Media Report
Financial Times reports, "China's economy is around 12 per cent smaller than official figures indicate, and its real growth has been overstated by around 2 percentage points annually in recent years, according to new research. The findings in the paper published on Thursday by the Brookings Institution, a Washington think-tank, reinforced longstanding scepticism about Chinese official statistics. They also add to concerns that China's slowdown is more severe than the government has acknowledged. Even based on official data, China's economy grew at its slowest pace since 1990 last year at 6.6 per cent. The paper's analysis covers 2008 to 2016, so it does not contain an estimate for last year's growth in gross domestic product or the size of the Chinese economy. But if 2018 GDP were overstated by the same degree as the authors estimated for 2016, it would imply that actual 2018 GDP was Rmb10.8tn ($1.6tn) below the official figure of Rmb90tn."
- NPR reports, "Chinese telecom manufacturer Huawei is suing the U.S. government, arguing that Congress violated the Constitution when it banned government agencies from purchasing Huawei equipment. In the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress prohibited U.S. government agencies from contracting with Huawei or companies that use Huawei equipment. The U.S. government has alleged that Huawei is closely allied with the Chinese government and that its equipment could be used to spy on Americans. Huawei has denied the allegation and said it's a privately owned company with no interest in spying. In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in a federal court in Texas, Huawei argued that when Congress called it out by name, that violated the Constitution's Bill of Attainder clause, which prohibits Congress from singling out a company or individual for punishment without a trial."
- The Washington Post reports, "Taiwan has submitted an official request to purchase new fighter jets from the United States to 'counter current enemy threats,' the island's deputy defense minister said Thursday. The request comes as Chinese leader Xi Jinping has used increasingly strident rhetoric toward Taiwan, a self-governed island which split from the mainland during a civil war in 1949. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and maintains that the two sides must ultimately be reunified. Xi warned in a January address that he would not rule out the use of force against Taiwanese independence activities. The island's democratically elected, independence-leaning leader, Tsai Ing-wen, has opposed threats to self-rule. Taiwanese Deputy Defense Minister Shen Yi-ming, who announced the fighter jet purchase request at a news conference, said the goal is to provide pilots with more sophisticated equipment, in part to 'demonstrate our determination and ability to defend ourselves.'"
Calendar
- 2019-03-06 Canada to hold first hearing in Huawei extradition case
- 2019-03-05 China’s Communist Party is battening down the hatches as the economy slows
- 2019-03-04 Huawei CFO is suing Canada over December arrest
- 2019-03-03 Huawei CFO suing Canada over December arrest
- 2019-03-01 Pompeo says North Korea not clear on scope of closing Yongbyon facility
- 2019-02-28 Trump says China has been 'a big help' in US dealings with North Korea
- 2019-02-27 Trump Undermines Top Trade Adviser as He Pushes for China Deal
- 2019-02-26 Chinese stocks rocketed higher on Trump's trade tweet, but a deal isn't a sure thing
- 2019-02-25 Trump Delays a Tariff Deadline, Citing Progress in China Trade Talks
- 2019-02-24 Trump Delays a Tariff Deadline, Citing Progress in China Trade Talks
News
- Financial Times China GDP overstated by 12%, research finds
- NPR Huawei Sues U.S. After Congress Bans Government Purchase Of Its Equipment
- The Washington Post Taiwan applies to buy new fighter jets from US
- Bloomberg Trump Wants a China Deal and a Stocks Rally. He May Not Get Both
- The Washington Post Global shares mostly lower as US-China trade optimism fades
- Bloomberg China's Grumpy Envoys Show Superpower Strains
- The Washington Post Mahathir: China should define claims in South China Sea
- The Wall Street Journal U.S. Businesses Warn Against Hong Kong Move to Allow Extraditions to China
- The New York Times Italy May Split With Allies and Open Its Ports to China's Building Push
- Reuters BMW's China electric car export plans on hold amid tariff uncertainty
- Bloomberg China to Sustain Solar Growth With New Plan, Top Producer Says
- The Wall Street Journal Facebook Shift Nods to Example of Chinese Super-app WeChat
- Bloomberg MSCI Urges China Ease Ownership Limits After Dropping Stock
- The Washington Examiner Tom Cotton: China risking military conflict in the South China Sea
- The New York Times In Blow to Trump, America's Trade Deficit in Goods Hits Record $891 Billion
- CNBC The US and China are reaching greater mutual understanding on trade, says ex-Beijing official
Commentary
- Foreign Policy How to Cheat at Xi Jinping Thought
- Bloomberg China's Thirst for Oil Is No Tempest in a Teapot
- The Washington Post Rough straits in the China-Taiwan relationship
- Financial Times The EU must match China's drive to invest
- Bloomberg China Finds a G-7 Ally for Belt and Road
- Foreign Policy China's Concubine Dramas Have Lost the Emperor's Favor
- Financial Times China's equity rally: powering on