China News - 6 October 2022
International
Malaysia becomes 9th country to ratify 11-member CPTPP pact. The Malaysian government said on Wednesday it has ratified an 11-member comprehensive trans-Pacific trade pact in the hope that the trade deal will boost trade and allow Malaysia better access to countries it has yet to sign a bilateral free trade deal with. Malaysia is reportedly looking forward to the participation of new members such as the UK, China, Taiwan, Ecuador and Costa Rica, which have officially applied to join the CPTPP. Nikkei Asia, 5 October
Secretary of State for International Trade, Kemi Badenoch, on the potential benefits for the UK:
Taiwan blocks Hong Kong immigrants over KPMG China and Cathay Pacific links. Taiwan authorities have rejected immigration applications from Hong Kong residents who have worked for the China arm of Big Four audit firm KPMG and airline Cathay Pacific, as Taipei tightens national security controls. Immigration consultants said Taiwan’s national security agency has stepped up vetting of a surge of residency applications from Hong Kongers following the Chinese territory’s suppression of pro-democracy protests in 2019. FT, 6 October
Palau says committed to supporting Taiwan despite 'mounting aggressions'. Reuters, 6 October
Pentagon adds drone maker DJI and BGI Genomics to blacklist. The move - which clears the way for the US Commerce Department to enact restrictions on US business transactions with the companies - aims to highlight Beijing’s ‘military-civil fusion strategy’. Earlier this year, a UK student campaign group raised concerns over patient privacy due to BGI’s long-standing ties to the Chinese Communist Party and the country’s military. SCMP, Evening Standard, 6 October
China sends criminal experts to halt kidnappings in mineral-rich DRC. Eager to better protect Chinese businesses and citizens in the mineral-rich country, Beijing recently sent a delegation led by Liu Jingjie, head of the criminal investigation bureau at China’s Ministry of Public Security, to meet Congolese security officials. SCMP, 6 October
Paris Club seeks China collaboration in Sri Lanka debt talks. Paris Club creditors, an informal group of mostly rich, western bilateral creditors, have reached out to China and India to coordinate Sri Lanka’s debt-restructuring talks, according to a person familiar with the matter, in an attempt to bring major global creditors together to rework the obligations of emerging economies. Bloomberg, 6 October
With 8 years left until 2030, we must leave no one behind: UK statement at UN Second Committee. Gov.uk, 5 October
Reports of Hong Kong-China travel restrictions relaxing soon. HKFP, 5 October
Economy & tech
Virgin Atlantic pulls out of Hong Kong after 30 years. Virgin Atlantic is pulling out of Hong Kong, scrapping flights and shutting its offices as strict Covid restrictions batter the island's status as a global financial hub. Ending three decades of flying to Hong Kong, Sir Richard Branson’s airline blamed the closure of Russian airspace as well as the declining profitability of the route. The Telegraph, 5 October
Huawei to relaunch 5G phone despite US sanctions. Huawei is planning to relaunch 5G phones as soon as next year, despite being blacklisted by Washington from acquiring US technology for smartphones. The company has been developing strategies to bypass the sanctions, including redesigning its smartphone without using restricted advanced chips, said two people familiar with the company’s plans. FT, 6 October
Boeing’s China orders dry up on US tensions in boost for Airbus. Bloomberg, 5 October
Hollywood says farewell to Chinese investment bonanza. FT, 6 October
China focus
Xi Jinping cracks down on disloyalty ahead of Communist party congress.
In the weeks leading up to this month’s party congress, at which Xi is expected to secure a third term as party leader and head of the military, China’s courts have orchestrated a series of high-profile corruption trials of senior cadres from the state’s police and security apparatus. FT, 6 October
China bans residents from leaving Xinjiang, just weeks after its last Covid lockdown. CNN, 6 October
Long reads & opinion
Parliament's critical leadership race. An insider briefing on the race to become Foreign Affairs Committee Chair. Sam Hogg. Beijing to Britain, 5 October
Inside China’s growing surveillance state. Artificial intelligence is making China’s expansive surveillance technologies more efficient. The Intercept, 5 October
The Chinese economy: Troubled times ahead. George Magnus. Council on Geostrategy, 5 October
How Xi will consolidate power at China’s 20th Party Congress. Ian Johnson. Council on Foreign Relations, 5 October