Good morning, and welcome to a whole new week of Asia Links
China’s zero-covid policy comes under pressure as delta outbreak spreads – 74 new infections on Saturday (FT)
Xi Jinping set to unveil new doctrine that could let him rule for life (Bloomberg)
To steer China’s future, Xi Jinping is re-writing its past (NT Times)
US finally opening borders after 20 months (Bangkok Post)
Hong Kong’s fiscal reserves under pressure as opposition-free LegCo approved more than $39 billion in spending in the 2020-21 legislative session (FT)
China Oct exports beat forecasts, trade surplus with US rises to $41 bn (Reuters)
China will hold those who support Taiwan independence ‘criminally liable for life’ (Reuters)
Early China snowfalls threaten to worsen energy crisis (SCMP)
UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss to visit SE Asia to boost economic and security ties (Reuters)
Chinese man convicted of trying to steal aviation technology from US (BBC)
China moves against ‘characteristic towns’ as it tries to contain local government debt (SCMP, Sixth Tone)
UAE to invest $33 bn in Indonesia (Straits Times)
Call for review of Thai lese majeste law sparks rare debate (Reuters, Bangkok Post)
New Zealand tries to cool the property market without tanking the economy after house prices rise 30% in a year (WSJ)
Sydney airport sells for $17 billion (Bloomberg)
Indonesia seizes land linked to Tommy Suharto for defaulting on loans issued during the Asian financial crisis (Reuters)
The economic rebound from covid was easy, now comes the hard part (WSJ)
Wonkery: achieving net zero is going to push prices for copper, nickel, cobalt and lithium to historical peaks (VoxEU)
The private sector’s critical role in countering climate change in Asia-Pacific (ADB)
China’s own punk moment: cultural clash between bubble-gum pop and ‘hyperpop’ (Sixth Tone)