De Chinese Wouden, maandag 1 juli: 70 maal hoera voor Vreedzame Coëxistentie
China vierde afgelopen vrijdag het zeventig jarig bestaan van de Vijf Principes van Vreedzame Coëxistentie met een toespraak van Xi Jinping. Het is wat technisch, dus ik heb de sectie iets meer onderaan geplaatst. Maar voor Pekings buitenlandbeleid is dit een absoluut fundament.
De vijf punten zijn (maakt no. 5 het recursief?):
wederzijds respect voor soevereiniteit en territoriale integriteit,
wederzijdse non-agressie,
wederzijdse non-interventie in elkaars binnenlandse aangelegenheden,
gelijkheid en wederzijds profijt en
vreedzame coëxistentie.
Je kunt ‘hypocrisie!’ roepen of het afdoen als lege woorden, maar als iets zo belangrijk is voor de Chinese diplomatie, dan is het beter om te proberen het te begrijpen. De kiem hiervoor ligt in de oorsprong van de Vijf Principes (Panchsheel in Hindi) in een overeenkomst tussen India en China zeventig jaar geleden.
Die periode was ook het moment van de Beweging van Niet-Gebonden Landen (Non-Aligned Movement, NAM). Het aantal landen in de wereld explodeerde dankzij dekolonisatie. De meeste nieuwe landen hadden weinig gemeen. Ze hadden verschillende politieke systemen. Ze hadden verschillende culturen. Ze lagen verspreid over de hele wereld. Maar één ding deelden ze: een geschiedenis van westerse onderdrukking en de wens om niet nog een keer speelbal van imperialisme te worden in de nieuwe Koude Oorlog.
Deze landen vonden elkaar daarin bij de Bandungconferentie van 1955, waar de NAM begon. Ook China was daarbij. Naast Indonesias Soekarno was de Chinese Zhou Enlai de ster van de bijeenkomst. De hoop van niet-Westerse grootmachten als China en India die de niet-Westerse wereld alternatieven voor de Westerse en Sovjet-sferen zouden bieden was voelbaar.
De geschiedenis is weerbarstig, maar dit diepe reservoir van gezamenlijke alternatieve geschiedenis helpt nog steeds een groot deel van de Chinese kracht in het ‘Mondiale Zuiden’ te verklaren. Dit deel van de wereld was ook duidelijk bedacht als het publiek van Xi Jinpings toespraak.
Hier moeten we opletten. Want: Xi Jinping verbond het hoopvolle moment van zeventig jaar terug aan het moment nu. Weer is de wereld gespannen. Weer dreigt er een Koude Oorlog. Maar ook weer komt China met een oplossing. De ‘gemeenschap van een gedeeld lot voor de mensheid’ die al jaren het sluitstuk vormt van Pekings visie op de nieuwe wereldorde. Xi plaatst de Chinese opkomst in het centrum van de opkomst van de ‘Rest van de Wereld’. (In mijn hoofd klinkt het nu: China heeft geen interesse om het Westen te vervangen; net zoals de CPP vroeger binnenlands de proletarische massa aanvoerde die per definitie de bourgeoisie uitsloot, zo wil Peking nu vooral de ‘echte’ wereld leiden bestaand uit de ontwikkelingslanden waartoe het zichzelf nog altijd rekent.)
Het verschil met de Koude Oorlog van vroeger is, dat China zich nog geloofwaardig als derde land kon presenteren naast de Verenigde Staten en de Sovjetunie. De vermeende nieuwe Koude Oorlog-in-wording gaat juist tussen de VS en China. Net als de NAM toen niet gebonden wilde zijn, zo hoor je nu in de regio aldoor dat landen niet willen kiezen tussen deze twee landen.
Ook laat Xi voor het gemak weg dat de andere partij van de ‘Panchsheel’-overeenkomst het grote land India was. In de decennia die volgden op 1954 was de grootmachtpotentie van India een gebroken belofte. Nu is niet alleen dat anders, maar spreken de kenners over een nakende multipolaire wereld. Naast de VS en China, ook: India, Europa, ASEAN, Japan, Nigeria, en ga zo maar verder.
Het is belangrijk de kracht van het Chinese beroep op de geschiedenis te erkennen. Deze droge toespraak van Xi is een belangrijk diplomatiek moment. Tegelijkertijd hoeven we niet mee te gaan met de Chinese monopolieclaim. Er gebeurt tenslotte veel meer in de regio dan wat past in het verhaal van de CCP.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
China’s military Seven Sons are tapping into EU-funded research – POLITICO Europe: ‘Some universities involved recognized the risk of working with the Seven Sons universities but decided to proceed as the research project’s topic wasn’t particularly controversial.’ 🇪🇺
Berlin’s shift on China policy is result of Beijing’s changed behaviour, German diplomat says – SCMP: ‘Thomas Bagger, state secretary at the German foreign ministry, declared that Germany’s stance towards Beijing has moved to a heightened rivalry’ 🇩🇪
China’s envoy to France Lú Shāyě 卢沙野 labels Taiwanese government ‘rebel regime’ to be expelled ‘at any time’ – SCMP: ‘he again defended China’s “normal trade with Russia”’ 🇫🇷
EEAS Stratcom’s responses to foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) in 2023 – EU EEAS: ‘While narratives regarding Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine became less prominent in Chinese channels in 2023, China’s and Russia’s alignment in the information environment also remained visible as China continued to selectively amplify pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives.’
