Britain and Canada take their stances on China

Here’s what else you need to know about China today:

Rishi Sunak is walking a thin line on China, after the British prime minister said that the “golden era” between the two nations was over, but stopped short of calling the Asian superpower a “threat” despite growing U.S. pressure on European allies.

• Meanwhile, China has protested against being labeled a threat in Canada’s newly issued Indo-Pacific strategy, accusing Ottawa of “being biased and exaggerating confrontation in the document.”

The tiny nation of Djibouti has suspended loan repayments to China and another large bilateral creditor, likely Kuwait, according to a World Bank report, as the crucial hub for China’s Belt and Road Initiative in the Horn of Africa struggles under mounting financing pressures.

CATL’s long-range sodium-ion batteries are here: Earlier today, an executive of battery manufacturer CATL stated that the company’s new high-density sodium-ion batteries with a range of 500 kilometers (310 miles) will be fitted in passenger vehicles this year. See today’s Business briefs from the Chinese media, with more links and info on:

• Healthy profits for Alibaba Health.
• A lot of glass for solar energy.
• Chang’an Automobile to spin off luxury electric car brand Avatr.

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