International
Chinese students face ban from sensitive subjects at UK universities amid security fears. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will expand its remit of its security vetting for overseas applicants to those wanting to study subjects relating to national security, amid concerns about the theft of intellectual property. The measures are expected to block hundreds of Chinese students from entering Britain. The Times, 1 October
Behind China’s decade of European deals, state investors evade notice - new analysis of hundreds of Chinese acquisitions in Europe over the past decade. In many of the European mergers and acquisitions, Chinese state influence was effectively hidden by layers of ownership, complex shareholding structures and deals executed via European subsidiaries, new research found. WSJ, 30 September
Russia and China waging ‘political war’, UK military chief says as he unveiled new strategy for UK military over the next decade. Russia and China are using cyber attacks, disinformation campaigns and mass surveillance to wage “political warfare” on the west, with the goal of “breaking its willpower” without ever escalating into formal conflict, the head of Britain’s armed forces warned on Wednesday. FT, 29 September
Interview: Outgoing MI6 chief Alex Younger says Britain must coexist with China and avoid Cold War; also says UK government policy is on the right track. Lunch with the FT, 30 September
US House Republicans taskforce release 140-page report with 400 recommendations for China crackdown. Politico, Full Report, 30 September
Spy community not postured to handle rising China threat, US House Intelligence Committee finds. Politico, 30 September
Hong Kong police out in force to deter protests on China's national day. AFP, 1 October
Mike Pompeo tells Vatican, Italy to resist engaging with Chinese government. The Times, FT, 1 October
China watch
1 October is National Day in China: Xi pays tribute to national heroes at Tiananmen Square. Xinhua, 30 September
China promotes 'revenge travel' to boost economy in national Golden Week after Covid lockdowns. The Guardian, 1 October
People’s Daily: Xi calls for enhancing biodiversity conservation, global environmental governance. PD, 30 September
Xinhua: Xi eyes permanent friendship with Cuba. PD, 30 September
Economy & tech
Exclusive: China preparing an antitrust investigation into Google. Reuters, 30 September
China AI start-ups surge forward with $30bn funding since government announced an AI drive in 2016. FT, 30 September
Longer reads & opinion
Beijing's tyranny forced me to flee Hong Kong, but I will fight for democracy in exile. Nathan Law in The Guardian, 1 October
The unfinished Chinese civil war in the Taiwan Strait. John Culver in The Interpreter, 1 October
Why Washington’s clampdown on Chinese chipmakers could backfire. FT, 29 September
Smart China choices - how Australia can find a competitive edge in an asymmetric relationship. The Interpreter, 1 October
Hack for the Uighurs: how to undermine China’s genocide. CapX, 30 September