Huawei beats the U.S. bans

Huawei last Tuesday launched online pre-order sales of its latest smartphone, the Mate 60 Pro, which contains advanced tech that some observers believe shows the Chinese telecommunications company has found ways around U.S. export controls.

• The smartphone’s Kirin 9000 chip is at the 7-nanometer (nm) process, TechInsights, a semiconductor research firm, confirmed on the weekend after a “teardown” of the phone.
• This means that Huawei succeeded in finding a way around U.S. policies meant to prevent Chinese firms from even developing less advanced, 14-nm processors. (The lower the nm number, the more advanced the chip.)

The processors in Huawei’s new phone are not as advanced as those produced by Taiwanese manufacturer TSMC for companies like Apple, but the development still represents an important technological leap in defiance of American efforts to restrict the company, said Paul Triolo, Technology Policy Lead at Dentons Global Advisors ASG, a Washington-based consultancy.

• But while SMIC is able to manufacture the Kirin 9000 for commercial use, it won’t be able to achieve the same kinds of production yields as it does for less advanced chips, Triolo said.
• It will also be difficult for Huawei to keep up with more advanced competitors, he added.

More details on our website.

Eduardo Jaramillo

China plans to inject $40 billion into its semiconductor sector through a new state-backed investment fund, in an effort to become more self-sufficient in its chip industry, Reuters reported, citing two people familiar with the matter.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani wrapped up his visit to China from September 3 to 5, as his country considers an exit to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China’s global infrastructure project, while trying to avoid angering Beijing.

Tajani held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wáng Yì 王毅 and other top officials in Beijing. “We didn’t achieve great results with the Belt and Road, but that doesn’t matter,” Tajani told reporters. “We are determined to move ahead with plans to strengthen our commercial ties.”

Italy became the first G7 country to join the BRI when it signed a memorandum of understanding with China four years ago, sparking sharp criticisms from the U.S. and EU. But now Rome has until the end of this year to withdraw from its 2019 BRI agreement, or have it automatically renewed for another five years.

Chinese Premier Lǐ Qiáng 李强 will attend the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi on September 9–10, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on September 4. It confirms speculation that Chinese President Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 will skip the meeting, dashing hopes that he would meet face-to-face with U.S. President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid fraying ties.

China is creating a new government body to shore up private businesses in the latest attempt to bolster its sluggish economic recovery and reinvigorate business confidence. China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country’s top economic planner, yesterday announced (in Chinese) that it would set up a new private economy development bureau to help monitor the state of the industry, establishing channels for regular communication with private enterprises, and coordinate and draft policies to promote private sector growth.

Meanwhile, activity in China’s services sector expanded at the slowest pace in eight months in August, according to the Caixin PMI today. The index dropped to 51.8 in August from 54.1 in July, the lowest reading since December 2022, when people were still confined to their homes under the Chinese government’s COVID-zero policy.

Hong Kong’s top court partially approved a landmark appeal to recognize same-sex partnerships today, the first time the city’s highest court has directly addressed the issue of same-sex marriage.

The Court of Final Appeal handed a partial victory to jailed democracy LGBTQ activist Jimmy Sham (岑子杰 Cén Zijié), who for the past five years has launched a string of legal challenges to fight for the city to recognize his marriage to his partner, whom he wedded in the U.S. in 2013. “There is no constitutional right to same-sex marriage in Hong Kong,” the judges wrote in their ruling. But “it does not follow that there cannot be same-sex marriage in Hong Kong.”

Hong Kong does not permit same-sex marriage, despite repeated government appeals. But the city does recognize some overseas marriages or civil partnerships in specific circumstances through tax benefits, spousal visas, and public housing — largely won through piecemeal court cases over the years.

Typhoon Haikui made landfall on China’s coastal regions in east Fujian Province and southern Guangdong Province today, bringing heavy rains and more floods in the latest episode of unrelenting downpours this summer.

Chinese state media: The People’s Daily print edition today focuses on Xi Jinping’s encouragement of technological innovation with stories on the publication of an “in-depth study of Xi’s important exposition on technological innovation,” and on Xi sending “a congratulatory letter to the 2023 China International Smart Industry Expo.”

Xinhua News Agency today leads with a report on Xi meeting with the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, in Beijing.

