AT Finance, Beijing, China, European Union, France, India, Philippines, South Asia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, World

The Daily Brief for Thursday, 1 June 2017

by Richard Cook June 1, 2017

Philippines, dictatorship beckons? Filipino leader Rodrigo Duterte’s imposition of martial law puts the country on a fast track towards iron-fisted, unaccountable rule, reports
Richard Javad Heydarian. The Philippines has suddenly become the epicenter of terror group Islamic State’s thrust into Southeast Asia and Duterte could use this to veer the country back towards the rights abusing rule seen under former autocrat Ferdinand Marcos.
READ THE STORY HERE

Washington woes Hanoi: The Vietnamese government had much to celebrate after Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met US President Donald Trump in the White House on Wednesday. David Hutt reports that business deals were signed and America appeared to offer Vietnam new strategic support in its defense against a perceived expansionist China.
READ THE STORY HERE

Macron the Great: When Emmanuel Macron met with Vladimir Putin in Versailles this week, at an exhibition celebrating the 300th anniversary of Peter the Great’s culturally important visit to France, the new French president’s deft geopolitical savviness was once again on display. Pepe Escobar writes that the French establishment is hailing the new president as a “Philosopher King” and believes he will be able to help form a Europe undivided on defense, trade and foreign policy.
READ THE STORY HERE

Silk Road setbacks: Sri Lanka, with its valuable position in the heart of the Indian Ocean, is a crucial participant in Beijing’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. Dániel Balázs writes that recent violent protests in Sri Lanka, when people expressed opposition to an industrial zone project funded by Beijing, should provides China valuable policy lessons for building the Belt and Road.
READ THE STORY HERE

Beijing, China, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tianjin

China Digest for Thursday, 1 June 2017

by Liu Hsiu Wen June 1, 2017June 1, 2017

PBOC seeks public comment on bond connect draft rules

The People’s Bank of China is seeking comment until June 7 on a public consultation paper on draft rules on northbound trading for the Hong Kong-mainland bond connect scheme, Securities Daily reported. Qualified overseas investors can buy an unlimited amount of bonds with either Chinese yuan or foreign currencies, the PBOC paper said. Overseas investors joining the scheme with foreign currencies should register the bonds they purchase with qualified trustees, a Sina Finance report added.
央行：防范利用“北向通”进行违法违规套利套汇活动央行就債券通管理辦法徵言：北向通無投資額度限制

Local governments to prepare for State Council inspections

A State Council notice warns local governments that a fourth round of inspections will start in mid-July on the completion of supply side reforms and increasing consumption as part of economic and social development targets, Xinhua reported. Local governments must review their progress from May 31 to July 1.
国务院发出通知部署开展第四次大督查

Shanghai launches policy to support industrial sector

The Shanghai Development and Reform Commission launched a policy to encourage the development of the industrial sector, the Paper reported, citing deputy director Ruan Qing who said helping firms develop would benefit the nation.
上海出台文件通过发展服务业，巩固提升实体经济能级

Cross regional institutes can tackle air pollution: Blue Book

Cross regional institutes are needed to control air pollution in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei province, Chinanews said, citing the Blue Book of Beijing Annual Report on Economic Development (2016-2017) published on May 31.
北京蓝皮书：建议成立实体性跨域机构治理京津冀大气污染

Foshan imposes limits on non-locals buying property

Non-local registered families who already own a property cannot buy a second home in certain areas in Chancheng and Shunde districts of Foshan city in Guangdong province as of June 1, the Paper reported.
佛山深夜发布楼市新政：二手房也限购，非佛山户籍限购一套

Second-hand home prices in Shenzhen fall to record low

Prices of Shenzhen’s second-hand homes hit a record low in nearly 18 months, with the average at 48,200 yuan per square meter from May 22 to 28, a 5% decline compared to the previous week, Caixin reported, citing data from Shenzhen Centaline Property Consultants.
深圳二手房价连跌三周跌破5万元

Nearly 10,000 wholly foreign-owned enterprises set up this year

A total of 9,726 wholly foreign-owned enterprises were established in the country from January to April, a 17.2% increase compared with the same period last year, Sina Finance reported, citing data released by the National Development and Reform Commission.
1-4月全国新设外商投资企业9726家同比增17.2%