Highlighted links for September 12, 2023

Below are links from our NewsBase to other noteworthy reports published in the last 24 hours from and about China.

BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY:

AI and China’s new Data Security Law
China will in time use machines to execute Data Security Law, senior scientist with role in policymaking says / SCMP (paywall)
“China will gradually replace humans with machines in the implementation and execution of its Data Security Law, a senior scientist commissioned by Beijing to identify data critical to national security said.”

China’s insurance crisis
The slow-burning insurance crisis unfolding in the shadows / Caixin (paywall)
“Banks and local government debt usually grab the headlines when it comes to risks in China’s financial system. But insurance, a sector traditionally associated with caution and prudence, has quietly turned into a slow-burning crisis for regulators.”

Chinese airlines
Air China jet evacuated after engine fire sends smoke into cabin in Singapore and 9 are injured / AP
“Nine passengers were injured after an engine fire sent smoke into the cabin of an Air China jetliner landing in Singapore, prompting an evacuation of the aircraft.”

Real estate and property development
Chinese property woes trigger ‘dramatic shift’ into US stocks / FT (paywall)
“The Chinese property sector has emerged as the biggest threat to the stability of the global economy, fuelling a ‘dramatic shift’ out of emerging market stocks and into the U.S., according to a closely watched investor survey.”
Beijing throws China’s housing market a bone / WSJ (paywall)
“The deep malaise in China’s critical housing sector has finally pushed Beijing to make some forceful moves. The real-estate market may get a meaningful boost in late 2023 — but it will remain in a state of structural decline over the long run.”
China’s nationwide property tax plan set for further delay / Caixin (paywall)
“The Chinese government’s long-awaited rollout of a controversial property tax looks set to be delayed yet again, as a law that would provide a legal basis for the levy is missing from the latest legislative program of the National People’s Congress (NPC) published last week.”
China’s housing rebound fades fast in big cities after stimulus / Bloomberg (paywall)
“A spurt of home sales in China’s biggest cities is losing momentum less than two weeks after authorities loosened mortgage restrictions, raising doubts over whether the steps are enough to revive the market before a crucial busy season.”

Apple
Apple’s iPhone 15 launch clouded by China problems / Reuters
“Apple on Tuesday is expected to unveil a new iPhone 15 lineup as questions about market access in China and competition hang over the world’s most valuable listed company.”
Apple loses about $200 billion in market capitalization on reports of iPhone restrictions in China / AP
“Apple has lost around $200 billion in market capitalization over several days as tensions between the U.S. and China rise, with several media outlets reporting this week that the iPhone maker is being singled out by Beijing.”

SCIENCE, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENT:

Greater Bay Area startups tackling climate change
Climate change: low-carbon innovations emerge from Greater Bay Area start-ups, inspired by ants, spider silk, tea leaves / SCMP (paywall)
“Urgency is growing for businesses and nations to decarbonise as they face tighter regulations and looming deadlines to meet emissions targets so that the world can avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change, such as the severe rainstorm that brought Hong Kong to a standstill this week.”

Solar energy
Europe’s solar industry warns of bankruptcies over Chinese imports / FT (paywall)
“Europe’s solar power industry has warned that a glut of cheap Chinese imports has pushed some manufacturers to the brink of bankruptcy, hampering the EU’s efforts to boost local production of green technologies.”

POLITICS AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

China’s missing defense minister
China’s defense minister not seen for two weeks / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
“There has been no sign of Chinese Defense Minister Lǐ Shàngfú 李尚福 in public for two weeks, touching off speculation about his fate.”

China sows disinformation about Hawaii tragedy
China sows disinformation about Hawaii fires using new techniques / NYT (paywall)
“Beijing’s influence campaign using artificial intelligence is a rapid change in tactics, researchers from Microsoft and other organizations say.”

Military exercises near Taiwan
China’s navy starts largest-ever exercises in Pacific Ocean / FT (paywall)
“China’s navy has launched its largest-ever maneuvers with an aircraft carrier in the western Pacific, according to foreign defense officials and analysts, as Beijing flexes its military muscle to push back against the U.S. and its allies.”

