China News - 31 March 2021

In The Telegraph today: Co-chairman of the China Research Group, Neil O’Brien has written to the Chinese embassy seeking clarification over sanctions. In a letter to the embassy, he said: “Over 100 members of parliament have taken part in China Research Group seminars, including government ministers and senior members of all the UK’s main political parties. Are all of these parliamentarians now subject to the travel restrictions you are imposing on members of the China Research Group?”

International

BBC journalist leaves China amid criticism of network's coverage. The BBC has announced that journalist John Sudworth has relocated from Beijing to Taiwan amid heightened criticism of the BBC’s reporting on human rights abuses in Xinjiang. The Guardian, 31 March

UK and US criticise WHO's Covid report and accuse China of withholding data. A statement signed by 12 other nations raised concerns that the study was “significantly delayed and lacked access to complete, original data and samples”. Head of the WHO, Dr Tedros, said that the investigation was not “extensive enough”. Chinese state media has highlighted the report’s emphasis on “strong and good cooperation” with China. CGTN, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Joint statement, 31 March

China has given global trade a bad name, says Liz Truss. The UK’s International Trade Secretary will tell the G7 that the WTO must stand up to China's 'pernicious' practices and use of forced labour. The Telegraph, 30 March

Climate change: China absent from key UK meeting. Ministers from around 35 countries are due to participate in today's summit on climate and development. The UK says that China was invited to the event but is not participating. BBC, 31 March

South Korean foreign minister going to China for first time in three years in bid to mend ties. Reuters, 31 March

Hit by Xinjiang cotton backlash, H&M aims to ‘regain trust in China’ and said it was working on strategies for material sourcing. SCMP, 31 March

US State Department’s 2020 human rights report calls China’s treatment of Uyghurs ‘genocide’. FT, 31 March

Joe Biden takes action against ‘horrific violence and xenophobia’ towards Asian-Americans after unprovoked street attack in New York. The Times, SCMP, 31 March

Economy & tech

China used Twitter and Facebook more than ever last year for Xinjiang propaganda. A new report by ASPI finds that Chinese state media have been some of the most-liked accounts when it comes to posting about Xinjiang on Twitter. WSJ, ASPI report, 30 March

US trade war pushing China to steal tech, talent, Taiwan says. Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said the trade war had created new risks. “In order to achieve self-sufficiency in the supply chain, poaching and infiltration are the quickest way for mainland China to do this,” Wang added. Reuters, 31 March

ByteDance valued at $250 billion in private trades. The Chinese tech company’s revenue hit $35 billion last year. Bloomberg, 30 March

Xiaomi unveils plan to make electric cars, with plans for $10bn of investment. FT, 31 March

Longer reads & opinion

Database reveals secrets of China's loans to developing nations, says study. A study of 100 Chinese loan contracts with 24 low- and middle-income countries some required borrowers to prioritise repayment of Chinese state-owned banks ahead of other creditors. Reuters, 31 March

The cost of speaking up against China. Women who made allegations of rape and sexual abuse in Chinese detention camps have been harassed ever since. BBC, 30 March

Profit or principle is the hard choice for foreign companies in China. George Magnus in the FT, 31 March

China’s Social Credit System: Speculation vs. Reality. How far along is China’s much-hyped social credit system – and where is it heading next? The Diplomat, 30 March

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