Highlighted links for October 17, 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
The Commerce Department updates its policies to stop China from getting advanced computer chips / AP
“The Commerce Department on Tuesday updated and broadened its export controls to stop China from acquiring advanced computer chips and the equipment to manufacture them.”
U.S. to cut China off from more Nvidia advanced chips / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
U.S. tightens rules on AI chip sales to China in blow to Nvidia / FT (paywall)
U.S. tightens China’s access to advanced chips for artificial intelligence / NYT (paywall)

Volkswagen in Xinjiang
Volkswagen picks firm for Xinjiang site labor audit / Reuters
“Volkswagen investors at a shareholder meeting in May demanded that the carmaker request cooperation from its joint venture partner to conduct an independent audit of labor conditions at the site in Xinjiang, a region where rights groups have documented abuses including mass forced labor in detention camps.”

Electric vehicles
Slowing Chinese EV demand drives down battery metal prices / FT (paywall)
“Prices for key battery materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel have fallen sharply this year as electric vehicle sales in China cool off and a surge in supply hits the market.”

AI
Alibaba, Tencent join funding for Chinese AI high-flyer / Caixin (paywall)
“Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd. have joined a $300 million financing round for Baichuan, one of scores of Chinese AI startups hoping to capitalize on a surge of interest in developing ChatGPT-like services.”

Apple
Apple CEO Tim Cook makes second China visit in 2023 amid tough iPhone 15 market and App Store controversy / SCMP (paywall)
“Apple chief executive Tim Cook last week made a low-key visit to mainland China – his second trip to the country this year, following a week-long whistle-stop tour in March – as the US technology giant pursues expansion initiatives amid regulatory scrutiny and slow economic growth in one of its best-performing markets.”

Baidu
Baidu touts upgraded Ernie AI tech as just as good as ChatGPT / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
“Chinese search giant Baidu says the latest version of its generative artificial intelligence technology is as good as OpenAI’s GPT 4, though the general public is not able to try it out just yet.”

SCIENCE, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENT:

Wildlife
New Guangzhou regulations set to curb harmful wildlife releases / Sixth Tone
“In a first for China, the new law prohibits the release of foreign wildlife, with certain species like the alligator gar and plecos explicitly listed. But native species can be set free with prior government approval.”

POLITICS AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

BRI
Here are the key leaders joining the Belt and Road forum and their wish lists to Beijing / AP
“China is hosting its third international forum centered around President Xi Jinping’s signature policy, the Belt and Road Initiative, which over the past 10 years has built infrastructure across continents, burdening some smaller countries with debt.”
How China’s Belt and Road Initiative is changing after a decade of big projects and big debts / AP
“China’s Belt and Road Initiative looks to become smaller and greener after a decade of big projects that boosted trade but left big debts and raised environmental concerns.”
China’s Belt and Road Initiative to get a hi-tech boost, with ‘wealth of opportunities’ promised for partners / SCMP (paywall)
“China will prioritize hi-tech and new energy in its plans for the Belt and Road Initiative – sectors it views as critical to powering domestic growth over the long run and consolidating its footing in the global supply chain, senior officials said on Tuesday.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping kicks off belt and road forum with diplomatic charm offensive / SCMP (paywall)
“Chinese President Xi Jinping rolled out the red carpet for world leaders, including his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, for China’s biggest diplomatic charm offensive of the year at the start of the belt and road forum on Tuesday.”
Belt and Road Forum kicks off with Xi Jinping to lay out new pitch / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
Vice Premier stresses sustainable debt for Belt and Road / Caixin (paywall)

Travel restrictions on Chinese citizens
China tightens curbs on foreign travel by bankers, state workers / Reuters
“Chinese civil servants and employees of state-linked enterprises are facing tighter constraints on private travel abroad and scrutiny of their foreign connections, according to official notices and more than a dozen people familiar with the matter, as Beijing wages a campaign against foreign influence.”

