China News - 31 January 2022
International
Rishi Sunak bids to reset China relations to boost trade. The Chancellor has asked Treasury officials to revive the UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue, last held in 2019. Telegraph sources confirmed that large banks - including HSBC and Standard Chartered - will be looking to secure valuable trading licences and bond issuances as part of the trade talks. The Telegraph, 29 January
West is pushing us into China’s embrace, says Russian ambassador. Russia is seeking to forge new ties with China as both nations face common tensions with western allies, according to Moscow’s top diplomat in London. He said the Kremlin wanted to boost economic cooperation with its “promising partner” Beijing, which would include sending more gas and oil to China. The Sunday Times, 30 January
Ukraine conflict shines light on deepening ties between Beijing and Moscow. FT, 30 January
Media freedom in China declining at 'breakneck speed' - report. A report by the Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC) of China said journalists face physical assaults, hacking, online trolling and visa denials. Beijing has hit back at previous claims by the FCC that journalists were being harassed, claiming that the group has no sense of right and wrong and lacks principles. BBC, The Guardian, 31 January
China’s ambassador to US warns of possible military conflict over Taiwan. Qin Gang told the US public broadcaster NPR: “if the Taiwanese authorities keep going down the road for independence, it most likely will involve China and the United States in the military conflict.” An influential Chinese academic who advises Beijing on foreign policy told Nikkei that Xi Jinping will employ force to unify Taiwan with China by 2027. The Guardian, Nikkei Asia, 28 January
Influence operations
Chinese intelligence officers infiltrate charity set up by Prince Philip. Intelligence sources have revealed that agents working for the United Front Work Department teamed up with charities “to conduct operations and buy influence”. The Sun, 30 January
Prince Andrew made eight trips to China as guest of propaganda unit. The Mail on Sunday, 30 January
Peer’s wife shook Xi’s hand at event linked to CCP’s United Front. The Sunday Times, 30 January
China may be using Interpol to target dissidents and political opponents based in Britain. Sixteen prominent Hong Kong human rights campaigners, six of whom live in the UK, have written to the agency demanding to know whether the Chinese government or the Hong Kong Police Force has sought to use Interpol against them, and whether any red notices have been issued. The Telegraph, 29 January
Winter Olympics 2022: Beijing reports spike in new virus cases. The highest number of cases since June 2020 is recorded as officials seal off residential areas ahead of the Games. BBC, 30 January
Zambian president vows not to favour Chinese creditors over western bondholders in restructuring. The restructuring is seen as a test case for whether China will accept losses from a surge in loans to Africa in the past decade. FT, 30 January
Australia to seek part in China-EU trade row at WTO. Nikkei Asia, 29 January
Whistleblower demands Amazon apology after being jailed and tortured. The Observer, 30 January
Irish businessman Richard O'Halloran back in Ireland after being denied exit from China for 3 years. BBC, 29 January
Hong Kong university covers up Tiananmen memorial slogan. The Guardian, BBC, 30 January
Economy & tech
Chinese manufacturing slows as zero-Covid compounds property turmoil. China’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index was 50.1 in January, from 50.3 a month earlier and just holding above the 50-point threshold that indicates expansion rather than contraction, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. FT, 30 January
The Beijing Olympics won't be the splashy launch China wanted for its digital currency. Chinese companies and government officials have been touting the Games as an opportunity for the digital yuan but several factors - the foremost of those being the lack of spectators - are making widespread adoption difficult. CNN, The Telegraph, 31 January
Oaktree takes control of sprawling Evergrande building project near Shanghai. Los Angeles distressed debt specialist Oaktree Capital has seized one of Evergrande’s most-prized assets in mainland China, a rare intrusion by a global investor in a domestic crisis caused by the biggest ever collapse of a property developer. Evergrande is seeking legal recourse to protect its rights over the project. SCMP, 28 January
Investors are shunning China’s once-hot consumer tech start-ups. FT, 31 January
China sets the pace in adoption of AI in healthcare technology. FT, 31 January
China targets deepfakes in proposed regulation governing deep learning AI technologies. SCMP, 29 January
China focus
Hong Kong says commenting on Covid strategy is not illegal. Having discussions and making “general remarks” about Hong Kong’s coronavirus strategy is not illegal and does not violate the Chinese territory’s national security law, the government has said as it grapples to control a rise in cases. The Guardian, Reuters, 30 January
Chinese documentary prompts rare criticism of Xi’s corruption crackdown. State-sponsored documentary series ‘Zero Tolerance’ was designed to bolster support for China’s decade-long corruption crackdown but has instead sparked a rare outburst of public criticism towards one of President Xi Jinping’s most important policies. FT, 29 January
Beijing says average national smog levels down 9.1% in 2021. Reuters, 31 January
Warning over bird flu in humans as two ‘critical’ cases emerge in China. The Telegraph, 28 January
China to continue strict border control in 2022, spokesperson for the National Immigration Administration says. Sixth Tone, 28 January
Opinion and editorial
Winter watch: how China might keep a tight Olympic grip. From surveillance to enforced holidays for activists, possible measures Beijing could take to prevent or deal with protests. Helen Davidson. The Guardian, 28 January
China’s zero-Covid policy puts growth under threat. With families not spending and crackdowns on business, the powerhouse is at a tipping point. Ben Chu. The Sunday Times, 30 January
China’s domestic politics are driving the Belt and Road Initiative. The geopolitical effects of the BRI are incidental; its driving force is found in domestic political imperatives. Zenel Garcia and Phillip Guerreiro. The Diplomat, 29 January
China’s censors have already won. Benedict Rogers. The Spectator, 30 January
Long reads
Why Britain is so attractive to thousands fleeing Hong Kong. A year after the Government's visa scheme gave them a route to the UK, thousands are arriving every week, ready to become model citizens. Jonathan Margolis. The Sunday Telegraph, 30 January
Sport, politics and Covid collide at the Beijing Winter Olympics. The Games will open on Friday in a country that hopes sport will be the talking point. But political twists or a resurgent virus could leave the event skating on thin ice. Emma Graham-Harrison and Vincent Ni. The Observer, 30 January
The vanishing slow trains of China. The time-honoured ritual of a long, slow, train journey home for Chinese New Year is under threat - both from Covid restrictions and the rapid expansion of high-speed rail. Camilla Bell-Davies. FT, 29 January
Chinese New Year: What is it and how is it celebrated? Wanyuan Song & Jeremy Howell. BBC, 28 January