China News - 30 November 2020
Event: The CRG is launching our new report Defending Democracy in a New World tomorrow at 10:30am GMT with a panel discussion including Tom Tugendhat MP, Alexander Downer, Nathan Law and Rahima Mahmut. It will be livestreamed on YouTube - if you would like to attend the Q&A, please email julia@chinaresearchgroup.org (limited spaces).
International
Huawei 5G ban brought forward to September. Culture secretary Oliver Dowden has set out detailed plans for the new Telecoms Security Bill in The Telegraph, including a new hard deadline for mobile network operators to stop installing Huawei equipment from September 2021 - earlier than expected. The UK government will also mandate that telecoms companies publish plans setting out exactly how they intend to reach zero Huawei involvement. At the same time, the government is announcing its Diversification Strategy, including a new National Telecoms Lab and a 5G trial with NEC in Wales. The draft legislation comes after MPs, including those from the China Research Group, called for the government to change its approach to Huawei. The Guardian, BBC, The Times, 30 November
Australia demands China apologise for posting 'repugnant' fake image. Australian PM Scott Morrison demanded the Chinese government apologise for posting a fake picture on a government Twitter account that depicted an Australian soldier murdering an Afghan child. In response, China's Foreign Ministry rejected the call to apologise, and said Australia should be ashamed of its war crimes in Afghanistan. Sydney Morning Herald, Sky News, The Guardian, BBC, 30 November
Comment: What is China's endgame? That's the question Australia has no answer to. There are undoubtedly tensions that exist between China and Australia,” Scott Morrison said. “But this is not how you deal with them”. The Guardian, 30 November
EU proposes fresh alliance with US in face of China challenge. A draft EU plan for revitalising the transatlantic partnership, seen by the Financial Times, proposes new co-operation on everything from digital regulation and tackling the Covid-19 pandemic to fighting deforestation. The EU will call on the US to seize a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to forge a new global alliance, in a detailed pitch to bury the tensions of the Trump era and meet the “strategic challenge” posed by China. FT, 30 November
Coverage ahead of CRG report launch on Tuesday.
Alexander Downer criticises Britain's Golden Era policy on China. Sydney Morning Herald, 29 November
Editorial: Morrison should coax Britain into fray with China. SMH, 30 November 2020. Our allies need to step up response to China. Brisbane Times, 30 November
Nike and Coca-Cola lobby against Xinjiang forced labour bill in US Congress, arguing it could “wreak havoc” on supply chains deeply embedded in China. New York Times, 29 November
SHEIN: Chinese fast-fashion brand you’ve never heard of sells 30,000 super-cheap items to British girls every day – and is accused of piracy, profiteering and mass pollution. Mail on Sunday, 29 November
China-EU decoupling not an option but Beijing must step up on markets, human rights, virus: German envoy in interview. SCMP, 30 November
China’s tech investors turn from India to Indonesia, fuelling a 55% surge in tech investment after New Delhi closes its doors. FT, 29 November
China watch
China will put its neighbours at front of the coronavirus vaccine queue, with at least five vaccine candidates in the final phase of clinical trials. Sunday Times, 29 November
China's factory activity expands at fastest pace in over three years. Reuters, 30 November
Economy & tech
Intergen gets go-ahead for giant battery project in Essex. Europe’s biggest battery storage project could be built in Essex after the government granted consent for the £200 million development. Intergen is co-owned by China Huaneng, a Chinese state utility group. The Times, 30 November
China's first homegrown Hualong One nuclear reactor starts operations, ready to take on Western players. CGN previously proposed to use a UK version of its Hualong One design at a prospective new nuclear power plant at Bradwell, England. Nikkei Asia, Reuters, 30 November
China snaps up Japanese scientists, sparking fears of technology outflow. Although research achievement requirements are tough, "compensation to scholars for successful results is overwhelmingly higher than in Japan”. Nikkei Asia, 28 November
China state group says official meddling contributed to default wave, says struggling SOEs should be left to ‘die’ in unusually frank remarks. FT, 30 November
Longer reads & opinion
Editorials: The Telegraph - Britain cannot afford to be left behind in the development of 5G. The Telegraph. FT - China edges towards greater financial discipline. FT, 30 November
A new parliamentary rebellion is brewing against our weak China policy. An IPAC amendment that annuls UK trade deals with genocidal states could have a big impact on China policy. Juliet Samuel in The Telegraph, 28 November
Poverty alleviation announcement: China has reached a major milestone in ending absolute poverty. But the Communist Party isn't celebrating yet. CNN. China scores big against poverty but the poor haven’t gone away. Bloomberg, 29 November
Red convergence: How CCP seeks to ensure digital media revolution serves the Party’s political dominance. China Media Project, 23 November
The week ahead
Monday
UK: Secretary of State Oliver Dowden announces further details about the Telecoms Security bill before House of Commons debate in the afternoon.
China PMI release of first November economic data, Hong Kong hosts two-day virtual Belt and Road summit.
Tuesday
Release of China’s regional manufacturing data, China’s new export control law comes into effect.
11:15am: BEIS Committee hearing on net zero and climate summits.
2:30pm: Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on the FCDO’s role in blocking foreign asset stripping in the UK, including evidence from Sophia Gaston of BFPG and former head of national security research at the Foreign Office, Dr Christopher Mackmurdo.
Wednesday
Hong Kong court to sentence pro-democracy activists Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow.
Thursday
Commons debate on the future of coal in the UK.
3:30pm: Chief of the Defence Staff Nick Carter speaks at the Royal United Services Institute.
Friday
Deadline for ByteDance to restructure US ownership of TikTok, as seven-day extension expires.