It is slow on the mainland as the Fifth Plenum continues for a second day. I have added commentary to several of the items below.

Today's Essential Eight:

1. Hong Kong arrests and reports of a rejected US asylum bid

2. Foreign money flowing

3. MSS commentary

4. More US arms sales to Taiwan

5. US-China

6. Frozen food and the virus

7. Green finance and carbon neutrality

8. Beijing birds

Thanks for reading.