‘Responding to calls from EU Member States and the European Parliament, work on developing capabilities to tackle China’s FIMI activities, including improving understandings of the actor via monitoring of relevant information environments and analysis of FIMI tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) continued.’ 🇪🇺
National Perspectives on Europe’s De-risking from China – European Think-tank Network on China 🇪🇺
Rusland 🇷🇺
Global powers clash at United Nations over North Korea – Reuters: ‘China strongly rejected a U.S. accusation that it was emboldening North Korea by not condemning Russia’s actions.’ 🇷🇺🇰🇵
Elektrische auto’s 🚗⚡️
Chinese carmakers to possess 33% market share by 2030, report says – China Daily
Indonesia to impose up to 200-pct import tariffs on Chinese goods – Antara: ‘explained that the trade war is causing an oversupply in China as their products face rejection by Western countries, forcing them to redirect exports to other markets like Indonesia.’ 🇮🇩
India steel and trade ministries in talks over rising Chinese imports, says source – Reuters: ‘India is monitoring cheap Chinese imports, the source said, as China continues to be top exporter of steel to the Asia’s third-largest economy in recent months.’ 🇮🇳
Tech War 💽💥
Hoe het kabinet met operatie Beethoven het vertrek van ASML wilde voorkomen – NRC 🇳🇱
Interview Micky Adriaansens: „Strategie is een vies woord in Den Haag” – NRC 🇳🇱
Het ministerie van Klimaat en Groene Groei: een lege huls of redder van de planeet? – de Volkskrant: „Op dat departement puzzelen medewerkers sinds twee weken op een logische manier om hun ministerie te splitsen, zeggen diverse ambtenaren. Daarbij lijkt Hermans ongeveer de helft van de staf te krijgen en nagenoeg alle spannende onderwerpen. Beljaarts blijft achter met looiige dossiers zoals consumentenwetgeving.” 🇳🇱
Huawei 华为 faces production challenges with 20% yield rate for AI chip Ascend 910B – TrendForce: ‘Meanwhile, due to increased U.S. export restrictions, the supply of equipment parts has been disrupted, causing production output to fall far short of targets.’
‘Dutch photolithography giant ASML stated that using EUV equipment for 7nm processes requires only nine steps, whereas using DUV equipment requires 34 steps. More steps lead to higher production costs, higher defect rates, and more frequent equipment failures.’
Zoals al voorspeld was toen de VS begon met de exportcontrolemaatregelen. Je kunt met veel kunst en vliegwerk nog een heel eind komen onder de 14nm grens – de vraag was of het economisch is. Dat lijkt in dit geval nu beantwoord.
China says rare earths belong to state in new regulation – Nikkei Asia
China’s renewable energy ‘fluctuations and volatility’ could see Beijing supercharge power reforms – SCMP
Philippines courts investors for ‘China-free’ nickel supply chain – FT: ‘is seeking a critical minerals agreement with the US and investment from foreign companies to build more refining plants’ 🇵🇭
China’s Space Pioneer 天兵科技 blames massive test rocket crash on structural failure – SCMP
Taiwan’s NSTC to focus on talent exchanges with Central and Eastern European, and Southeast Asian countries – Taipei Times 🇪🇺
NSTC backs core tech list after ex-US official voices concerns – Focus Taiwan: ‘there is no pre-export review or implementation of control of the said technologies, as Kim argued.’
South Korea’s SK Hynix to invest KR₩ 103 trillion [€69bn] by 2028 in AI and chips – Reuters 🇰🇷
70 jaar Vreedzame Coëxistentie 🕊️🇨🇳
China’s Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 calls on nations to unite against ‘iron curtains of confrontation’ – SCMP: ‘The “Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence” had been “the bedrock” of Chinese foreign policy since the 1950s, Xi said in a keynote address at an event in Beijing marking the 70th anniversary of the concept.’
‘The principles, stressing mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, were first included in an agreement between China and India in 1954, known as the “Panchsheel” treaty in India.’
‘In a thinly veiled message to the United States and Europe, which have slapped higher tariffs on a range of Chinese products and sought to cut off hi-tech access, he said: “‘Small yards with high fences’, decoupling, and severing industrial and supply chains simply run counter to the tide of history. They will do nothing but harm the common interests of the international community.”’
Chinese leader Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 called for the Global South to have a greater say in international affairs, [as part of] his efforts to challenge the US-led world order – Bloomberg
Full Text: Address by Chinese President Xi Jinping at conference marking 70th anniversary of Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence – Xinhua: ‘Seventy years ago, our forefathers, who experienced the scourge of hot wars and the confrontation of the Cold War, concluded that the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence were the crucial way to safeguard peace and sovereignty. […] Seventy years later today, challenged by the historic question of “what kind of world to build and how to build it,” China has answered the call of the times by proposing a community with a shared future for mankind. Today, this Chinese initiative has become an international consensus.’