Central America, once a crucial area of Taiwanese support, has seen Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and El Salvador all switch diplomatic relations from Taiwan to the P.R.C. over the past seven years. Only two remain in the region: Belize and Guatemala.

• Guatemala has always been important to Taiwan: It has the biggest economy of the 13 nations that still recognize Taiwan, and has the biggest population in Central America.
• In public, Guatemala has been loud and clear. “We are the last country in which China has not succeeded in inserting itself,” outgoing president Alejandro Giammattei told the Financial Times in 2021, claiming it was out of “principle” that Guatemala still kept ties with Taiwan.

But bribes, and the hope of keeping goodwill with the U.S., has done some heavy lifting, too.

• “In Guatemala it has never been a secret that the Taiwanese embassy has been compensating generously the Presidents that decide not to establish diplomatic relationships with China,” wrote the Guatemala Times in 2010.
• Guatemala’s newly elected president, Bernardo Arévalo, has said he will “continue working with both” China and Taiwan. He’s had talks with Taiwan about how to advance their diplomatic relationship, but also has said he’d like to expand trade relations with the P.R.C.

Could Arévalo get the best out of both worlds? Alex Colville takes a closer look in this week’s China Ties.

Alex Colville

From our new weekly preview of upcoming events from September 4–10:

The key event this week is the G20 summit in New Delhi, which Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 is not expected to attend.

• U.S. President Joe Biden will travel to India on September 7 to attend the G20 Summit, and will also have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It had previously been hoped that the summit would provide an opportunity for Xi and Biden to meet.

The G20’s not the only thing happening though:

• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is holding its 43rd summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, on September 4 to 7. Beyond the 10 member states, a number of foreign leaders from partner countries will attend, including Chinese premier Lǐ Qiáng 李强, Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida, and Canada’s Prime Minister Trudeau.
• Australia’s former foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop will travel to China next week for a “1.5 track” forum, meeting a variety of government officials and other experts.
• Kristalina Georgieva, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is also traveling next week: She will be in China until September 3, before heading to both the ASEAN and G20 summits later in the week.

Click through for the full agenda for this week.

Arran Hope

• Britain’s foreign secretary defends trip to China in response to a barrage of criticism from colleagues. James Cleverly met senior officials in Beijing. Some politicians within his own party say he should have snubbed the invitation, writes Duncan Bartlett.
• U.K. foreign secretary leaves Beijing empty-handed but relieved. “I’m realistic that one phone call, one visit, one meeting isn’t going to fundamentally change the direction of travel,” Cleverly told the BBC. But “patient, consistent and reliable communication could have an effect.” Thompson Chau has this report.

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

BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY:

Economic gloom or boom
Opinion: China does not feel like an economy in crisis / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
Zhou Xin of Evomics Medical says: “official government surveys showed that 21% of those age 16 to 24 were unemployed as of June, the highest level seen since 2018. Amid much outcry on social media, the statistics agency suspended the survey. Yet these idle youth could be readily found ensconced in cinemas, trains, theaters and playgrounds. Their spending helped lift summer box office receipts for China’s cinemas to 20 billion yuan.”
China’s economic slowdown reverberates across Asia / FT (paywall)
“China’s slowing growth is sparking warnings of contagion in Asia, as waning consumer demand and slower manufacturing hit neighboring countries with close ties to the world’s second-largest economy.”
China’s economy shows fresh weakness in factories, housing and consumer spending / WSJ (paywall)
“China’s economy limped through August. A prolonged slump in the real-estate market deepened. Factories were hit by sinking exports, and consumers kept a tight leash on spending.”

China versus the dollar
Opinion: The fundamental reason China will struggle to dethrone the dollar / FT (paywall)
Alan Beattie writes: “Making a currency a global standard demands deep trust in its issuer’s openness and reliability.”

China’s secretive talent search
Shadow agents in China’s talent war help recruit outstanding overseas scientists to boost self-reliance / SCMP (paywall)
“A growing number of talent agencies are using low-key methods that stay firmly out of the spotlight in their global search for scientists.”

Online shopping shuts down brick and mortar locations
Chinese retailers speed up closings as online shopping takes hold / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
“Major Chinese retailers are shutting down stores at a rapid pace as they are unable to lure back customers who switched to online shopping during pandemic lockdowns.”

