IN FOCUS
By Sukanya Bali 

The US passes a bill restricting exports from Xinjiang 

Export restriction
On 16 December, the US government imposed export and investment restrictions on 30 Chinese research institutes and technology companies. The government accused entities for supporting surveillance of "religious minorities" in China and attempting to acquire technology from the US to help modernize the People’s Liberation Army.

The US Commerce Department added the Academy of Military Medical Sciences and its 11 research institutes to a trade blacklist for their work in "brain control weaponry." The research institutes are involved in biotechnology research on controlling human conscience during combat. 

The US treasury department blacklisted seven of China’s drone making companies along with DJI, the world's largest maker of small drones, for supporting “the biometric surveillance and tracking” of Uyghurs Muslims. The US had already restricted exports to DJI, but the new ban will criminalize investments made by the US in the company. The department determined entities had been “implicated in human rights violations and abuses in the implementation of China’s campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, forced labor and high-technology surveillance against Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other members of Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region”.

Bans on investing in Chinese companies were first imposed under Donald Trump’s administration. These bans prohibit US companies from investing in the defense or surveillance technology sector. Companies are required to get a special license from the US Commerce Department in order to supply goods to the targeted companies.

The new Legislation
On 16 December, the US Senate unanimously passed a legislation to ban imports from China’s Xinjiang region due concerns of forced labor. This made the US the first country to ban all imports from Xinjiang. The US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said: "We have a moral and economic imperative to eliminate this practice from our global supply chains, including those that run through Xinjiang, China, and exploit Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minorities." White House Press Secretary, Jen Psaki said: “The Administration will work closely with Congress to implement this bill to ensure global supply chains are free of forced labor, while simultaneously working to on-shore and third-shore key supply chains, including semiconductors and clean energy.”

In the House of Representatives, the bill was passed with the strong bipartisan vote of 428-1, over the concerns of forced labor in Xinjiang. Republican representative Thomas Massie was the only member who voted against the bill. The bill is titled, “Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act” which confirms the existence of forced labor through “testimony of former camp detainees, satellite imagery, official media reports, publicly available documents, official statements, and official leaked documents.” The bill requires companies to prove that goods to be imported are not produced with forced labor.

Beijing's response
China's commerce ministry has opposed the US action and urged the US to “rectify its mistaken ways.” In response to the investment blacklist, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said: “By overstretching the concept of national security, certain US politicians politicize and instrumentalize science and technology and economic and trade issues based on ideology.” He added “this runs counter to the principle of market economy and fair competition. It will only threaten and hurt the security of global industrial and supply chains and undermine international trade rules." The Chinese embassy in Washington called these actions “unwarranted suppression."

Reference:
U.S. curbs Chinse drone maker DJI, other firms it accuses of aiding rights abuses, Reuters, 17 December 2021
H.R.1155 - Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, Congress.gov, 08 December 2021
US Congress passes import ban on Chinese Uyghur region, BBC, 17 December 2021
China commerce ministry says firmly opposes latest U.S. restrictions on Chinese firms, Reuters, 17 December 2021
Bill to clamp down on products from China’s Xinjiang passes Congress, Biden next, Reuters, 17 December 2021

IN BRIEF
By Dincy Adlakha, Keerthana Nambiar and Avishka Ashok

INTERNAL
Chinese Foreign Minister attends meeting on BRI
On 17 December, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the virtual meeting for the Advisory Council  of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. He referred to the Belt and Road Initiative and appreciated the achievements and concrete results that have been accomplished since the inauguration of the plan. He said: “As the world is faced with the crucial juncture of economic recovery, China is willing to work with all partners to follow a people-centered cooperation philosophy, carry out high-quality and high-standard cooperation, and strive for the vision of global common development.” (“FM stresses high-quality B&R for common development,” Xinhua Net, 18 December 2021)

