China News - 9 March 2021

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International

First independent report into Xinjiang genocide allegations claims evidence of Beijing's 'intent to destroy' Uyghur people. The report, released today by the Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy think tank, finds that the Chinese government's alleged actions in Xinjiang have violated every single provision in the United Nations' Genocide Convention. More than 50 global experts in human rights, war crimes and international law contributed. CNN, The Guardian, New Lines, 9 March

UK universities’ closeness to China poses risks, says Jo Johnson. The former universities minister Jo Johnson has warned of the “poorly understood” risks of increasingly close collaboration between UK universities and China and recommends a new framework for the relationship. His new report for King’s Policy Institute identified a significant increase in funding from China over the past two decades. The Guardian, Full Report, 9 March

UK watchdog fines Chinese state broadcaster over footage of ‘forced confessions’. China’s state-owned broadcaster has been fined a total of £225,000 by a UK watchdog for serious breaches of fairness, privacy and impartiality rules. The Telegraph, 8 March

German children’s book pulped over ‘China virus’ claim. A German publisher has pulped copies of a children’s book that said that the coronavirus originated in China, following a barrage of criticism from Chinese diplomats and parents. The Times, accompanying op-ed, 9 March

US-China relations: investment environment improving for American firms, AmCham survey shows. Only 12 per cent of the 345 US firms surveyed said the investment environment was deteriorating. SCMP, 9 March

China turns its back on Hong Kong loyalists. China’s most devoted supporters in Hong Kong are claiming that they have been cut out of decisions about changes to the territory’s electoral system. Analysts said this was because of Beijing’s frustration with the city’s elite inability to control the 2019 protests. FT, 7 March

Cut Uighur abuse from your supply chains, Irish firms told by TDs. The Times, 9 March

Fugitive Hong Kong politician Ted Hui flees to Australia. He cited the opportunity to press the Australian government to take a tougher stance. The Times, 9 March

China watch

More from Two Sessions:

• China’s debt-reduction campaign a 2021 priority as government seeks to resume deleveraging campaign. SCMP, 9 March

• Xi calls for good start in strengthening military, national defense in 2021-2025. Xinhua, 9 March

• China will speed up legislation on foreign sanctions and interference, aiming to “enrich its legal toolbox for responding to challenges and guarding against risks”. Caixin, 8 March

• Basic research to account for 8% of China's total R&D spending. CGTN, 8 March

Economy & tech

Why China worries about losing manufacturing. This year, the five-year plan contains a new and intriguing goal: Keep manufacturing as a percentage of the total economy “basically stable.” WSJ, 9 March

China’s appetite for meat fades as vegan revolution takes hold. Its plant-based meat market is projected to grow around 20% annually. The Guardian, 9 March

Longer reads & opinion

Global Britain must avoid return to the sinophobia of old. Chair of APPG for China, Richard Graham, in The Times, 9 March

In 2018, diplomats warned of risky Coronavirus experiments in a Wuhan lab. No ne listened. An excerpt from Josh Rogin’s new book in Politico, 8 March