China News - September 25
International
US and China to launch economy and finance working groups to stabilise ties. Washington and Beijing have created two working groups to tackle economic issues which will be overseen by Janet Yellen and He Lifeng. The US Treasury secretary said that this marks an “important step forward in our bilateral relationship”. Demetri Sevastopulo. Financial Times, 22 September
EU trade chief warns of “new areas of concern” in China relationship. Valdis Dombrovskis said the EU “needs to protect itself in situations where its openness is abused” and that it was “necessary” to broaden access to China’s market for foreign companies. Thomas Hale. Financial Times, 23 September
China’s Xi calls on West to lift sanctions against war-ravaged Syria. A readout from Chinese state media said “China opposes interference by external forces in Syria’s internal affairs…and urges all relevant countries to lift illegal unilateral sanctions against Syria”. Joe Cash. Reuters, 22 September
China climate envoy says phasing out fossil fuels is “unrealistic”. Xie, who will represent China at COP28 said “it is unrealistic to completely phase out fossil fuel energy” as they continue to play a vital role in maintaining global energy security. David Stanway. Reuters, 22 September
China fuels global surge in mpox cases as LGBTQ+ stigma hampers response. The number of weekly cases reported globally increased by 328% in the week of 10 September, most of this increase came from China. The WHO says China is facing “sustained community transmission” of the virus. Amy Hawkins. The Guardian, 22 September
China sentences a Uyghur scholar to life in jail. Rahile Dawut’s sentence for “endangering state security” was confirmed after she appealed against a 2018 conviction. She has now been jailed for life according to US-based Dui Hua Foundation rights group. BBC News, 23 September
India-China border row flares over athlete visas. Three Indian martial arts athletes have been caught up in a row between India and China over the long-standing Arunachal Pradesh dispute. Kathryn Armstrong. BBC News, 22 September
“What adjectives describe Xi Jinping?” China’s new English textbook asks. The University textbook, College English for New Era, prompts language students to focus on Xi’s previous experience and ideas to ensure a “correct worldview”. Sun Yu. Financial Times, 24 September
Taiwan raises concerns about situation “getting out of hand” with China drills. Taiwan’s Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said it “is something we are very worried about”. Ben Blanchard and Roger Tung. Reuters, 23 September
Economy & Tech
Chinese investors rush into local government bonds as Beijing eases default fears. Credit investors are snapping up bonds issued in China’s most indebted provinces, as central government support for local financing vehicles has helped to lift debt sales in August to near-record levels. Cheng Leng and Andy Lin. Financial Times, 22 September
Australian government says “yeah, no” to deal with China to drop wine tariffs. Beijing has offered to drop its tariffs on Australian wine in return for more favourable treatment of its wind towers, railway wheels and stainless steel sinks. Australia’s agriculture minister, Murray Watt, has said that they regard these as “entirely separate matters”. Paul Karp. The Guardian, 24 September
Even China’s 1.4bln population can’t fill all its vacant homes. A former official said that even China’s large population would not be enough to fill all the empty apartments littered across the country. It is no secret that the property market has slumped since 2021. Albee Zhang and Ryan Woo. Reuters, 25 September
Opinion & long-reads
How Xi Jinping is taking over China’s stock market. Xi is creating a market that serves the state by using listing and trading rules to direct capital into sectors that match his current priorities. Hudson Lockett and Cheng Leng. Financial Times, 22 September
Marriage declines in China as young Chinese choose dating. The number of recorded marriages fell from 13.5mn couples in 2013 to 6.8mn in 2022. Frederik Kelter. Al Jazeera, 22 September
Starving zoo animals and cucumber fines. China’s indebted cities are desperate for cash. The Endangered Species Fund called for food donations for animals in the local government-run Dongshan Park zoo which is reportedly running out of money. Some local governments are even fining restaurants for serving cucumbers without a licence and truck drivers for carrying overly heavy loads in a bid to raise money. Laura He and Berry Wang. CNN Business, 20 September