China News - 9 June 2022
International
CRG co-chair proposes China-related amendment to Higher Education Bill. Alicia Kearns MP submitted an amendment to the Higher Education Bill which could see Confucius Institutes banned from operating in the UK. The amendment - which has cross-party backing - would create a duty for universities to report the creation of new institutes and give ministers the power to ban them over freedom of speech and academic freedom concerns. The Bill is due before the Commons next week. Politico, 9 June
Shanghai to impose new Covid lockdown and mass testing on 2.7m residents. The southwestern district of Minhang, home to 2.7 million people, will be placed under "closed management" on Saturday morning and all residents will be tested, district authorities said in a social media post. The city eased many restrictions last week but reported nine new local infections on Thursday. The Telegraph, 9 June
EU lawmakers urge more hardline approach on China human rights. Legislators used a parliamentary session in Strasbourg to call for more sanctions against Chinese officials implicated in alleged rights abuses; an import ban against goods suspected of being produced with forced labour; and a broader recalibration of the EU’s economic ties with Beijing. SCMP, 9 June
Czech Republic eyes exit from China’s 16+1 investment club. Al Jazeera, 8 June
Xinjiang scholars urge UN rights chief to publish China report. In an open letter, dozens of prominent Xinjiang scholars have accused the UN human rights chief of having ignored or contradicted academic findings on abuses in Xinjiang with her statements on the region. The Guardian, Bloomberg, 8 June
Biden unveils new Latin America economic plan at reboot summit. The US President announced a proposed new economic partnership with Latin America aimed at countering China's growing clout as he kicked off a regional summit marred by discord and snubs over the guest list. Reuters, 9 June
China, India and Turkey to siphon more Russian oil ahead of EU ban. Nikkei Asia, 9 June
China’s positions crucial in crunch talks as WTO chief eyes deals on fishing and vaccines. SCMP, 9 June
Economy & tech
Apple to shift some iPad production to Vietnam amid China supply chain woes. For the first time ever Apple is moving some iPad production out of China and shifting it to Vietnam after strict Covid-19 lockdowns led to months of supply chain disruptions. China’s BYD has helped Apple build production lines in Vietnam and could soon start to produce a small number of the tablets there, people with knowledge of the matter said. FT, 8 June
China trade data: export growth rebounds, outlook still looks fragile. Exports in dollar terms grew 16.9% in May from a year earlier, customs data showed Thursday, climbing well above an 8% gain projected by economists. Imports rose 4.1% after staying unchanged in the previous month. Bloomberg, 9 June
Biden’s Southeast Asia solar tariff reprieve a bright spot for Chinese producers. China’s major photovoltaic (PV) producers may see a surge in their exports, analysts said, after U.S. President Joe Biden ordered a two-year halt to tariffs on Southeast Asian solar suppliers, many of which are backed by Chinese companies. Caixin, 8 June
Sunac seeks payment extension for $345 million of debt. China’s fourth-largest developer, mired in a cash crunch, is negotiating with creditors on delaying repayment by two years. Caixin, 9 June
Tesla goes ahead with China hiring event after Musk job warning. Reuters, 9 June
China focus
Runs on Chinese local banks spur fears over health of regional lenders. Thousands of depositors in China have been fighting for almost two months to recover their savings after a bank run that has raised concerns over the financial health of the country’s smaller lenders. Authorities blamed fraudulent management practices for the crisis, which was sparked by the sudden suspension of cash withdrawals at four lenders in Henan province. FT, 9 June
Hong Kong’s John Lee asks court to ‘relieve’ penalties for failing to comply with election regulations. The chief executive-elect ran three election ads in April but failed to submit copies of related documents within one working day of their publication, an offence that could be punishable by a HK$5,000 fine and six months in prison. HKFP, 8 June
Shanghai lures graduates from top global schools with ‘Hukou’. Sixth Tone, 8 June
Long reads & opinion
Analysis: Xi shushes party elders as he marches toward 3rd term. Katsuji Nakazawa. Nikkei Asia, 9 June
Xi won’t yield over Zero-COVID pressures. The Chinese Communist Party will crack down rather than risk losing control. Eyck Freeman and Yanzhong Huang. Foreign Policy, 8 June
China’s Southern Strategy. Beijing is using the Global South to constrain America. Nadège Rolland. Foreign Affairs, 9 June
Top Gun betrays Hollywood's weakness in China. Some claim that the Tom Cruise flick is standing up to Beijing, but it's too early to cheer. Isaac Stone Fish. BBC, 9 June