Highlighted links for September 27, 2023

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

BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY:

U.S.-China tech war
U.S. investors want clarity on Biden’s vague curbs on China tech / Reuters
“U.S. financial firms are pushing for greater clarity on proposed new rules curbing U.S. investments in some China technology sectors which they say are too vague and put the onus of compliance on investors.”

Electric vehicles and the EU
China could resolve EV row with EU by ‘price undertaking’ talks, Ex-WTO chief say / Caixin (paywall)
“China could resolve its trade dispute over electric vehicles (EVs) with the European Union by raising prices through ‘price undertaking’ negotiations to avoid punitive tariffs leveled against it, former head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Pascal Lamy told Caixin.”

Mitsubishi is shutting down its car factories in China
Mitsubishi Motors to exit from China production / Reuters
“Mitsubishi Motors has decided to end automobile production in China, and is discussing its exit with local joint venture partner Guangzhou Automobile Group, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Wednesday, without citing sources.”
Japan’s Mitsubishi Motors to end production in China / Nikkei Asia (paywall)

Ford under fire for association with Chinese battery company
U.S. lawmakers demand documents on Ford battery partnership with CATL / Reuters
“The chairs of three U.S. House of Representatives committees demanded Ford Motor turn over documents tied to its partnership with Chinese battery company CATL and threatened to call CEO Jim Farley to testify before Congress.”
Ford halts construction of U.S. EV battery plant using CATL technology / Caixin (paywall)

China’s worries about cyber attacks
From AI to to data leaks, cyber dangers threaten China’s infrastructure, state security chief warns / SCMP (paywall)
“China faces a growing risk of cyberattack, data leaks, disinformation and AI-driven cognitive warfare, the country’s state security chief has warned.”

Semiconductors
China’s economic malaise hits efforts to raise $41bn chip fund / FT (paywall)
“The most ambitious funding round launched to date by China to support its semiconductor industry is struggling in the initial phases to raise its target of 300 billion yuan ($41 billion), with the difficult economic climate being blamed, according to three people familiar with the situation.”

Oil
What ‘peak oil’ will mean for China / FT (paywall)
“Last month one of China’s most powerful oil executives caused a stir in markets with a stark prediction: that the country’s oil demand may peak this year.”

Evergrande
China Evergrande’s Chairman Hui is under police surveillance / Reuters
“Hui Ka Yan (许家印 Xǔ Jiāyìn), the chairman of China Evergrande Group, has been placed under police surveillance, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.”
Evergrande chairman under police watch; liquidation risk mounts / Reuters

Hong Kong property market
Hong Kong to ease property cooling measures amid falling prices? Finance chief Paul Chan offers strongest hint yet / SCMP (paywall)
“The government gave its strongest hint yet that it could soon ease Hong Kong’s property cooling measures as Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po (陳茂波 Chén Màobō) said on Wednesday the conditions that prompted authorities to impose such moves more than a decade ago no longer prevailed today.”

Huawei
Huawei unveils new products boasting self-developed chips / Caixin (paywall)
“Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. launched a line of new products this week, including a tablet and smart TV, powered by self-developed chips, in its latest show of semiconductor self-sufficiency in the face of U.S. sanctions.”

TikTok
TikTok employees say executive moves to U.S. show China parent’s influence / WSJ (paywall)
“TikTok has spent the past three years trying to convince U.S. lawmakers it can operate independently in this country from its China-based parent company, ByteDance. After recent personnel moves, some employees aren’t so sure.”

SCIENCE, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENT:

Disease control
WHO’s new China rep says tighten disease surveillance, expand primary care to tackle outbreaks / Caixin (paywall)
“​​China should strengthen its health information surveillance systems and build up public health systems at the primary care level to better prepare for future disease outbreaks, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) representative to China said.”

POLITICS AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

Chinese military
China’s fighter jets aren’t just flying around Taiwan. They’re practicing. / WSJ (paywall)
“China has sent some of its largest swarms of jet fighters and warships into the air and waters around Taiwan this month.”

Qin Gang’s scandal continues
Chinese TV presenter linked to missing foreign minister had surrogate child in U.S. / FT (paywall)
“Beijing is examining the relationship between Fù Xiǎotián 傅晓田 and Qín Gāng 秦刚, who was abruptly dismissed in July.”

South China Sea
Why the South China Sea dispute remains one of the region’s most pressing issues / SCMP (paywall)
“A long-running dispute over the South China Sea has in recent years led to rising tensions among China and several of its neighboring countries. Competing claims of sovereignty over hundreds of islands and waters in the area have led to several confrontations and involvement of the U.S. military.”

U.S. deploys ships near China
U.S. sends drone ships to Western Pacific in first deployment near China / WSJ (paywall)
“Two prototype U.S. drone ships have arrived in Japan for their first deployment in the western Pacific, testing surveillance and attack capabilities that the Navy might find useful against China’s larger fleet.”

Myanmar
China to set up ‘restricted zone’ near Myanmar border to stop human trafficking by cybercrime gangs / SCMP (paywall)
“Authorities in southwestern China’s Yunnan province have announced they will set up a restricted zone near the Myanmar border in an attempt to prevent human trafficking by telecoms fraud gangs that target Chinese nationals.”

How is China reacting to the Canada-India divide?
China’s media mouthpieces troll West over India-Canada spat / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
“The heated diplomatic clash between India and Canada is drawing scrutiny and fueling spin elsewhere in Asia, with Chinese government mouthpieces seizing upon the issue.”

Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands joins China-backed AIIB days after PM snubs Biden invite for Pacific summit at White House / SCMP (paywall)
“Solomon Islands has joined the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) days after its leader snubbed an invitation to meet U.S. President Joe Biden at a Pacific summit.”

Morocco
Chinese battery groups invest in Morocco to serve western markets / FT (paywall)
“Chinese companies are avoiding or delaying direct investments in the U.S. and Europe because of geopolitics and lengthy waits for permits, one of the world’s largest battery material producers has warned after announcing a $2 billion investment in Morocco.”

India
Opinion: An India seeking gains from U.S.-China rivalry is no guru to the world / SCMP (paywall)
Zhou Bo writes: “India is growing in importance. But how much more important will it become? In the lead-up to the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi, major newspapers, billboards and bus stops in every Indian city proclaimed India as a ‘Vishwaguru,’ or teacher to the world.”

SOCIETY AND CULTURE:

Esports
China wins first ever esports gold medal at Asian Games / Sixth Tone
“China won the first gold medal in esports ever awarded at the Asian Games, in a history-making milestone that could further stimulate passion for online gaming even as Beijing steps up efforts to combat addiction among teenagers in the world’s biggest market.”

Panda’s are returning to China
Giant panda Fan Xing leaves a Dutch zoo for her home country China / AP
“Giant panda Fan Xing began a long journey home on Wednesday — to a country she has never visited.”

Livestreaming
Chinese livestreamer uses stock footage, sparks debate on trust / Sixth Tone
“During a recent broadcast, viewers noticed livestreamer Chen Yi-ru tasting food non-stop during a 15-hour broadcast as well as an apparent glitch where a table leg seemed to “pierce” his forearm.”

Animals are shopping in China
The superstore betting on China’s animal attraction / Sixth Tone (paywall)
“As pet stores in China go, Marsmart is somewhat of an anomaly — not least because it’s often the pets that are browsing the aisles.”