Semiconductors
China to launch $40 billion state fund to boost chip industry / Reuters
“China is set to launch a new state-backed investment fund that aims to raise about $40 billion for its semiconductor sector, two people familiar with the matter said, as the country ramps up efforts to catch up with the U.S. and other rivals.”

Auto price war in China
Volkswagen offered temporary discounts in embattled Chinese market / Reuters
“Volkswagen has offered temporary discounts in China, the world’s top auto market, where a cut-throat pricing war is raging, board member Ralf Brandstaetter said, adding this was due to savings efforts that could be passed on to customers.”
China’s auto workers bear the brunt of price war as fallout widens / Reuters
“Reuters interviews with 10 executives of carmakers and auto parts suppliers, as well as seven factory workers, point to a broader industry in distress, with penny-pinching on everything from components to electricity bills to wages – which is in turn hitting spending elsewhere in the economy.”

Electric vehicles
China’s Leapmotor looks to sell EV tech as it targets export growth / Reuters
“China’s Leapmotor needs to increase its sales by five times or more to survive a consolidating EV industry and is seeking partners outside China to license its technology, the company’s chief executive told Reuters.”
Munich auto show highlights China’s presence in luxury EV race / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
“Chinese automakers are making their presence felt at the Munich International Auto Show that starts on Monday with a focus on luxury electric vehicles as they seek opportunities in the rapidly electrifying European market.”
China takes larger slices of EV, battery, other key markets: survey / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
“Chinese companies have expanded their presence in the markets for cutting-edge materials, electric vehicles and 16 other key products and services, a Nikkei survey shows.”
BYD leads charge as China’s share of EV exports grows eightfold / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
Tesla sues Chinese firm over tech secret infringement -Chinese state media / Reuters
“Tesla Shanghai has sued a Chinese firm over tech secret infringement and unfair competition disputes, Shanghai Securities Journal reported on Tuesday.”

Batteries
China’s battery plant rush raises fears of global squeeze / FT (paywall)
“China is building battery plants far beyond levels needed to meet domestic demand for electric cars and grid energy storage, underlining vast state subsidies and unchecked bank lending that are expected to underpin the international expansion of Chinese manufacturers.”

Chinese businesses look to Hong Kong to expand
Mainland Chinese companies eye Hong Kong as launch pad for overseas expansion, but some look beyond Western markets, trade body says / SCMP (paywall)
“Mainland Chinese companies have expressed a strong desire to use Hong Kong as a launch pad for overseas expansion, as some looked outside traditional markets such as the U.S. and U.K. amid geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties, a study has found.”

Exports from China
China’s exports, imports likely contracted more slowly in August – Reuters poll / Reuters
“China’s exports likely contracted at a slower pace in August, a Reuters poll showed on Tuesday, highlighting that manufacturers remain under pressure after outbound shipments recorded their worst performance since February 2020 last month.”
China planning ‘innovative’ export controls as trade tensions with U.S. rumble on / SCMP (paywall)
“China has pledged to find ‘innovative’ ways to strengthen its export controls in the face of similar measures imposed by the United States and growing trade tensions with Europe and India.”

Chinese agency helps assist private businesses
China creates new agency to support private sector / Caixin (paywall)
“China is creating a new government entity to assist private businesses in a fresh effort to bolster the economy and reinvigorate business confidence.”
China creates government body to support private sector / WSJ (paywall)
“Beijing’s efforts to undo damage to business confidence unlikely to shift the needle for sputtering economy, analysts say.”
China sets up bureau to support private sector / Sixth Tone

Companies turn to Xi Jinping thought
China state companies step up study of ‘Xi Thought’ in hard times / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
“As China’s economic downturn sparks global concern, Beijing is stepping up compulsory study of President Xí Jìnpíng’s 习近平’s political doctrine and writings, particularly within state-owned enterprises and institutions.”

