China Articles - November 7, 2021
Friends,
Below is this week’s edition of articles and reports on the malign activities of the Chinese Communist Party.
Just over 50 years ago, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 2758, which forced Chiang Kai-shek’s Republic of China to surrender its seat to Mao Zedong’s People’s Republic of China. Ever since, the Chinese Communist Party has sought to use that resolution to justify Taiwan’s exclusion from all United Nations organizations, even as other divided countries (North and South Korea, East and West Germany, Sudan and South Sudan) are allowed to be represented individually.
Half a century after Taiwan was expelled from the organization, Taipei has gained significant international support (see article #4, a delegation from the European Parliament visits Taiwan). In response, Beijing is waging a significant diplomatic and media effort aimed at casting the 50-year-old resolution as prohibitive of Taiwanese ascendance to the United Nations. Contrary to the CCP’s disinformation campaign, Resolution 2758 only grants Beijing the right to represent China in the United Nations without casting judgement on potential Taiwanese membership.
Thanks for reading!
Matt
MUST READ
1. The case for splitting China out of the EM index
Leo Lewis
Financial Times, October 30, 2021
The Financial Times covers the fallout from a recent report written by Goldman Sachs research analysts supporting the removal of China from the MSCI Emerging Markets index. Creating an “EM ex-China” asset class would mitigate the current overweighting of Chinese securities in the index—soon to be nearly 40% of its total market capitalization—and offer asset managers increased optionality.
Goldman Sachs analysts refer euphemistically to “idiosyncratic factors (e.g. geopolitics, regulatory policy)” which reveals another unstated rationale: give investors a way to be less exposed to the PRC. The report has been widely circulated amongst investors and comes as Beijing assumes an increasingly firm regulatory position towards domestic businesses.
2. The Corps of Xinjiang
Katrina Northrop
The Wire China, October 31, 2021
Writing for The Wire China, Katrina Northrop examines the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), a paramilitary group tasked by Beijing with overseeing the removal and replacement of Uyghur Muslims from the region with ethnic Han Chinese. Appearing on nearly every United States sanctions list, the XPCC is reportedly involved in the administration of detention camps and forced labor transfers which have played a crucial role in the ongoing genocide against religious minorities in Xinjiang.
While Washington has worked to financially isolate the XPCC and its leadership, the “state-owned enterprise on steroids” remains largely misunderstood by international observers and continues to function as a crucial element Chinese policy in the region.
3. Duterte’s Dalliance with China Is Over
Derek Grossman, Foreign Policy, November 3, 2021
Despite initial interest in a closer Chinese partnership, Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has shifted his allegiance back to Washington, writes Derek Grossman for Foreign Policy. Beijing has proven to be an unreliable partner for Duterte and the Philippines as it continues to maintain a stubborn position on disputed territory in the South China Sea.
In the face of sustained Chinese pressure, Manilla appears ready once again to embrace its relationship with the United States. The Philippines have expressed strong support for the AUKUS agreement (the only ASEAN nation to do so), reestablished a strategic dialogue with Washington, and are likely to expand joint military exercises with American forces—representing a significant geopolitical acquisition for a US administration which appears increasingly willing to confront Beijing and assume a larger regional role.
4. European Parliament delegation starts talks in Taiwan
European Parliament, November 2, 2021
Seven Members of the European Parliament traveled to Taiwan for a three-day visit to discuss foreign interference in the democratic processes of the EU. The MEPs seek to learn from Taiwan’s experiences fighting against Chinese Communist Party disinformation, attempts at interference in Taiwanese democracy, media, culture and education, as well as Taiwan’s efforts to reinforce its cyber-resilience. The delegation will meet with Taiwan’s President, Tsai Ing-wen and other senior officials and members of the Legislative Yuan (Taiwan’s Parliament).
5. Chinese Workers Say They Are Lured Abroad and Exploited for Belt and Road Jobs
Liza Lin, Yifan Wang and Jon Emont, Wall Street Journal, October 27, 2021
Chinese citizens recruited to work abroad by Chinese State-owned Enterprises on “Belt and Road” projects are seeking projection in other countries as they report abysmal working conditions and exploitative practices by the Chinese companies. The companies routinely collect their passports and then force them to sign contracts for less pay and longer hours than what they were promised in the PRC. These exploitative practices by Chinese Communist Party officials against their own citizens appear to involve tens of thousands of Chinese laborers in more than a dozen countries.
