China News - 6 January 2021

International

Dozens of Hong Kong pro-democracy figures arrested in sweeping crackdown. In a police operation involving more than 1,000 officers, 53 people were detained under the national security law (NSL), accused by authorities of “subverting state power” by holding primaries for pro-democracy candidates for the Hong Kong election. The election was ultimately delayed by Lam for a year, purportedly because of the pandemic. BBC, The Guardian, Reuters, 6 January

Coronavirus: WHO chief ‘very disappointed’ China hasn’t granted entry to investigation team. A World Health Organization (WHO) team due to investigate the origins of Covid-19 in the city of Wuhan has been denied entry to China. Two members were already en route, with the WHO saying the problem was a lack of visa clearances. However, China has challenged this, saying details of the visit, including dates, were still being arranged. The Australian government said it hopes necessary permissions can be “issued without delay.” BBC, The Guardian, SCMP, 6 January

Greens accuse Merkel of forcing pact with China. Reinhard Bütikofer, an MEP for the German Green party and leader of the legislature’s China delegation, said Beijing was trying to “drive a wedge” between the EU and the US in the dying days of the Trump administration. The Times, 6 January

EU should not let others interfere in relations with China, Wang Yi says. Beijing and Brussels are partners not rivals, according to Chinese foreign minister who called for win-win cooperation. SCMP, 6 January

Xinjiang: M&S signs call to action over Uighur forced labour. Anti-Slavery International welcomed the move and encouraged other retailers to follow suit. It reflects increasing pressure on Western companies over their supply chains. BBC, 6 January

Covid-19: China says it can produce 1 billion doses of a Sinopharm vaccine this year, including 100 million doses ahead of Lunar New Year. SCMP, 6 January

China-India border dispute: PLA ‘has built frontline observation post’. Temporary post used in 2017 border stand-off has been turned into a shelter and lookout point, Chinese military says. SCMP, 6 January

Independence of Hong Kong courts on Beijing’s target list. A leading pro-Beijing politician in Hong Kong has publicly challenged the territory’s right to continued judicial independence, claiming its legal system was out of control and needed reform. The Times, 9 January

China watch

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on five-nation Africa tour to Nigeria, DRC, Botswana, Tanzania and the Seychelles. Wang Yi made a stopover in Cyprus on his official trip to Africa. SupChina, FMPRC, 5 January

China raises alarm after 63 local infections found in Hebei province on one day. SCMP, 6 January

CPC publishes revised regulations on united front work. Xinhua, 5 January

Economy & tech

Amazon prices rise as Chinese sellers’ VAT loophole is closed. The price of Chinese products sold on Amazon and eBay has jumped after tougher tax rules came into force on January 1. The Times, 6 January

Trump moves to ban Chinese software apps including Alipay, WeChat Pay and Tencent's QQ Wallet. FT, NYT, 6 January

Covid has bolstered China’s global dominance of steel, with a construction and industrial boom buoying demand. FT, 6 January

China's stock market closes at highest level since 2008 financial crisis, as it mounts rapid recovery from Covid-19 pandemic. The Guardian, 6 January

Longer reads & opinion

What we can do to expose China’s abuses. From sanctions to consumer boycotts, there are lots of ways to show persecuted Chinese minorities we haven’t forgotten them. Daniel Finkelstein in The Times, 5 January

The scope of forced labor in Xinjiang is bigger than we knew. Axios sums up the latest developments of evidence from Xinjiang. Axios, 5 January