International
Biden pleads for unity, warns of Chinese threat, in speech to Congress. "China and other countries are closing in fast," he said, adding that he has spent a lot of time talking to Chinese President Xi Jinping. "He's deadly earnest about becoming the most significant, consequential nation in the world. He and others, autocrats, think that democracy can’t compete in the 21st century with autocracies. It takes too long to get consensus." Reuters, NYT, 30 April
China ‘will not accept’ US challenges to its Communist political system or leadership, says Yang Jiechi. SCMP, 30 April
Australian wine exports soaked up by Britain. Britain has overtaken the United States to become Australia’s second largest wine export market. Wine sales to China were worth A$12 million (£6.7 million) in the four months to March 31, compared with A$325 million a year earlier. The Times, 29 April
China’s ambassador blames Australia’s ‘economic coercion’ for breakdown in relations. SCMP, 30 April
'We will defend ourselves to the very end': Taiwan minister's vow as China 'prepares final assault'. In an interview with Sky News, Joseph Wu said "Taiwan happens to be on the frontline of China's expansion of its authoritarian order. And if Taiwan is taken by China, I think the consequences will be global.". Sky News, 29 April
Taiwan’s economy grows fastest since 2010 on export boom. GDP expanded 8.16% in the first quarter, compared to the same period in 2020, powered by soaring chip prices. Bloomberg, 30 April
UK's Truss to meet WTO chief seeking to further reform agenda. British trade minister Liz Truss will on Friday press the case with recently-elected WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Reuters, 30 April
China-EU investment deal casts long shadow over Beijing’s vague sanctions against Europeans. There has been little indication since of how the Chinese restrictions actually apply to sanctioned individuals. SCMP, 30 April
Leeds fuels China's piano passion. Leeds is home to the world-renowned International Piano Competition; three Chinese pianists reached the final this year. China Daily, 30 April
Economy & tech
China’s food delivery groups criticised after undercover TV exposé. Alibaba and Meituan criticised over labour practices after government official poses as driver. FT, 29 April
Morgan Stanley set to take greater control over two China joint ventures. Caixin, 29 April
Giants Tencent, Bytedance among companies reined in by China. Chinese regulators have called on 13 online platforms to adhere to tighter regulations in their financial divisions. BBC, 30 April
Longer reads & opinion
Falun Gong-aligned media push fake news about Democrats and Chinese communists. The Epoch Times, believed to be linked to the Chinese religious movement, is part of an anti-CCP influence operation tapping into the US right, according to a media watchdog. The Guardian, 30 April
We can end China’s rare-mineral monopoly. Rare earths is an industrial challenge needing leadership in the UK, writes Ed Conway in The Times, 30 April
The Economist on Taiwan: The most dangerous place on Earth. Strategic ambiguity is breaking down in view of China’s cross-strait military build-up. The Economist, 29 April
Even doveish China-watchers in America are becoming hawkish. “It doesn’t take any bravery to be a China hawk today. It takes bravery to not be one,” says a former official who advised several presidents on China. The Economist, 29 April