AUTHORITARIANISM
6. China tells citizens to stockpile food as Covid controls are tightened
Ryan McMorrow and Tom Mitchell, Financial Times, November 2, 2021
7. US business chiefs warn of expat exodus from China
Demetri Sevastopulo, Australian Financial Review, November 2, 2021
8. Xi Jinping’s “Democracy”: No Multi-Party Elections, No Independent Judiciary
Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter, November 2, 2021
9. The Local Government Squeeze
Eliot Chen, The Wire China, October 31, 2021
10. Hong Kong Passes Film Censorship Law, Curbing Free Speech Again
Kari Soo Lindberg, Bloomberg, October 26, 2021
11. China’s Property Developers Struggle to Find Buyers for Billions in Assets
Bloomberg, November 2, 2021
12. China’s state-controlled media are put on an even shorter leash
Economist, October 30, 2021
13. Beijing tightens grip on data leaving its borders with tough new rules
Xinmei Shen, South China Morning Post, October 29, 2021
14. China dismisses ‘politically motivated’ US report into Covid origins
Laura Zhou, South China Morning Post, October 31, 2021
15. Third of Chinese developers could face debt problems as Evergrande contagion grows – report
Martin Farrer, The Guardian, October 28, 2021
16. China Locks 30,000 Visitors Inside Shanghai Disneyland After One Guest Got Covid-19
Natasha and Erich Schwartzel , Wall Street Journal, November 2, 2021
17. American Banks Have What They Want in China. Their Fate Is Still Out of Their Hands.
Aaron Back and Telis Demos, Wall Street Journal, October 29, 2021
18. China accused of blocking media access to Winter Olympics
Helen Davidson, The Guardian, November 2, 2021
19. Jimmy Lai goes on trial over Tiananmen vigil
The Guardian, November 1, 2021
20. Origin of Virus May Remain Murky, U.S. Intelligence Agencies Say
Julian E. Barnes, New York Times, October 29, 2021
21. Fourteen activists withdraw bid to run in People’s Congress district elections
Cheng Yut Yiu, Radio Free Asia, November 1, 2021
22. China Property Watch: Strains in The Key Of 'B'
Matthew Chow, Aeon Liang, Spencer Ng, et al., S&P Global Ratings, October 27, 2021
23. New Hong Kong to censor old movies for security breaches
France 24, October 27, 2021
24. EM ex-China as a separate equity asset class
Sunil Koul, Timothy Moe, Caesar Maasry, et al., Goldman Sachs Research, October 20, 2021
25. Who decides China’s foreign policy?
Dr. Yu Jie and Lucy Ridout, Chatham House, November 1, 2021
26. The Chinese Communist Party’s Sixth Plenum
Charles Parton, Council on Geostrategy, November 3, 2021
27. China's Xi to cement authority, legacy in Communist Party resolution
Yew Lun Tian and Gabriel Crossley, Reuters, November 2, 2021
28. ‘I have no shame in my heart’: Hong Kong activist Tony Chung pleads guilty to secession and money laundering
Candice Chau, Hong Kong Free Press, November 3, 2021
ENVIRONMENTAL HARMS
29. China’s Ambitious Climate Goals Collide with Reality, Hampering Global Efforts
Sha Hua and Phred Dvorak, Wall Street Journal, October 27, 2021
30. Biden says Russia, China ‘didn’t show up’ on climate change commitments
David M. Herszenhorn, Politico, October 31, 2021
31. China Binges on U.S. Gas to Manage Energy Shortage, Carbon Footprint
Brian Spegele, Wall Street Journal, November 2, 2021
32. 'Ordinary people suffer most': China farms face climate woes
Christina Larson and Emily Wang Fujiyama, Associated Press, November 2, 2021
33. China and India cast pall over climate ambitions ahead of COP26
Amy Kazmin, Leslie Hook, and Eleanor Olcott, Financial Times, October 28, 2021
34. China Accuses Mystery Green Group of Collecting Data Near Navy
Bloomberg, November 1, 2021
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE AND COERCION
35. Chinese vessels return to reef at center of spat with Philippines
Radio Free Asia, November 1, 2021
36. Blinken and Wang warn against fuelling Taiwan tensions
Andrea Shalal, Reuters, October 31, 2021
37. Tencent's $1.3 billion Sumo deal comes under U.S. security probe
Reuters, October 29, 2021
38. Huawei, Offshore Deals, And the Pandora Papers: 'How A Large Chinese Company Operates in Serbia'
Iva Martinovic and Reid Standish, Radio Free Europe, October 27, 2021
39. Germany Inc.’s China syndrome
Matthew Karnitschnig and Laurenz Gehrke, Politico, October 26, 2021
40. China warns that Taiwan’s push for international space presents ‘seismic risks’
Lucas Niewenhuis, SupChina, October 28, 2021
41. Karliczek fordert Aus für Konfuzius-Institute [Karliczek calls for an end to Confucius Institutes]
Armin Himmelrath, Der Spiegel, October 29, 2021 — ORIGINAL IN GERMAN
42. AUDIO — A Conversation with Konstantinas Andrijauskas on Lithuania's Withdrawal from the 17 + 1 and Ties with Taiwan
Marshall Reid and Katherine Schultz, GTI Insights, November 1, 2021
43. Scharfe Macht: Teilen und Herrschen [Sharp Power: Divide and Rule]
Christopher Walker and Jessica Ludwig, Frankfurter Allgemeine, October 31, 2021 — ORIGINAL IN GERMAN
