De Chinese Wouden, maandag 27 mei: handelsgedoe, bedreiging Taiwan.
Het lijkt erop dat het Verenigd Koninkrijk nu eventjes in het Chinese strafbankje mag zitten. De beschuldigingen van de defensieminister dat China dodelijke middelen zou leveren aan Rusland kwamen na arrestaties van drie persionen voor spionage voor Hong Kong. In alle gevallen ontkent Peking op hoge tonen. Men beschuldigt het VK van kwaadaardige misleiding. Directeur-generaal Wang Lutong lijkt zelfs het klappen van een overeenkomst tussen Rusland en Oekraïne voor de invasie in de schoenen van Londen te schuiven.
Het rommelt door in de handelspolitiek tussen China en Europa. Op de G7-top maken regeringsleiders zich zorgen over de Chinese overproductie. In China maakt de producenten van zonnepanelen en elektrische auto’s zich zorgen over de eigen overproductie. Peking blijft hard roepen dat zogenaamde ‘overproductie’ een Amerikaans complot is om China klein te houden. The Global Times bericht ondertussen dat China wel eens wraak zou kunnen nemen op varkensvlees als Europa met heffingen komt.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
The Netherlands and US naval forces conduct South China Sea operations – United States Navy 🇳🇱🇺🇸
[Press Release] The first visit of a Netherlands Royal Navy Ship to Vietnam – The Netherlands and Vietnam 🇳🇱🇻🇳
Explanation of Vote by Ambassador Fu Cong on the UN General Assembly Draft Resolution on the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica – Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the UN: ‘The hasty voting on the draft resolution, which is still marked by major differences, is not in line with the spirit of reconciliation or harmony within Bosnia and Herzegovina and among the countries of the region’ 🇧🇦🇷🇸
US senators propose bill to speed up Europe’s transfer of US-made weapons to Taiwan – Focus Taiwan: ‘Under the Act, the United States and European countries should discuss how to provide humanitarian aid to Taiwan in the event of a blockade, quarantine, or military invasion of Taiwan by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China.’ 🇺🇸
China accuses UK of false accusations against Chinese citizens – Reuters 🇬🇧
Commissioner’s Office of Chinese Foreign Ministry in HKSAR bashes Britain’s false allegations and political manipulation – Xinhua: ‘Britain’s false accusations and despicable political manipulation have seriously violated the spirit of the rule of law, infringed upon the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in Britain, and gravely violated the principles of international law and the basic norms governing international relations’ 🇬🇧
Hong Kong asks Britain for details on death of man charged with spying for China – Reuters 🇬🇧
Rusland 🇷🇺
China urges UK to stop making ‘groundless accusations’, says Chinese embassy in UK – Reuters: ‘stop adding fuel to the fire on the Ukraine issue, seriously reflect on its role in international peace and security, and truly do something for world peace and justice’ 🇬🇧🇺🇦
‘Remarks by UK Secretary of State for Defence on #China weren’t seconded by the US. Two years ago, it was the #UK who jumped in the way when #Russia and #Ukraine were close to an agreement. People now have reason to ask whether the UK wants the conflict to end or not.’ – 王鲁彤 Wang Lutong, Twitter 🇬🇧🇺🇦
Beschuldigt de directeur-generaal Europese Zaken van het Chinese ministerie van buitenlandse zaken het Verenigd Koninkrijk nu van het saboteren van een overeenkomst die de Ruslands volledige invasie van Oekraïne had kunnen voorkomen?
China welcomes more countries to jointly promote de-escalation of Ukraine crisis, foreign ministry spokesperson says – Xinhua: ‘These six common understandings reflect not just the joint position of China and Brazil, but also the widespread concern and genuine desire of the vast international community for promoting political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, the spokesperson added.’ 🇧🇷
We kunnen veel zeggen over de praktische steun van China aan Rusland. Maar de diplomatieke lijn richt zich meer op het bouwen van een coalitie die de internationale gemeenschap ‘democratisch’ vertegenwoordigt in afkeer van het bourgeoise Westen.