‘Of all the forces in the world, the Global South stands out with a strong momentum, playing a vital role in promoting human progress.’ ‘Together, we should be the construction team of global governance.’
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
Xi to attend SCO summit, pay state visits to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan – Xinhua
‘A just cause finds great support’: Xi Jinping and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation – Xinhua: ‘The SCO has also been a platform on which Xi expounded his new security vision for Asia — a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security.’
Bain’s new boss says consultancy pulling back from certain work in China – FT
Singapore’s CapitaLand focuses on Vietnam as supply chains leave China – Nikkei Asia 🇸🇬🇻🇳
‘Drones change everything’: China showcases UAV competitive edge in military export market – SCMP
Column: Bij Amerika’s veranderende rol volstaat niet om ‘meer Europa’ te roepen – Arnout Brouwers in de Volkskrant 🇺🇸
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
Zuid-Chinese Zee
China briefly blocks rescue of Filipino fishermen near Bajo de Masinloc/Scarborough Shoal – Rappler: ‘The PCG said the CCG issued radio challenges, shadowed, and blocked Philippine vessels. However, PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said the CCG eventually helped out in the rescue operations.’ 🇵🇭
China Coast Guard assists Filipino fishermen injured in South China Sea – Xinhua 🇵🇭
Philippines and Japan to hold security talks next month – AFP 🇵🇭🇯🇵
China urges US to stop supporting the Philippines’ ‘provocations’ – Reuters 🇺🇸🇵🇭
China’s aircraft carrier Shandong spotted near Philippines amid tensions – The Global Times 🇵🇭
South China Sea: Chinese academics urged to ‘construct narratives’ to defend maritime claims – SCMP: ‘Its claims were rejected by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague in 2016 in a case filed by the Philippines.’
overige
China and Peru completed ‘substantial negotiations’ to upgrade FTA – Reuters
China economie
Industrie in China krimpt voor tweede maand op rij – FD
China’s June factory activity contracts again, services slows – Reuters
Foreign investors in China seek new catalysts as stock rally fizzles – Nikkei Asia
China’s central bank puts the yuan’s exchange-rate swings in crosshairs – SCMP
China binnenland
Xi’s article on CCP’s missions and tasks to be published – Xinhua: ‘The article describes the central task of the CPC after the 20th National Congress as leading the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realize the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.’
Why China’s latest corruption probes hint at fury, betrayal over political disloyalty – SCMP: ‘Observers drew attention to the especially harsh wording in the brief statements of the accusations against the two men.’
China passes new rural collective law to protect farmers’ land rights – Reuters: ‘defines the role of rural collectives and will give farmers oversight of the collectives.’
Chinese woman who tried to stop knife attack on Japanese mother and son dies from wounds – SCMP
China’s online ultranationalists feel the heat over Japanese school bus attack comments – SCMP
China drops controversial ‘hurt feelings’ clause from public security admin law – SCMP
China tightens law on handling disasters including information flows – Reuters: ‘An escalation of extreme weather events has tested China’s emergency responses in recent years as the country faces more severe floods and drought.’
China has ‘natural’ say in choosing next Dalai Lama, Tibet ‘experts’ tell Beijing forum – SCMP
Hong Kong
Chinese President Xi calls for bay area integration push as Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link opens – SCMP
Exclusive: US law firm Dechert considering shuttering offices in Hong Kong and Beijing, say sources – Reuters 🇺🇸
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
UNGA Resolution 2758 does not discuss Taiwan, foreign minister says – Taipei Times: ‘Taiwan has the right to join international bodies and establish diplomatic relations with other countries’ 🇨🇳
Beijing’s ‘One China’ remarks at Organisation of American States distort Taiwan’s status, foreign ministry says – Taipei Times 🇨🇳
China tells Taiwanese to visit ‘in high spirits’, despite execution threat – Reuters 🇨🇳
Taiwan announces Thailand investment deal, marking first pact under President Lai – Nikkei Asia 🇹🇭
Taiwan and Thailand sign bilateral investment agreement – Taipei Times: ‘The two sides previously signed an investment agreement in 1996’ 🇹🇭
Indonesia to deport Taiwanese suspected of cyber crimes in Bali – Reuters 🇮🇩
120,000 to be called for alternate reserve drills, compared with 6,505 drilled last year – Taipei Times
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Keelung mayor George Hsieh 謝國樑 (KMT)’s recall petition hits referendum threshold – Taipei Times
KMT’s recall act reform proposal to be discussed – Taipei Times
Tamkang University to be penalised after faculty member calls China ‘motherland’ while visiting – Taipei Times: ‘school faculty visiting China for education-related activities should not visit for political purposes or allow political incidents to occur.’ 🇨🇳
Taiwan’s financial sector makes record January-May pre-tax profits – Focus Taiwan