China News 4 June 2020
International
Chinese Foreign Ministry warns of “consequences” for UK over Hong Kong support, says joint declaration is not an international agreement. Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the UK should “immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's domestic affairs," Zhao said. "Otherwise, there will be consequences.” He said “we urge the UK to 'step back', reject the Cold-War mindset and the colonial mentality.” Xinhua reports he said the joint declaration was simply “China's statement of policies, not commitment to Britain or an international obligation as some claim.” Xinhua, Financial Times, Full Text, 4 June
HSBC and Standard Chartered support China’s national security law for Hong Kong. HSBC has openly supported the national security law China is imposing on Hong Kong, breaking the bank’s silence on the legislation opposed by the UK government. Financial Times, Reuters, 3 June
Jeremy Hunt: China’s hostility to Taiwan threatens the global order. “In its willingness to abandon Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems”, China may also be signalling that it has given up hope of a peaceful reunification with Taiwan in favour of a military solution. Were that to be the case the implications for western democracies would be extraordinarily dangerous, potentially upending the global order.” The Times, 4 June
“Huawei hid business operation in Iran after Reuters reported links to CFO”. Reuters reports that: “The revelations in the new documents could buttress a high-profile criminal case being pursued by U.S. authorities against Huawei and its chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, who is also the daughter of Huawei’s founder.” Reuters, 3 June
U.K. Opens Talks With Huawei Rival as Johnson Confronts China. The UK is in talks with NEC and Samsung, rivals to Huawei, as Boris Johnson’s officials revise the British government’s stance toward China in the wake of the global coronavirus pandemic. Bloomberg, 3 June
Coronavirus began 'as an accident' in Chinese lab, says former MI6 boss. Telegraph, Independent, Daily Mail, 4 June
Hong Kong braces as protesters plan to defy Tiananmen vigil ban. Tensions are high as authorities ban vigils marking the 1989 pro-democracy movement. Guardian, SCMP, 4 June
Military presence grows at border amidst escalating India-China border dispute. SCMP, CNN, 4 June
Computers Told Taiwan’s Leaders They Could Sink Less Than Half Of A Chinese Invasion Fleet. Now Taipei’s Shopping For New Missiles. “The island country, just 100 miles from its most powerful enemy, is turning into a heavily armed fortress. Or to borrow the Taiwanese government’s own metaphor, an ‘undigestable porcupine.’” Forbes, 3 June
US urges United Nations to reject China’s claims of maritime sovereignty over contested waters in the South China sea. SCMP, 3 June
Five eyes partners discuss China issues. US State department, 3 June
Economy/Tech
US threatens to bar Chinese airlines. The Trump administration has said it will ban Chinese passenger airlines flying to and from the US this month unless Beijing relaxes restrictions on American airlines which the US states is a violation of the Air Transport Agreement. Financial Times, 3 June
US Bill Aims to Stop Theft of U.S. University Research by China. WSJ, 3 June & US State Department briefing
New U.S. restrictions on 33 Chinese firms and institutions take effect. Reuters, 3 June
Nomura/Hong Kong: beyond our Ken. Investment Bank, Nomura is reviewing the extent of its operations in Hong Kong; long considered a key outpost for the company. Financial Times, 3 June
Longer reads & Opinion
Janan Ganesh: A divided America cannot compete in a superpower duel with China. Financial Times, 3 June
Covid-19 made Beijing more aggressive says Nick Timothy. Politico, 4 June
Philip Stevens: Three compass points for an EU-China policy. Financial Times, 4 June
Sophie Mak: How China is dehumanising democrats in Hong Kong. The Spectator (Australia), 3 June
Why China May Call the World’s Bluff on Hong Kong. NY Times, 4 June