China News - 3 November 2022
International
Landmark decision could herald end to Europe’s extraditions to China. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has unanimously found that the extradition of a regular (alleged) criminal to China would, regardless of the person's specific situation, put the extraditee at significant risk of torture, and thus denied the extradition. This is the first ruling of its kind on the issue of extradition to China and will likely put an end to or make it significantly harder for China to seek any extraditions from Europe henceforth. Safeguard Defenders, 3 November
TikTok tells European users its staff in China get access to their data. TikTok is spelling out to its European users of the platform that their data can be accessed by employees outside the continent, including in China, amid political and regulatory concerns about Chinese access to user information on the site. The Chinese-owned social video app is updating its privacy policy to confirm that staff in countries are allowed to access user data to ensure their experience of the platform is “consistent, enjoyable and safe”. The Guardian, 2 November
UK investment screening could be centralised under new Prime Minister. Playbook reports that Rishi Sunak is mulling whether to seize control of overseas investments in sensitive sectors from nations perceived as a threat to Britain’s national security. The role has in recent times sat in BEIS, but Downing Street and the Cabinet Office are considering taking over responsibility, two separate people in government confirmed. Politico’s London Playbook, 3 November
Hong Kong exiles in UK unnerved by ‘weak’ response to beating of protester. Hong Kong migrants who fled repression by China said they fear for their safety and are calling on the UK government to take a bolder stance after a pro-democracy protester was beaten in the grounds of a Chinese consulate two weeks ago. While Greater Manchester police investigated the incident, the government response has been called “inadequate” by MPs calling for the prosecution or expulsion of the senior Chinese officials involved. The Guardian, 3 November
Canada orders Chinese companies to divest stake in lithium mines. Ottawa has ordered three Chinese groups to divest their stakes in Canadian critical mineral companies after a defence and intelligence review concluded that the investments posed a threat to national security. FT, 3 November
China continues to lose friends in Central and Eastern Europe. Beijing's reluctance to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has hit a nerve among countries that have historically suffered from Moscow's severe political suppression and geopolitical ambitions. Nikkei Asia, 3 November
China and Pakistan fast-track economic ties with more railways, ports, and yuan. In a meeting between Chinese leader Xí Jìnpíng and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing, Xi agreed to speed up major infrastructure projects under the $65 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and “expressed his great concern about the safety of Chinese nationals in Pakistan”. The China Project, 2 November
One year on, WTA tour chairman still wants Peng Shuai inquiry. Tennis.com, 2 November
China says US has 'no right to interfere' in Hamburg port deal. Reuters, 3 November
Economy & tech
Tencent and state-owned China Unicom to set up joint venture. Tencent Holdings will set up a joint venture with state-owned telecom operator China Unicom amid anxieties over the future of the country's private tech sector under Xi Jinping. Shares in Shanghai-listed China Unicom surged 10% on Wednesday after reports of the deal, which was approved by China's top market watchdog. Nikkei Asia, 2 November
Chinese stocks boosted by planned rollout of CanSino’s inhalable Covid vaccine.
Shares in CanSino Biologics rose as much as 70 per cent in Hong Kong after the Chinese pharma group said its inhaled Covid-19 vaccine had been approved for use in some cities. FT, 2 November
Europe leans on Asia for 'homegrown' EV batteries. Reuters, 3 November
China focus
China’s new No. 2 - a business pragmatist or a party loyalist? Li Qiang, who is poised to become China’s new premier, is known inside the country as a pro-business pragmatist unafraid to push the boundaries of Communist Party rule. Party insiders say he’s also a loyalist who will implement Beijing’s policies effectively and aggressively when needed. WSJ, 2 November
China set to strengthen carbon emissions standard-setting and measurements to hit 2060 climate goals. The Chinese government has set out its aim to improve the standard-setting and measurement of environmental efforts to help ensure it can meet its carbon neutrality goals on time. A lack of good-quality data has been widely blamed for hobbling the country’s nascent carbon market. SCMP, 2 November
Long reads & opinion
We don’t want to decouple from China, but can’t be overreliant. Germany will seek cooperation where it lies in our mutual interest, but we will not ignore controversies either. Olaf Scholz. Politico, 3 November
Can the US live in Xi Jinping's world? John Sudworth. BBC, 3 November
What Xi Jinping’s rhetoric reveals about China’s global aims. Beijing’s call for “fighters” in leadership roles signals a battle with the West for dominance in tech. Bruno Maçães. The New Statesman, 2 November
Does China’s WeChat show Twitter’s future? Cindy Yu. The Spectator, 3 November