Taiwan
U.S. should be ‘peacemaker’ between Beijing and Taipei, Ma Ying-jeou says / SCMP (paywall)
“Ma made the remarks in New York on Monday, saying such dialogue would also be conducive to avoiding further confrontation between Washington and Beijing, and to preventing Taiwan from becoming the next Ukraine.”

U.S.-China competition and tensions
U.S.-China ties: focus on national security ‘not healthy’, head of advisory body says / SCMP (paywall)
Opinion: Recent warming in U.S.-China ties will not last long / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
Ian Bremmer writes: “In recent weeks, U.S. and Chinese officials have proved more willing to talk. This is good news for both countries and for the global economy.”

Israel-Hamas conflict
Global South, sympathetic to Palestinians, aligns with China as US seeks support for Israel against Hamas in Gaza / SCMP (paywall)
“With supporters clutching small Palestinian flags behind him and a traditional Palestinian scarf draped over his shoulders, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa appeared at a public rally in Boksburg on Saturday, voicing deep concern about ‘the atrocities that are unfolding in the Middle East.’”
Chinese embassy in U.S. warns students against joining protests over Israel-Hamas conflict / SCMP (paywall)
“​​The Chinese embassy in the United States has advised Chinese students to stay away from protests related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi backs efforts to give Palestinians their ‘legitimate national rights’ in call with Egyptian counterpart / SCMP (paywall)

Indonesia
China’s Xi wants to expand cooperation with Indonesia in several key markets / Reuters
“China is willing to expand and strengthen cooperation with Indonesia in emerging industries such as the digital economy, photovoltaics and new energy vehicles, President Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 said on Tuesday.”

Serbia
China’s Xi seeks to promote stronger ties with ‘ironclad friend’ Serbia / Reuters
“China’s President Xi Jinping on Tuesday met Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Beijing, calling the country an ‘ironclad friend’ and urging stronger strategic coordination between them.”

India
Opinion: How India’s unspoken strategy to drive out Chinese firms can backfire / SCMP (paywall)
Christopher Tang writes: “It is commonly believed that it is difficult for Western firms to operate their business operations in China. However, it is even more challenging for firms to operate in India, especially for Chinese firms.”

Papua New Guinea
China’s Xi supports stronger international role for Papua New Guinea / Reuters
“China’s President Xi Jinping said the country supports Papua New Guinea in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, and is willing to strengthen ties, state media reported on Tuesday”

Russia
Putin begins visit in China underscoring ties amid Ukraine war and Israeli-Palestinian conflict / AP
“Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for a visit that underscores China’s support for Moscow during its war in Ukraine as well as Russian backing for China’s bid to expand its economic and diplomatic influence abroad.”
Putin visits ‘dear friend’ Xi in show of no-limits partnership / Reuters
Putin, in China for Belt and Road Forum, brings high hopes for deals / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
Vladimir Putin visits Beijing for first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine / FT (paywall)
Putin and U.N. chief to speak at Belt and Road forum / Caixin (paywall)
“Russian President Vladimir Putin and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres are among representatives from more than 140 countries and some 30 international organizations set to gather for the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which kicked off in Beijing Tuesday.”

SOCIETY AND CULTURE:

LGBTQ
Hong Kong court rules that gay couples get equal housing rights / Reuters
“A Hong Kong court on Tuesday dismissed a government bid to deny same-sex married couples the right to rent and own public housing saying that it was ‘discriminatory in nature’ and a complete denial of such couples’ rights.”

Soccer
China’s scandal-plagued soccer authority appoints new president / Caixin (paywall)
“The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has named Liaoning provincial sports bureau chief Sòng Kǎi 宋凯 as its new president during a leadership reshuffle, as the organization seeks to turn a new page in its scandal-plagued history.”

Esports
What it will take for Esports to go mainstream in China / Caixin (paywall)
“For hundreds of millions of esports fans in China, the Chinese national team winning the first esports gold medal at the Asian Games was a landmark moment in the country’s gaming history.”