Real estate
Opinion: Can China’s latest policies turn the tide on the housing slump / Caixin (paywall)
Wang Jie writes: “Real estate markets in most parts of China have remained sluggish since last year, and a number of leading property developers, such as China Evergrande Group and Sunac China Holdings Ltd., have defaulted on their bonds.”
China’s Country Garden dodges another default in relief for property sector / Reuters
“China’s Country Garden made interest payments on U.S. dollar bonds hours ahead of a grace period deadline, a person close to the firm said, pulling back from the brink of default for the second time in four days and bringing some relief to the country’s crisis-hit property sector.”
Chinese developer Country Garden avoids default on dollar bonds / FT (paywall)
Country Garden makes $22.5 million payment, with $15 billion to go / NYT (paywall)

Huawei
Teardown of Huawei’s new phone shows China’s chip breakthrough / Reuters
“Huawei Technologies and China’s top chipmaker SMIC have built an advanced 7-nanometer processor to power its latest smartphone, according to a teardown report by analysis firm TechInsights.”
Is the new Mate 60 Pro a 5G comeback for Huawei? / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
New Huawei Handset Selling Fast in China as Chip Speculation Swirls / Caixin (paywall)
Huawei files lawsuit in Portugal over ban on supplying 5G equipment / Reuters
“Chinese technology giant Huawei has filed a lawsuit with a Lisbon court against a resolution by Portugal’s cybersecurity council CSSC that effectively bars operators from using its equipment in high-speed 5G mobile networks, the company said.”

SCIENCE, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENT:

The new space race
In new moon race, Russian crash shows the chief U.S. rival is China / WSJ (paywall)
“A new Cold War-style competition has put the moon back at the center of global space ambitions, but the U.S. has a new chief rival.”

Renewable energy
Chinese offshore turbine sets record for electricity generated in one day, aided by Typhoon Haikui’s strong winds / SCMP (paywall)
“A Chinese offshore wind turbine built by the Three Gorges Corporation broke the world record for single-day electricity generation on Friday when it produced 384.1 megawatt hours —— enough to power nearly 170,000 homes — in the wake of Typhoon Haikui.”
Are Chinese Solar Giants Flying Too Close to the Sun? / Caixin (paywall)
“China’s solar panel makers, who already account for up to 95% of global manufacturing capacity, are doubling down on their investment in the booming segment, announcing expansion plans up and down the supply chain.”
Chinese solar firm eyes Saudi Arabia for first foreign plant / Caixin (paywall)
“China-based solar sector supplier GCL Technology Holdings Ltd. is in advanced talks with Saudi Arabia about opening its first overseas factory as the nations aim to extend their energy ties beyond oil.”

POLITICS AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

The Communist Party, elite politics, and government
Mystery around China’s new science and tech body a sign of secrecy to come, analysts say / SCMP (paywall)
“The founding of China’s new top science and technology planner — a Communist Party body at the core of Beijing’s technology competition with Washington — went quietly.”
Opinion: Xi reprimanded by elders at Beidaihe over direction of nation / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
Katsui Nakazawa says Xi’s “G20 absence hints at turmoil in Chinese domestic politics.”
Head of China’s top military court removed after just 8 months / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
Chéng Dōngfāng 程东方, “the president of the People’s Liberation Army’s military court, has been removed from his position after just eight months in office, according to China’s national legislature.”

Foreign states can now be sued in China
Beijing passes law allowing foreign states to be sued in China / Caixin (paywall)
“China’s national legislature on Friday passed a new foreign state immunity law that will for the first time allow Chinese citizens and companies to sue foreign states in domestic courts.”

Corruption
Senior provincial official stung in corruption crackdown / Caixin (paywall)
Shāng Líguāng 商黎光, “the deputy party chief of North China’s Shanxi province, is being investigated for corruption by the country’s top anti-graft watchdog, the latest in a string of senior local government officials probed in the country’s sweeping graft crackdown.”

G20
China’s Xi will skip G20 summit in India during a period of soured bilateral relations / AP
“Chinese President Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 is apparently skipping this week’s Group of 20 summit in India as bilateral relations remain icy.”
Xi Jinping’s pass on G20 summit more about regional relations, not U.S. tensions, experts say / SCMP (paywall)
China’s Premier Li Qiang to attend G20 summit in India / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
China’s leader looks set to skip G20 summit in snub to India / NYT (paywall)

ASEAN
ASEAN summit begins as China’s new territorial map fuels tensions / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
“Leaders from members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations kicked off summit meetings on Tuesday in Jakarta, testing the 10-nation bloc’s ability to respond quickly during crises amid escalating U.S.-China tension and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.”

