China News - 9 June 2021
International
Leading UK universities accept more than £40m from state-owned Chinese companies. The Telegraph covers new research by the China Research Group, which details how twenty leading UK universities have collectively accepted more than £40m of funding from Huawei and state-owned Chinese companies in recent years. Tom Tugendhat, who leads the CRG warned: “Chasing the money around British universities is revealing of connections and ties that will be seen by some as compromising academic independence.” The Telegraph, 8 June
US to create strike force to target 'unfair' trade. The Biden administration said on Tuesday the new body will look for violations of rules, which it says have damaged global supply chains. Though not explicitly directed at China, the review is part of a broader strategy to shore up US competitiveness in the face of economic challenges posed by the world's second-largest economy. BBC, Reuters, Al Jazeera, The Times, 8 June
US Senate approves $250bn bill for research and tech funding to counter China. The United States Innovation and Competition Act, which will boost American semiconductor production and the development of AI, includes a host of measures to constrain China. It passed the Senate by 68-32 vote. The Guardian, FT, CNBC, 9 June
Canada opens two new permanent residency pathways for Hong Kong residents. The first of the new streams is for applicants who have obtained a degree or diploma at a designated post-secondary learning institution over the last three years. The second is for applicants who have at least one year of full-time work experience or 1,560 hours of part-time work in Canada. CTV, CBC, 8 June
Uyghur deportations from Muslim countries raise fears of China’s creeping global crackdown. Oslo-based Uyghur activist Abduweli Ayup told CNN he had documented 28 Uyghur deportations from three Muslim-majority countries between 2017 and 2019, at the request of the Chinese government. CNN, Independent, 8 June
Orbán taunts Germany by doubling down on support for China. Hungary has emerged as the lone country blocking EU attempts to take action over Beijing's crackdown on Hong Kong. German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass took the lead in condemning Hungary. Politico, EUobserver, 8 June
Live wildlife sold in Wuhan markets before Covid-19 outbreak, study shows. More than 47,000 wild animals were sold in the Chinese city of Wuhan in the two and a half years before the first confirmed Covid-19 cluster was found there. Scientific Reports, WSJ, 8 June
China, ASEAN agree to avoid provocations in South China Sea. Reuters, SCMP, 8 June
US, China and India bolster undersea deterrence in Indo-Pacific. Nikkei Asia, 7 June
G7 coverage
The 2021 G7 Summit: The UK’s Objectives and Prospects for Success. This new briefing paper from the BFPG ahead of this weekend’s G7 Summit in Cornwall outlines the UK’s primary objectives for the Summit. The group identifies the lack of consensus around engagement with China as a particular problem. British Foreign Policy Group. 8 June
G7 plans steps to defend academic research with eye on China. The leaders of the seven nations will agree on creating guidelines to prevent leaks of sensitive research data and to safeguard tech with military applications when they meet this week. Nikkei Asia, 8 June
Australia calls for G7 support of WTO reforms to counter China. Scott Morrison is also set to warn that the risk of conflict in the Indo-Pacific region is growing. FT, Daily Mail, 8 June
China to be woven ‘throughout every meeting’ during Biden’s Europe trip. SCMP, 9 June
Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang will be key topics of discussion at upcoming G-7 talks. Nikkei Asia, Apple Daily, 8 June
China focus
China is vaccinating a staggering 20 million people a day. China now accounts for more than half of the 35 million or so people around the world receiving a COVID-19 shot each day. Nature, 9 June
China students hold principal hostage in rare protest. The protests were over a plan to merge a Nanjing college in Jiangsu province with a vocational institute - which is seen as less prestigious. BBC, The Straits Times, 9 June
China to offer Covid vaccine to children as young as 3. Independent, 8 June
A herd of wild elephants wandering across China captivates millions. WSJ, The Guardian, Independent, 8 June
Economy & tech
Apple did business with a wind energy company that has close ties to Xinjiang. Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology, China’s largest wind turbine maker, on at least one occasion entered talks to receive “labour exports” from the Hotan prefecture in Xinjiang to a facility hundreds of miles away. BuzzFeed, iMore, 8 June
China moves to tame inflation before prices rise too much. China’s leaders have discouraged steel makers and coal producers from raising prices and moved to crackdown on price gouging. NYT, 8 June
China plans to accelerate blockchain development and adoption in push to become world leader in technology by 2025. In a document released on Monday, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology highlighted efforts establish an ‘advanced blockchain industrial system’ and establish industrial standards, tax incentives and intellectual property protections. SCMP, Global Times, 8 June
Foreign asset managers are eyeing China’s vast pool of savings. The Economist, 8 June
Longer reads & opinion
NATO allies need to speed up defence cooperation. For decades, Nato allies have been leading when it comes to technology, but that’s not obvious anymore. China especially is investing heavily in new, disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and big data to be implemented into new advanced weapons systems. Helen Warrell. FT, 8 June
Exporting Chinese surveillance: the security risks of ‘smart cities’. “Safe” and “smart” city technologies represent a complex new frontier for China’s projection of power. FT, 9 June
It might not feel ethical, but China’s bond market is far too big to ignore. Overseas investors now own just over one in ten of all outstanding Chinese government bonds . The Times, 9 June
China should be worried about the Uyghur Tribunal. Andrew Tettenborn. The Spectator, 8 June
Ice-breakers of UK-China trade. Global Times, 8 June