44. The battle to keep China off European university campuses
The Week, November 1, 2021
45. MEPs set to land in Taiwan on Tuesday, defying Beijing
Sarah Anne Aarup and Stuart Lau, Politico, November 2, 2021
46. U.S. senators want bigger Inter-American Development Bank role for Taiwan
Patricia Zengerle, Reuters, October 28, 2021
47. China in renewed ‘culture export’ push to boost soft power
Coco Feng, South China Morning Post, October 29, 2021
48. VIDEO — Betting on China
BlackRock Loves China, October 27, 2021
49. China warns US of 'game-changing' consequences if it pushes to include Taiwan in the UN
Nicola Smith, The Telegraph, October 27, 2021
50. BlackRock’s China Relationship Target in Nationwide Ad Campaign
Kenneth Rapoza, Forbes, October 27, 2021
51. Westminster School scraps plans for linked institutions in China
Andrew Jack, Financial Times, November 2, 2021
52. China’s Foreign Minister Tries Again to Win Europe Back
Shannon Tiezzi, The Diplomat, October 29, 2021
53. 600 Church of Almighty God Members Sentenced in 2021
Wang Yichi, Bitter Winter, November 3, 2021
54. Wikipedia in Chinese editing war of words
Shiroma Silva, BBC, October 29, 2021
55. How unheeded warnings about China are now hurting Chinese Canadians
Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, Axios, October 26, 2021
56. China, Russia revive push to lift U.N. sanctions on North Korea
Michelle Nichols, Reuters, November 2, 2021
HUMAN RIGHTS AND RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION
57. G-20 leaders at odds over Beijing Olympics
Ryan Heath, Politico, October 30, 2021
58. NBA Player Enes Kanter Leads Rally Against Uyghur Forced Labor
Asim Kashgarian, VOA News, October 31, 2021
59. Xinjiang’s Oppression Has Shifted Gears
Daria Impiombato, Foreign Policy, November 3, 2021
60. Liz Truss pulls no punches about ‘genocide’ of Uighurs by China
Matt Dathan, Sunday Times, November 1, 2021
61. A Chinese Tennis Star Accuses a Former Top Leader of Sexual Assault
Steven Lee Myers, New York Times, November 3, 2021
62. China: Anti-Religious Education Comes to Kindergarten
Yu Chuntao, Bitter Winter, November 1, 2021
63. Jailed Wuhan COVID-19 journalist ‘close to death’ in Chinese prison
Lu Xi, Radio Free Asia, November 2, 2021
64. Top Solar Firm Longi Says U.S Customs Detained Products
Bloomberg, November 3, 2021
65. United Nations States that Christians in China are “at Risk of Torture”
Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter, October 29, 2021
INDUSTRIAL POLICIES AND ECONOMIC ESPIONAGE
66. China rations diesel amid fuel shortages
Katie Silver, BBC, October 28, 2021
67. Alibaba’s silicon chip in the age of hypersonic missiles
Paul Triolo, SupChina, November 1, 2021
68. Panama’s Maritime Business and the Evolving Strategic Landscape
R. Evan Ellis and Eddie Tapiero, Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale, October 27, 2021
69. FBI Chief Seeks More Help from Companies to Fight Chinese Hacking
Bloomberg, October 28, 2021
70. Chinese bid for Welsh chip factory faces new hurdle
James Titcomb, The Telegraph, November 1, 2021
CYBER AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
71. There will be no more Fortnite in China
Nick Statt, Protocol, November 1, 2021
72. GitHub is China’s ‘last land of free speech’ – but for how long?
Meaghan Tobin, Rest of World, November 1, 2021
73. Hikvision Requires Private Xinjiang Meeting with UK Camera Commissioner, Refused
Charles Rollet, IPVM, October 28, 2021
74. China, 5G, and NATO Security
