China News - 4 March 2021
‘Dependency’ of UK universities on China creates risks, report says. The report, led by former universities minister Jo Johnson, is the first comprehensive assessment of Sino-British research collaboration. The FT reports that a draft version of the report finds more than a fifth of British university research in many high impact science and technology subjects involves collaboration with China. The draft copy also says the growth of research has created “strategic dependency” on Chinese partnerships, exposing British universities to “poorly understood” risks. FT, 4 March
CCP ran campaign to discredit BBC, thinktank finds. A new ASPI study finds a “coordinated effort by the CCP’s propaganda apparatus … to discredit the BBC”. Although the techniques were not new, the intensity of the campaigns, and combination of actors involved is increasing, ASPI found. The Guardian, ASPI report, The Telegraph, 4 March
China’s CGTN able to broadcast in Britain despite ban. CGTN has argued it can broadcast under the terms of the European Convention on Transfrontier Television. SCMP, 3 March
Lithuania mulls leaving China's 17+1 forum, expanding links with Taiwan. The country’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said the 17+1 cooperation programme between Beijing and Eastern Europe has brought Lithuania “almost no benefits”. LRT, Reuters, 3 March
US vs China: Biden bets on alliances to push back against Beijing. European and US officials say they are about to hold a series of discussions in the coming weeks over everything from strategic approaches to specific issues such as how to work together to stop China from securing sensitive technologies. FT, 4 March
US sets out security agenda ‘to prevail in strategic competition with China’. Biden’s Interim National Security Strategic Guidance describes China as the only competitor that had the power to “mount a sustained challenge to a stable and open international system”. SCMP, Announcement, 3 March
China rebukes British ambassador for explaining role of a free press. The post was a rare outreach by an ambassador to the Chinese public, offering an explanation of foreign coverage of China. The Times, 3 March
Hong Kong dropped from economic freedom index after crackdown. Hong Kong has been dropped from a prominent index of the world’s freest economies, announcd by the Heritage Foundation. FT, 4 March
China watch
Two sessions: China's top political advisory body starts annual session. Xi Jinping attended the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC, held at the Great Hall of the People. The NPC will open tomorrow. Xinhua, FT, 4 March
Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma loses title as China’s richest person. WSJ, 3 March
Tencent boss to call for tighter governance on China's internet economy: state media. Reuters, 3 March
Economy & tech
Insight: China’s Tencent becomes an investment powerhouse. The tech giant has investments worth an estimated $259 billion in Chinese and overseas startups. WSJ, 3 March
Ant Group’s boss seeks to quell employee discontent with promise of eventual IPO. WSJ, 3 March
Longer reads & opinion
China is not ten feet tall. Authoritarian systems excel at showcasing their strengths and concealing their weaknesses. But policymakers in Washington must be able to distinguish between the image Beijing presents and the realities it confronts. Ryan Hass in Foreign Affairs, 3 March
Economics, national security and the competition with China. George Magnus, War on the Rocks, 3 March
Pakistan learns the cost of an alliance with China. Insight on the repercussions of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, agreed in 2013. Politico, 4 March
How Beijing uses family videos to try to discredit Uyghur advocates. Hong Kong Free Press, 3 March