Huawei? No Way! | Censorship, Surveillance and Profits | Uyghurs Subject to Emotion-Detection Surveillance, and more

How Should the U.S. Respond to China’s Military-Civil Fusion Strategy? A ChinaFile Conversation  (Elsa Kania et al., ChinaFile)
The term “military-civil fusion” (MCF) came to feature prominently in U.S. officials’ characterizations of their concerns about China. While efforts to integrate China’s civilian and defense economies have been a goal of China’s leaders for decades, Xi Jinping has elevated MCF as a priority and has expanded, intensified, and accelerated the effort across multiple domains, including to concentrate on more integrated development of emerging technologies. This strategy is regarded as critical to China’s capacity to succeed in a confrontation of systems.
As the administration of President Joe Biden reviews the Trump administration’s posture towards China, policy responses to MCF are likely to attract scrutiny. Should the U.S. continue the past administration’s approach to MCF, or is a recalibration in order? How can America increase its capacity to understand and evaluate military-civil fusion? Does the U.S. need new tools to respond to MCF? How can the Pentagon best position itself given the long-term challenge that China represents as a military rival and technological competitor?

China Replaces Germany as U.K.’s Biggest Import Market  (Richard Partington, Guardian)
Trade with EU falls 23% from 2018 as Brexit and Covid disrupt exports from Britain

AI Emotion-Detection Software Tested on Uyghurs  (Jane Wakefield, BBC)
A camera system that uses AI and facial recognition intended to reveal states of emotion has been tested on Uyghurs in Xinjiang, the BBC has been told. A software engineer claimed to have installed such systems in police stations in the province.

Spy Team to Advise Universities on National Security Threats  (Nicola Woolcock, The Times)
U.K. academics will receive advice from a new government security unit on how to protect their research from hostile states. It will support universities working with China and other countries, helping them recognize, for instance, what collaborations or sensitive areas should ring alarm bells.
Threats that it will help to identify and block include work that exposes the UK to disruption, coercion or espionage, as well as theft, misuse and exploitation of intellectual property by hostile forces.

China’s Data Protection Rules among “Core Challenges” Facing British Firms, Despite Steps to Open Economy  (Frank Tang, SCMP)
Beijing’s new rules on data protection, favoritism of local firms and restrictions on cross-border capital flows are major challenges for British firms.

Rubio, Markey Introduce Secure Equipment Act to Close the “Security Loophole” and Address the China Tech Threat  (Senator Rubio’s Office)
U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced the Secure Equipment Act of 2021 to direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to clarify that it will no longer review, or approve, applications from companies on the Commission’s “Covered List.” The bill would prevent further integration and sales of Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision, and Dahua – all Chinese state-backed or directed firms – in the U.S. regardless of whether federal funds are involved.