China News - 3 March 2021
'If the others go I'll go': Inside China's scheme to transfer Uighurs into work. The BBC shares a little-shared state video showing evidence of the coercive nature of the labour transfer scheme. A new high-level archived Chinese study also documents the government’s aims for the Xinjiang work programmes. BBC, The Guardian, 3 March
China says door to Xinjiang 'always open', but U.N. rights boss should not prejudge. China said on Tuesday that it was discussing a visit to its Xinjiang region by United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet, but that she should not set out with the aim of condemning its policies. Reuters, 2 March
Chinese state media attacks British ambassador Caroline Wilson after she supports 'watchdog' role of media. Multiple pieces in Chinese state media accused her of not understanding China after she posted on social media about the watchdog role of an independent press holding governments and organisations to account. The Telegraph, 3 March
Nearly one in five Chinese-Australians threatened or attacked in past year, survey finds. A landmark survey of the Chinese-Australian community conducted by Lowy Institute looked at experiences of discrimination, sense of belonging and attitudes towards policy issues. The Guardian, SCMP, Full survey, 3 March
US and Asia allies plan Covid vaccine strategy to counter China. The US is working with fellow Quad members, Japan, India and Australia, to develop a plan to distribute Covid-19 vaccines to countries in Asia as part of a broader strategy to counter China’s influence. FT, 3 March
More EU states go outside the bloc to secure Covid vaccines. Poland is also in talks to follow Hungary in acquiring China’s Sinopharm vaccine. The Times, 3 March
Slave labour activists in US push for Boohoo ban. The UK fast fashion firm is under pressure from a US campaign group over allegations of forced labour. The Times, 3 March
France? It’s more socialist than China, says expat businesswoman Chunyan Li in new book. The Times, 3 March
China watch
China cuts "carbon intensity" 18.8% in past five years, in effort to rein in emissions. Reuters, 2 March
Some Chinese delegates to propose vaccine passports at annual meetings: Global Times. Reuters, 3 March
'Two sessions': China expected to unveil new controls on Hong Kong. More on the NPC’s plans in The Guardian, 3 March
Economy & tech
Loose monetary and fiscal policy overseas poses a risk to China, head of top banking watchdog says. Europe, the U.S., and other countries are starting to see some of the adverse effects of the lavish government spending and extremely loose monetary policy they employed in the wake of the pandemic, the head of one of China’s top financial regulators said Tuesday. Financial markets in the U.S. and developed European countries are performing well, but their real economies are not, said Guo Shuqing. Caixin, 2 March
SMIC reportedly gets US license to purchase chip-making equipment. It would represent an evolution of Trump’s China policy. Global Times, 3 March
China fines group-buying platforms owned by Meituan, Pinduoduo over improper pricing behaviour. Reuters, 2 March
Smile for the camera: the dark side of China's emotion-recognition tech. The Guardian, 3 March
Longer reads & opinion
News Analysis: White House shifts from tech ‘decoupling’ to ‘small yard, high fence’ approach. Caixin, 3 March
‘The East Is Rising’: Xi Maps Out China’s Post-Covid Ascent. NYT, 3 March
China’s green colonialism. Two new books reflect on how the cartographies of power are being redrafted in the twenty-first century through environmentalism. TLS, 26 February