China News - 9 July 2021
Today’s event: Join Claire Coutinho MP, the British Foreign Policy Group's Sophia Gaston, and the Hoover Institution's Michael Auslin in conversation on the UK's strategy in the Indo-Pacific and the implications for our relationship with China. 5-6pm BST / 12-1pm ET, Friday 9 July. Register here to watch live.
International
EU votes for diplomats to boycott China Winter Olympics over rights abuses. The European Parliament overwhelmingly passed a non-binding resolution which also called for governments to impose further sanctions, provide emergency visas to Hong Kong journalists and further support Hongkongers to move to Europe. The Guardian, 9 July
China rebukes UK threat for political boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin dismissed the boycott threat as an “attempt to disrupt, obstruct and sabotage the preparation and convening of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games out of political motivation”. Evening Standard, 9 July
Hong Kong trial of 47 pro-democracy activists delayed for 11 weeks. Only one national security trial has begun in earnest, and proceedings are being closely watched amid concerns that Hong Kong’s long-respected judiciary is being eroded amid the crackdown. The Guardian, 8 July
China a ‘welcome friend’ for reconstruction in Afghanistan: Taliban spokesman. After seizing about one-third of Afghanistan’s districts in this summer’s offensive, the Taliban this week swept through the northeastern Badakhshan province, reaching the mountainous border with China’s Xinjiang region. China has evacuated 210 nationals amid a deteriorating security situation. SCMP, WSJ, 9 July
HSBC boss Mark Tucker accused of attack on democracy over Hong Kong by IPAC. Two IPAC co-chairmen have written to Tucker saying that his refusal to have a meeting without caveats or pre-conditions is “an affront to the democratic values which underpin our free societies”. The Times, 9 July
France establishes new taskforce on non-European state influences in the French university and academic world. Press statement, 8 July
Haiti: Assassination suspects behind killing of president Jovenel Moise arrested inside island’s Taiwanese embassy. SCMP, 9 July
China focus
Giant pandas no longer endangered but still vulnerable, says China. BBC, 9 July
Research center on Xi's thought on ecological progress established. Xinhua, 8 July
Economy & tech
Beijing asked Didi to change app’s mapping function over security fears. China’s internet regulator requested multiple changes to the mapping function of ride-hailing group Didi’s app before its US listing, fearing it could reveal sensitive government locations, according to two people familiar with the company. FT, 8 July
Chinese fitness app pulls New York IPO plan after Didi debacle. Keep, which is backed by Japan’s SoftBank and China’s Tencent and is expected to raise up to $500m, did not go ahead with its planned public filing. FT, 8 July
Longer reads & opinion
Two undercover investigations on the BBC: The battle for Scarborough Shoal and Chinese-American far-right networks.
How China's political influence is changing game development. Games Industry, 8 July
China seems intent on decoupling its companies from Western markets. The Economist, 9 July
Trade Secrets: How the US and EU can compete with China’s Belt and Road. FT, 8 July
Dirty money comes at a cost for universities. Cambridge University’s £300m gift from the UAE raises questions of academic freedom. John Kampfner in The Times, 9 July