Crossbench senator Rex Patrick urges government to ‘radically reduce’ Chinese diplomats in Australia

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/crossbench-senator-rex-patrick-urges-government-to-radically-reduce-chinese-diplomats-in-australia?fbclid=IwAR1_VSZv_eDQyr8iIXMXgzoFDs7c-oDULvG1qW1GRWjNzpcE2qNG1aoj20o

A key crossbench senator wants at least 100 Chinese diplomats and consular staff kicked out of Australia.

Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick argues the number of Chinese representatives must be “radically reduced” on national security grounds.

“The Australian government should bite the bullet and take long overdue action,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

The aggressive move would undoubtedly spark immediate retaliation from Beijing, but Senator Patrick believes it would be worthwhile.

He argues Australian ministers and diplomats are already routinely ignored by their Chinese counterparts.

Global investors bought a record 4.3 tln yuan in yuan-denominated Chinese govt bonds in Q2

Global investors bought a record 4.3 tln yuan in yuan-denominated Chinese govt bonds in Q2, as the bonds becoming the new safe haven for global investors, data provider CEIC showed. Total holdings of Chinese govt bonds by foreign investors have reached 1.5 tln yuan.

Investors seeking shelter from the turbulence in markets have found a new haven: Chinese sovereign bonds.

Foreign capital flowed into locally denominated Chinese government bonds in the second quarter at the fastest pace since late 2018, according to data from CEIC, an economic data provider. It surpassed 4.3 trillion yuan ($619 billion), the highest on record. https://www.wsj.com/articles/investors-find-new-safe-place-to-hide-chinese-bonds-11594632600

Work starts on Zhejiang’s COVID-19 vaccine production base

https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1194396.shtml?fbclid=IwAR0DXA0TdUqfkSqCXxNGdXvqtrODNM5jyEacmke9ETbscrbke9DOtJA1uPs Construction started on the first COVID-19 vaccine production base in East China’s Zhejiang Province on Saturday in the Ningbo Free Trade Zone, and the facility is expected to be put in use in March next year.

Total investment is estimated at 2.5 billion yuan ($357 million), of which 550 million yuan will be used in the research, development and production of an effective vaccine, according to the Administrative Committee of Ningbo Free Trade Zone (NFTZ) on Monday.

“Under the premise of ensuring quality, we will accelerate the construction of the vaccine workshop and strive to put it into use next March. We will also strive to realize COVID-19 vaccine production in Ningbo in the first half of next year,” said Yan Rongjie, director of the administrative committee.

The project will be implemented in three phases, with the first phase costing 1.3 billion yuan to commercialize the production of a COVID-19 vaccine as well as a new rabies vaccine for human use, while also building a high-level biological laboratory.

China’s CanSino in talks for COVID-19 vaccine Phase III trial overseas

China’s Can Sino Biologics is holding talks with Russia, Brazil, Chile and Saudi Arabia on starting phase III trials of COVID19 vaccine (AD5-NCOV), planning to enroll 40,000 participants. This came after the vaccine was approved for use in army. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-vaccine/chinas-cansino-in-talks-for-covid-vaccine-phase-iii-trial-overseas-idUSKCN24C0HS