bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Bob Savic

For China’s policymakers, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership marks a new milestone in Asian regional economic integration. In 2019, China’s total trade with RCEP member states accounted for about one-third of its total foreign trade, while investment from other RCEP economies made up more than 10 per cent of China’s total foreign investment.
After the agreement takes effect, which could be as early as mid-2021 depending on it being ratified by several countries, more than 90 per cent of the goods trade in the region will eventually achieve zero tariffs. According to estimates by international think tanks, by 2030, the RCEP is expected to drive a regional net increase of US$519 billion in exports and US$186 billion in national income each year.
As this unfolds, China’s policymakers are stepping up a more combative approach towards the US and other international players outside East and Southeast Asia.
Around the time the RCEP was in the final stages of negotiation, China was finalising its export control law, which took effect on December 1. It is the country’s first comprehensive law on export control, aiming to advance its interests and national security.
Importantly, the law has an extraterritorial ambit. It requires Chinese exporters and their overseas-based clients, whether businesses, organisations or individuals, to comply with the law or be subject to financial and other penalties in cases of endangering China’s security or interests. It also applies to countries or regions which pose a risk to these interests.


Although the law does not target any specific overseas individuals, countries or regions, it is more likely to apply to places where similar rules have been enacted and employed against China, especially the United States and European Union.
The law’s broad remit and the threat to retaliate “if any country or region abuses export control measures”, may pose risks to those engaged in trade with China.
The final version of the law also distinguishes between national security and national interests, unlike previous drafts which referred to national security only. This differentiation separates control of exports based on foreign policy (including national security) from industrial policy interests, which would presumably focus on economic issues.
The new law prohibits or restricts the transfer of listed controlled items by Chinese exporters – whether companies or individuals – to parties abroad. The types of exports which are subject to control include technology in the form of goods or services related to national security and interests, items that have both civilian and military uses, and nuclear and military goods.
There is no exhaustive definition of what falls into these control lists as various branches of China’s government may publish their own versions containing additional items.

 
The new law does, however, contain a broad definition of what constitutes controlled export items. These include the provision of technical information and data to third parties. Transactions are also widely defined to include re-exports, such as transfers to third parties, a provision which mirrors the equivalent US law on “deemed” exports.
Unlike the US export control law, China’s version does not include rules on de minimis principles or whether foreign-produced items are a “direct product” of controlled technology. For instance, the US de minimis requirement considers non-US manufactured goods to qualify as US-origin where they contain certain percentages of US technology.
US defence bill includes 5G rules to put pressure on Huawei, ZTE
The government may also impose temporary exports controls on technology, whether as goods or services, not published on export control lists, for up to two years. These particular requirements, which are not typical of other countries’ export control laws, impose an additional burden on Chinese exporters and overseas parties.
The legislation also gives China the authority to take retaliatory measures against so-called excessive export control measures undertaken by foreign governments.

The export control law comes on top of an earlier piece of legislation, the Unreliable Entity List, which would apply to foreign organisations or individuals that pose a risk to national sovereignty, security or development.
Even though that law does not single out any country for sanctions, the timing of its launch, after the US government imposed sanctions on up to 300 Chinese technology companies, does indicate that certain foreign businesses which had blocked supplies to Chinese enterprises could come under its purview.
US deal for Huawei’s Meng Wanzhou hinges on admission of wrongdoing
Chinese officials said the law was aimed only at very specific foreign operators and did not indicate a change in the government’s policy of attracting foreign investment.
The problem for many foreign companies operating in China with associated supply chains across East Asia is that growing sanctions, emanating from the US and other non-regional actors, and potentially from China itself, may ultimately dissuade them from maintaining a presence there, let alone establishing a new one.

As yet, no companies have been placed on the Unreliable Entity List, although China’s foreign ministry spokesman announced plans to sanction Lockheed Martin, Boeing Defence Space and Security and Raytheon, in retaliation for their arms sales to Taiwan. The Chinese government said the arms sales plan should be cancelled to avoid further damaging US-China relations.
The new laws suggest Beijing has modified its position somewhat on broader economic globalisation. The enactment of the new laws related to exports, alongside the launch of the RCEP, indicate a greater emphasis on deepening economic integration with East Asia and the nearby region, irrespective of increasing trade and political tensions with Australia, while engaging in a more reserved and defensive posture to economic relations further afield.
Bob Savic is director of ApacEuroTrade Inc in the Philippines, a visiting professor at Nottingham University, Asia Research Institute, UK, and a senior research fellow at the Global Policy Institute, UK


Are China’s export control law and the RCEP pulling in different directions? Not quite

Staff from China National Nuclear Corporation Southwestern Institute of Physics work in the vacuum chamber of the HL-2M Tokamak, China’s new-generation “artificial sun” in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on May 27, 2019. Nuclear technology is one of the areas covered by China’s new export control law. Photo: CNNC Southwestern Institute of Physics/Xinhua

Containers are placed at a port in Qingdao in eastern China's Shandong province on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. China's export growth accelerated in August while imports edged lower as the world's second-largest economy extended its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. (Chinatopix via AP)

A promoter dressed to look like an astronaut walks past a robot at the China Beijing International High Tech Expo in Beijing, China on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Opinion

Comment

News

China

Asia

Knowledge

China Macro Economy


Even as the world’s largest free-trade deal was being negotiated, China was drafting its export control law. This indicates that while Beijing is emphasising economic integration within Asia, its position is more defensive towards countries further afield



Even as the RCEP was being negotiated, China was drafting its export control law. This indicates that while Beijing is emphasising economic integration within Asia, its position is more defensive towards countries further afield.


Trade

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

China economy

Asean

US-China relations

US-China tech war

US-China trade war

US-China trade war: All stories

US-China trade war: Opinion

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Column

The View