More on Taiwan
China outlines plan to make Fujian a zone for cross-strait development with Taiwan / Reuters
“China disclosed on Tuesday more details of its plan to make southeastern Fujian province a zone for integrated development with Taiwan, including financial market initiatives.”
Taiwan says China is bolstering coastline military bases facing the self-ruled island / AP
China outlines plan to make Fujian a zone for development with Taiwan / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
PLA’s Fujian aircraft carrier poses ‘substantial threat’, Taiwanese defense ministry warns / SCMP (paywall)
“The People’s Liberation Army’s third and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, would pose a ‘substantial threat’ to Taiwan in the event of a cross-strait conflict, the island’s defense ministry has warned.”
China cranks up ‘gray zone’ incursions, Taiwan warn / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
“China is cranking up ‘gray zone’ harassment and incursions to challenge Taiwanese sovereignty, Taiwan’s new defense report warns.”

Fines instead of taxes?
China’s local governments are so cash-strapped they use police to raise revenue / WSJ (paywall)
“China’s sluggish economy is driving cash-strapped local governments to seek unconventional sources of revenue. Their law enforcers have emerged as some of their biggest earners.”

China’s new Foreign State Immunity Law
Why China is changing its laws to allow court action against foreign states / SCMP (paywall)
“China’s recent decision to allow legal action against foreign states indicates its increased willingness to use legal means to defend its national interest, analysts have said.”

Nuclear disarmament
Fresh nuclear disarmament talks should include China / Reuters
“German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for new international negotiations on nuclear disarmament on Tuesday, saying that not only Russia and the United States but also China should be involved.”

U.S.-China competition and tensions
China publishes backstory of US ‘spy’ jailed for life / Reuters
“China’s top spy agency published new details this week about a U.S. citizen jailed for life for espionage earlier this year, describing his recruitment by U.S. agents, how they fabricated his legend, and how he helped them entrap surveillance targets.”

Italy
Italy’s Meloni meets with China’s Li as Italy’s continued participation in ‘Belt and Road’ in doubt / AP
“Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the G20 summit and vowed Saturday to “consolidate and deepen” relations, as Rome considers abandoning Beijing’s ‘Belt and Road’ initiative of Chinese-built and -funded infrastructure projects.”

Myanmar
Powerful ethnic militia in Myanmar repatriates 1,200 Chinese suspected of involvement in cybercrime / AP
“One of Myanmar’s biggest and most powerful ethnic minority militias has arrested and repatriated more than 1,200 Chinese nationals allegedly involved in criminal online scam operations, an official of the group said Saturday.”

U.K.
What the spy saga reveals about U.K.-China relations / FT (paywall)
“The inevitable consequence of events will mean further demands for greater distance.”

Maldives
Maldives presidential runoff is set for Sept. 30 with pro-China opposition in a surprise lead / AP
“Maldivians will return to the polls on September 30 to vote in a runoff election between the top two candidates in the country’s presidential race after neither secured more than 50% in the first round, the elections commission said Sunday.”

India
Can India challenge China for leadership of the ‘global south’? / NYT (paywall)
“A rising India has moved aggressively to champion developing nations, pursuing compromise in polarized times and promising to make America listen.”

Vietnam
Biden says US outreach to Vietnam is about providing global stability, not containing China / AP
“President Joe Biden said Sunday his visit to Vietnam to showcase stronger ties with Hanoi was not about trying to start a ‘Cold War’ with China, but rather was part of a broader effort to provide global stability by building U.S. relationships throughout Asia at a time of tensions with Beijing.”’

Russia
‘Very high level’: Putin plays up Russia’s economic ties with China / SCMP (paywall)
“Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country’s economic ties with China are at a ‘very high level’ thanks in large part to the two nations’ political relationship.”

SOCIETY AND CULTURE:

Influencer
China state TV slams beauty influencer who told off thrifty viewer / Reuters
“China’s state television criticized on Tuesday a famous beauty livestreamer who told off a viewer for complaining about the high price of an eyebrow pencil, as many Chinese feel the pinch from an economic slowdown.”

Private tutors in China
China’s latest lesson for private tutors includes harsh fines, tighter licensing requirements / SCMP (paywall)
“Unlicensed after-school tutoring services in China could face fines of up to 100,000 yuan ($13,710), among other penalties, as part of a sweeping overhaul to the industry prompted by President Xi Jinping’s push for reform in the education sector.”