachi. MERICS, 27 October
Longer reads
Understanding China’s historic changes through informed empathy. Single-lens analysis that lacks empathy won’t cut it in providing insight into the complexity of the changes happening in China. Kaiser Kuo. SupChina, 28 October
China’s Foreign Minister tries again to win Europe back. Shannon Tiezzi. The Diplomat, 28 October
Rebuilding US-Chinese cooperation on climate change: The science and technology opportunity. David G. Victor. Brookings, 28 October
China digs more coal for power needs, despite climate change. Keith Bradsher. NYT, 28 October
The US-China COP26 cliffhanger. Phelim Kine. Politico, 28 October
China’s real Covid crisis is yet to come. Nancy Qian. Bloomberg, 28 October
Harnessed Lightning: How the Chinese military is adopting artificial intelligence. A new report by CSET examines nearly 350 artificial intelligence-related equipment contracts awarded by the People’s Liberation Army and state-owned defence enterprises in 2020 to assess how the Chinese military is adopting AI. CSET, 28 October