Belt and Road
The Belt and Road Initiative has many miles still to go / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
“This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Following the global financial crisis, China announced this infrastructure development program with the aim of protecting the world’s free and open economic and trade systems, promoting effective links between resources and markets and facilitating more diversified, high-quality mutual cooperation between China and other countries.”

South China Sea
South China Sea: Beijing’s approach ‘will badly backfire in the future’ / SCMP (paywall)
“Beijing risks damaging its ties in the region if it continues efforts to assert control in the disputed South China Sea, analysts said ahead of the annual Asean gathering.”

Who will replace the Dalai Lama?
The looming succession battle over the Dalai Lama / FT (paywall)
“The passing of Tibet’s spiritual leader could spark one of the most extraordinary stand-offs in global politics.”

Taiwan
Taiwan president leaves for visit to last African ally Eswatini / Reuters
“Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文 Cài Yīngwén) left on Tuesday for a visit to Eswatini, Taipei’s last African ally, saying the island will continue to confidently engage with the world and show it is a force for good.”
Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen heads to eSwatini, Taipei’s last African ally / SCMP (paywall)
As Taiwan’s government races to counter China, most people aren’t worried about war / AP
“As People’s Liberation Army fighter jets from China sped toward Taiwan on Friday, life on the self-governing island carried on as normal.”

Taiwan’s elections
Aspiring Taiwan presidential candidate Terry Gou resigns from board of Apple supplier Foxconn / AP
“Aspiring Taiwanese independent presidential candidate Terry Gou (Guō Táimíng 郭台銘) has resigned from the board of Foxconn, the Apple supplier he founded nearly a half-century ago.”

Xinjiang
U.N. labor group makes low-profile visit to Xinjiang / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
“The United Nations International Labour Organization last week quietly paid a visit to Xinjiang, where millions of Muslim Uyghurs allegedly have been subjected to arbitrary detention and forced labor.”

U.S.-China competition and tensions
Chinese spy agency suggests that a Biden-Xi meeting hinges on “sincerity” / Reuters
“China’s top security agency has hinted that any meeting between President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden in San Francisco later this year will depend on the United States ‘showing sufficient sincerity.’”
Will China’s belt and road plan, Asean provide silver lining as U.S. step ups de-risking and trade prospects dim? / SCMP (paywall)
“Amid ongoing Western efforts to de-risk their supply chains away from China, moves that have led to disappointing trade with the likes of the United States and the European Union, a silver lining appears to have emerged.”
China’s spy agency blasts U.S. for ‘engagement and containment’ approach / FT (paywall)
“China’s powerful spy agency has attacked recent diplomatic overtures from the U.S. as mixing engagement and containment, hinting that a possible meeting of the two countries’ presidents in November will be in jeopardy if Washington does not show more ‘sincerity.’”
U.S. deterrence against China is not working / Foreign Policy (paywall)
“With U.S. military superiority in Asia no longer a given, defense planners need a different strategy.”

Italy
Despite Rome’s skepticism, China says Belt and Road cooperation with Italy ‘fruitful’ / Reuters
“Despite Rome’s skepticism, China’s Foreign Minister Wáng Yì 王毅 said cooperation with Italy under the Beijing-led Belt and Road initiative had been fruitful, with high-quality Italian products having entered ‘thousands of households’ in China.”
China-Italy belt and road ties have borne fruit, Wang Yi tells Italian FM / SCMP (paywall)
China says Belt and Road cooperation with Italy ‘fruitful’ / Nikkei Asia (paywall)
Italy’s Tajani heads to Beijing to discuss Belt and Road / FT (paywall)
“Italy’s business community is increasingly anxious about potential Chinese retaliation if Rome formally opts out of President Xi Jinping’s flagship foreign policy initiative. These fears have been stoked by Chinese diplomatic warnings of ‘negative consequences’ if Italy pulls out.”
Italy seeks to leave China’s Belt and Road Initiative—without angering Beijing / WSJ (paywall)

Australia
Delegation of Australian ministers to visit China in further sign of improving ties / AP
“A delegation of Australian federal ministers will attend a high-level dialogue in Beijing next week in a further sign of a warming of relations after a years-long chill.”

