China News - 9 October 2020
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International
China may pose threat to UK as northern sea route clears, says navy chief ahead of integrated review. The effects of climate change mean that China’s navy could reach the North Atlantic by a northern sea passage, via the Arctic, which runs the length of Russia. It has now become passable to normal shipping in autumn without the need to use an icebreaker. Senior levels of the navy are said to be concerned that China will work with the Kremlin to try to exploit it for trade and military purposes. The Guardian, The Telegraph, 8 October
China and Taiwan: Bloomberg reports evidence of full-scale replicas of targets - including Taiwan’s Presidential Office Building - in Chinese military training complex. The consensus remains that Beijing will continue efforts to control Taiwan through military threats, diplomatic isolation and economic incentives. But Taiwan will be among the most pressing security issues facing whoever wins the US election on Nov. 3. Bloomberg, 7 October
China eventually joins WHO’s $18bn COVAX vaccine programme - aiming to help lower-income countries get access to vaccines - filling void left by Trump. China had originally missed the deadline to join in September, but the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said China is taking this “concrete step to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines”. The US has not joined the COVAX initiative. Bloomberg, FT, 8 October
Uyghurs tell Australian parliamentary inquiry of 'intimidation and harassment' from Chinese government to prevent them from speaking out. A parliamentary committee is considering safety concerns as part of its inquiry into issues facing diaspora communities in Australia. The inquiry also heard calls from other groups for the Australian government to introduce Magnitsky-style laws to impose targeted sanctions against human rights abusers. The Guardian, 9 October
‘We need to up our game’ against China in Western Balkans, says EU official. The bloc earmarked a €9 billion (US$10.5 billion) fund for the region increasingly seen as a battleground in the EU’s systemic rivalry with Beijing. SCMP, 8 October
China accused by Taiwan of trying to impose censorship in India after New Delhi embassy advised journalists to observe the “one-China principle” after newspapers carried advertisements for Taiwan’s national day. Reuters, 8 October
China watch:
Japan to welcome Chinese business travel from next month. Caixin, 8 October
Iran foreign minister to visit China this weekend following US sanctions. AP, 9 October
China achieves remarkable progress in livelihood improvement with 95% coverage of medical insurance (People’s Daily) and PD says China’s success in combating poverty offers hope for Africa (Xinhua).
Economy & tech
Renminbi jumps by most in more than 4 years, boosted by the country’s accelerating economic recovery and rising odds of a Joe Biden presidency in the US. FT, 9 October
Domestic travel over Golden Week boosts China’s economic recovery, although tourism revenue was still 30% lower than the same period last year. FT, 9 October
Central banks, including Federal Reserve and Bank of England, sketch out digital currency plans, as China forges ahead with digital renminbi pilot scheme. Reuters, 9 October
Longer reads & opinion
FT View: China blurs lines between private and state business as entrepreneurs are pressured to meet Party objectives. FT, 8 October
A city with a thousand eyes: mass surveillance in Belgrade with Huawei facial recognition cameras. About Intel, 8 October
Who is the second most powerful person in China - Li Keqiang or Wang Huning? Rabbit Hole, 8 October
Sour grapes over latest Pew survey: The Chinese media response to latest Pew survey showing high point of negative perceptions of China. China Media Project, 8 October
The economic balance of power and need for international alliances to modify China’s behaviour. Stewart Paterson for Hinrich Foundation, 8 October
We need a new approach to teaching modern Chinese history: we have lazily repeated false narratives for too long. James A. Millward in Medium, 8 October