China News - 6 May 2021
International
China 'indefinitely' suspends key economic dialogue with Australia. The China-Australia Strategic and Economic Dialogue was being suspended “until further notice”, the Chinese authorities said. In a statement on Thursday, a Chinese government commission accused Australia of having a "Cold War mindset". BBC, Reuters, The Times, 6 May
G7: Raab says we're looking for constructive, calibrated approach to China. Ministers bridged their gaps on how to confront China’s rise by vowing only to improve their countries’ resilience to China’s “arbitrary, coercive economic policies and practices”. Dominic Raab said "we're all looking for a constructive, calibrated approach; engaging where there's scope to do so on things like climate change and being very clear on the values we hold dear”. The Guardian, Reuters, 6 May
Full G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meeting: Communiqué. Contains a section on China. Gov, 5 May
Hong Kong court jails three on riot charges despite no evidence of rioting. rioting. In a separate case, the activist Joshua Wong and three others were also given jail terms over a Tiananmen massacre vigil held in breach of Covid restrictions. BBC, The Guardian, 6 May
Britain and US pledge to 'preserve freedom of the seas' before huge operation in Indo-Pacific. Britain and America's navy chiefs said they were "operating in lockstep to preserve the freedom of the seas" as they met in Washington on Tuesday. The Telegraph, 6 May
Olympics sponsors duck questions over Beijing 2022. 11 of the 13 companies that have major sponsorship deals with the International Olympic Committee that include the Beijing games did not comment when asked by the FT if they were reconsidering their plans. FT, 6 May
New Zealand accuses China of human rights abuses but not genocide. SCMP, The Telegraph, 5 May
Economy & tech
Britain set to stockpile metals for electric cars. Officials at the Department for Business are discussing options to protect the UK's access to vital materials including lithium and cobalt. The Telegraph, 5 May
Falling Chinese rocket to crash to Earth on weekend as US calls for ‘responsible space behaviours’. China’s space agency has yet to say whether the rocket is being controlled or will make an out-of-control descent. The Guardian, 6 May
Longer reads & opinion
Leader: The revenge of history. China’s autocratic turn shows why the UK must end its dependence on the country for essential infrastructure. New Statesman, 6 May
Comment: The west is in a contest, not a cold war, with China. FT, 6 May. There is more to Asia than China as we seek reliable partners - Martin Purbrick. The Scotsman, 6 May. Japan is the ally post-Brexit Britain needs. Iain Martin in The Times, 6 May.
The China model: why is the West imitating Beijing? Niall Ferguson for The Spectator, 6 May