Aftermath of China’s ban on Japanese seafood
Japan announces emergency relief for seafood exporters hit by China’s ban over Fukushima water / AP
“Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on Monday a 20.7 billion yen ($141 million) emergency fund to help exporters hit by China’s ban on Japanese seafood over the release of treated radioactive wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant.”

India
Will India end up alienated from BRICS over U.S. tilt, attempts to dilute China’s influence? / SCMP (paywall)
“India’s bid to champion the Global South could help it prevent BRICS from becoming an anti-Western alliance while rivaling China’s aim to be a “de facto leader” of the bloc, analysts say, but New Delhi’s U.S. tilt means it could eventually become alienated from the group for ‘trying to get what it can from both sides.’”

Myanmar
Police in China and Myanmar detain 269 in cyber scam crackdown / SCMP (paywall)
“More than 200 suspects involved in Myanmar-based cyber scams have been detained by police in one of the largest joint crackdowns between Beijing and the Southeast Asian country, China’s Ministry of Public Security announced on Tuesday.”

Indonesia
China premier to attend high-speed rail trial in Indonesia / Reuters
“China’s Premier Lǐ Qiáng will this week attend in Indonesia’s capital a trial run of a $7.3 billion high-speed rail project funded by the superpower, an Indonesian official said on Tuesday.”

Russia
Seoul’s spy agency says Russia has likely proposed North Korea to join three-way drills with China / AP
“Russia has likely proposed that North Korea participate in three-way naval exercises with China, according to a lawmaker who attended a closed-door briefing with the director of South Korea’s top spy agency Monday.”
Russia proposes joint naval drills with North Korea and China / FT (paywall)
Chinese lenders extend billions of dollars to Russian banks after western sanctions / FT (paywall)
“Chinese lenders have stepped in to extend billions of dollars to Russian banks as western institutions pulled back their operations in the country during the first year of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.”

Africa
Chinese projects in Africa falling short on ESG implementation: report / SCMP (paywall)
“A new study on five Chinese projects in Africa has found that they do not meet standards set by China’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) recommendations, and only adhere to the host countries’ minimum ESG requirements, signaling significant room for improvement in ESG practices.”

SOCIETY AND CULTURE:

LGBTQ
Hong Kong’s top court urges alternative legal framework for same-sex couples / Reuters
“Hong Kong’s top court partially approved on Tuesday a landmark appeal by an LGBTQ activist for recognition of same-sex marriages, calling for new regulations for gay couples to protect their basic social needs.”
Hong Kong must create legal framework for same-sex partnerships, top court rules / SCMP (paywall)

Food and drink
Cantonese food is not what you think it is / FT (paywall)
“One of China’s four great cuisines is best known in the west as a cheap takeaway. It’s time to think again.”
Can Chinese wine compete with the world? / FT (paywall)
“What I learnt from a blind tasting of Chinese wine alongside top bordeaux.”

Chess
How China became No 1 in chess and what it means: the world will ‘look at Chinese people differently’ / SCMP (paywall)
“China’s rise to the top of global chess rankings is no happy accident but the result of its decades-old Four Steps plan, dedication, and help from neighbors.”

Catholicism
When it comes to China, Pope Francis keeps criticism in check / NYT (paywall)
“Francis called relations with Beijing ‘very respectful,’ though few clergy or Catholics from China went to see him during a visit to Mongolia, seemingly fearing reprisals.”

WeChat blurs the line between work and home
In China, WeChat is blurring workplace boundaries — especially for women / Sixth Tone
“The do-everything app is ubiquitous in offices around the country, making it harder for women to separate their work and personal lives.”

Taoism
At China’s ‘Hogwarts,’ traditional Taoism trumps magic / Sixth Tone (paywall)
“Amid a social media surge, a Taoism college is drawing record applications this year. But getting in and sticking it out requires more than just passion.”

China’s problem with personal info being leaked
‘Don’t call anymore!’ actor’s plea sparks discussion on cold callers / Sixth Tone
“Netizens have been sharing their stories of their personal information being leaked after a well-known actor received more than 100 calls from different parts of the country.”