Julia Pallanch and Amy Yanan Zhang, German Marshall Fund, October 27, 2021
75. EXPLAINER: Why are foreign tech firms pulling out of China?
Zen Soo, Associated Press, November 3, 2021
76. Chinese tennis star’s sexual assault allegation against former top leader prompts online blackout
Eva Dou, Washington Post, November 3, 2021
77. TikTok Executive Won't Say Whether China Can Access American User Data
Santi Ruiz, Washington Free Beacon, October 26, 2021
78. Yahoo Pulls Out of China, Ending Tumultuous Two-Decade Relationship
Liza Lin, Wall Street Journal, November 2, 2021
MILITARY AND SECURITY THREATS
79. What Will Drive China to War?
Michael Beckley and Hal Brands, The Atlantic, November 1, 2021
80. Don’t Assume the US Will Fight China and Russia One at a Time
Bradley Bowman, John Hardie, and Zane Zovak, Defense One, October 28, 2021
81. Message to China: Army, IAF Launch Major Exercise in Eastern Ladak
Rajat Pandit, Times of India, November 2, 2021
82. U.S. concerned by 'coercive' Chinese actions in Taiwan strait, Biden tells summit
Reuters, October 27, 2021
83. China seeks to join the nuclear big league
The Economist, November 3, 2021
84. Pentagon: Chinese nuke force growing faster than predicted
Robert Burns, Associated Press, November 3, 2021
85. If China Attacks Taiwan, What Will Europe Do?
Joris Teer and Tim Sweijs, The Diplomat, October 28, 2021
86. Taiwan is relying more and more on American protection against China
Michael Evans, Sunday Times, October 28, 2021
87. Harnessed Lightning
Ryan Fedasiuk, Jennifer Melot and Ben Murphy, Center for Security and Emerging Technology, November 2, 2021
88. Jasper Becker on How to Deal With China Post-Covid
David Barboza, The Wire China, October 31, 2021
89. Taiwan leader has 'faith' US will defend island against a Chinese attack
The Telegraph, October 28, 2021
90. China plans to quadruple nuclear weapons stockpile, Pentagon says
Demetri Sevastopulo, Financial Times, November 3, 2021
ONE BELT, ONE ROAD STRATEGY
91. China set for closer interaction with Afghan Taliban, urges US to engage
Shi Jiangtao, South China Morning Post, October 27, 2021
92. China to finance counter-terrorism base for Tajikistan
Jeremy Goldkorn, SupChina, October 27, 2021
93. How BRI Debt Puts China at Risk
Jessica C. Liao, The Diplomat, October 27, 2021
OPINION PIECES
94. Needed: A Military Strategy for China
Seth Cropsey, Wall Street Journal, November 2, 2021
95. A Dangerous Decade of Chinese Power Is Here
Andrew S. Erickson and Gabriel B. Collins, Foreign Policy, November 3, 2021
96. Law firms in Hong Kong in the line of fire
Primrose Riordan, Financial Times, November 2, 2021
97. China says it defends women’s rights. So why attack feminists?
The Economist, October 28, 2021
98. The Fight for Taiwan Could Come Soon
Elbridge Colby, Wall Street Journal, October 27, 2021
99. Taiwan’s leaders need to coalesce around a defense concept
Ryan Haas, Taipei Times, November 1, 2021
100. How the U.S. Should Deter China’s Nuclear Ambitions
Editorial Board, Bloomberg, November 1, 2021
101. China Has Started Making the Same Mistakes as the Soviets
Hal Brands, Bloomberg, October 27, 2021
102. The U.N. Should Open Its Door to Democratic Taiwan
Gary Schmitt and Michael Mazza, Wall Street Journal, October 24, 2021
103. Cheering Enes Kanter
The National Review, October 31, 2021
104. The Longterm Consequences of China’s Cash-Strapped Cities
Victor Shih, The Wire China, October 31, 2021
105. India is not Sitting on the Geopolitical Fence
Tanvi Madan, War on the Rocks, October 27, 2021