Guangdong Province imposes strict restrictions after eight citizens test positive
On 17 December, the Strait Times reported that China’s Guangdong province would be increasing the restrictions in the city after eight new infections were discovered in one of the cities in the province. The factories in Dongguan city have been shut to prevent further spread of the coronavirus. The health authorities speculated that the new infections may be caused by the newest Omicron variant. The citizens have been restricted from exiting or entering the city while the bus transport has been suspended. In the provincial capital, movement restrictions have been imposed and the authorities have started mass testing after a cargo flight crew member tested positive. (“Covid-19 cluster forces China's manufacturing hub to tighten restrictions,” The Strait Times, 17 December 2021)

President Xi addresses the 23rd meeting of the central commission for deepening overall reform
On 17 December, the Chinese President Xi Jinping made remarks on the 23rd meeting of the central commission for deepening overall reform. President Xi said: “We will fully leverage the decisive role of the market in allocating resources and give better play to the role of government.” He urged efforts to build a unified national market at a faster pace enhance government oversight efficacy reported Xinhua. Xi announced, “To build a new development paradigm, it is imperative to speed up the building of a unified national market that is efficient, standardized, open and allows fair competition. It is also vital to establish unified market rules and regulations across the country and promote the smooth flow of goods, factors, and resources on a wider scale.” (“Xi stresses building unified national market, enhancing government oversight,” Xinhua Net, 18 December 2021)

REGIONAL
Hong Kong prepares for legislative elections 2021 amidst of new election reforms
On 17 December, Asahi Shimbun reported that Hong Kong is gearing up for the legislative elections to be held on 19 December 2021. In March 2021, Beijing passed a resolution for electoral reform in Hong Kong that gives China more control in Hong Kong’s legislature. The new resolution reduced democratic representation in the legislature and the vetted legislative candidates who are largely pro-Beijing which led to fewer pro-Democracy candidates. According to the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute, only 52 percent planned to vote which is the lowest turnout reported Asahi Shimbun. (“Hong Kong public gears up to vote amid new election laws ,” The Asahi Shimbun, 17 December 2021)

INTERNATIONAL
China’s Taiwan office demands the US to stop interacting with Taiwanese forces
On 17 December, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Ma Xiaoguang released a statement and asked the US to cease its wrongful acts in the Taiwan strait that threaten the peace and stability of the region. He further urged the US government and its supporting departments and institutions to stop all interactions with the Taiwanese armed forces and also cut off all ties with the island. He said: “Some anti-China forces and Congress members of the United States turned to using Taiwan as a pawn to curb China's development and national rejuvenation.” (“Mainland urges U.S. Congress to cease backing up "Taiwan independence",” Xinhua Net, 18 December 2021)

Chinese Foreign Minister and Iranian Foreign Minister discuss the nuclear talks
On 17 December,  Xinhua Net reported that the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian conducted a telephone exchange where the two countries clarified their stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Abdollahian apprised the Chinese delation on the recent developments in the Vienna talks and also appreciated China’s role in encouraging the talks. He said: “The Iranian side joined the negotiations with sincerity and goodwill, and has taken a series of positive measures. Iran will continue to take part in the subsequent negotiations in a flexible and pragmatic spirit and maintain dialogue and cooperation with all parties, but will not accept threats and bullying under any circumstances.” Wang Yi also acknowledged the significance of arriving at a decision and the urgency of the issue as the Vienna talks are at crossroads. He said: “China, he said, will firmly uphold the political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue, and push forward the negotiations to bear fruit at an early date.” (“Chinese, Iranian FMs talk over phone on Iranian nuclear issue,” Xinhua Net, 17 December 2021) 

Foreign Ministry refutes Lithuanian claims of violation of Vienna Convention
On 17 December, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin addressed a press briefing and refuted the accusations made by Lithuania on violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Wenbin accused Lithuania of spreading false information and dodging its responsibilities. Lithuania accused China of violating the convention by not responding to a plea for extending the identification validity of the country’s diplomats in China. Wang Wenbin explained that China had downgraded the diplomatic relations with Lithuania to the level of Charges d’Affaires and required the country to change the name of its diplomatic representation. As a result, the diplomats currently residing in China would need a new application for acquiring identification cards. He said: “This is in line with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, subjects of international law and relevant international practice, as well as the principle of diplomatic reciprocity.” (“China refutes Lithuania's accusation of violating Vienna convention,” Xinhua Net, 17 December 2021)