China Focus: China-Europe freight train trips surpass 90,000, energising high-quality BRI development – Xinhua: ‘“Thanks to the China-Europe freight trains, our products now reach various European countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Russia, as well as Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan. […]”’
Speciale handelsoperatie 🇪🇺🇨🇳
European G7 ministers warn over China trade war risks – Reuters: ‘ministers from Germany, France and hosts Italy all called for a common front against China’s growing export strength.’
‘French Finance Minister Le Maire said it was important to avoid a trade war with Beijing, which remains “our economic partner”, but the G7 needed to protect its industrial interests in the face of China’s “unfair trade practices.”
Germany’s export-driven economy would have much to lose from an escalation of trade tensions and its Finance Minister Christian Lindner told reporters that “trade wars are all about losing, you can’t win them.”’ 🇪🇺🇮🇹🇫🇷🇩🇪
EU should follow US on tariffs over Chinese goods, Italy minister says – Reuters: ‘Speaking about the automotive sector in particular, Urso said that the steep increase in U.S. tariffs could result in China steering its exports toward Europe, harming the bloc’s industry.’ 🇮🇹
The G7 needs to establish a fair and in-depth assessment of excess Chinese industrial exports, says French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire – Bloomberg: ‘He said the International Monetary Fund could be involved in the analysis.’ 🇫🇷
China’s outsized role in world trade is alarming global finance chiefs, who are poised to forge a united front in Italy priming their nations to challenge ‘harmful practices’ – Bloomberg: ‘A draft communique formulated at the Group of Seven meeting in the lakeside resort of Stresa introduces much stronger common language’
Chinese industries plan to ask authorities to start an anti-dumping investigation into pork imports from the European Union, the state-run Global Times said – Bloomberg 🇪🇺
‘#Exclusive: The Global Times has learned from a business insider that relevant #Chinese industries are preparing evidence, as they plan to apply to competent authorities to launch an anti-dumping investigation into imports of certain pork from the #EU.’ – Global Times, Twitter 🇪🇺
China’s EV price war spreads overseas as carmakers chase market share and higher profit margins to offset losses at home – SCMP: ‘the domestic industry, crowded with more than 100 companies, is now mired in overcapacity woes following the collapse of several underachieving players like WM Motor and Human Horizons.’
Chinese state media takes aim at US overcapacity claims as wary G7 insists on playing field level – SCMP
China’s new energy and EV sectors are ‘transforming’ global trade, no link to overcapacity claims, former commerce official says – SCMP: ‘“Notably, China has become the world’s largest automotive exporter,” Jiang told the 10th annual forum of the Centre for China and Globalisation (CCG) think tank in Beijing on Saturday.’
‘Georg Riekeles, Associate Director and Head of Europe’s Political Economy at @epc_eu, says that he observes much decoupling these days. Economy has become security and industrial policy become a geopolitical fact even the EU has taken inspiration from. #10thChinaGlobalizationForum’ – Center for China and Globalization , Twitter
Verweven in Verenigd Front-netwerken, het Center for China and Globalization is de afgelopen tijd plotseling erg zichtbaar geworden in het sturen van de Europese visie op China.
Brazil, India and Mexico are taking on China’s exports: To avoid an economic shock, they are pursuing a strange mix of free trade and protectionism – The Economist 🇧🇷🇮🇳🇲🇽
Test finds kids’ accessories from AliExpress 全球速卖通 and Shein 希音 to be tainted with toxic chemicals – The Korea Herald 🇰🇷
China intimideert Taiwan 🇹🇼🇨🇳
China ends war games, Taiwan details warplane and warship surge – Reuters
After China drills, Taiwan president Lai Ching-te 賴清德 again extends goodwill – Reuters: ‘saying he looked forward to enhancing mutual understanding and reconciliation.’
China’s military drills hurt cross-strait stability, Presidential Office says – Focus Taiwan
China should exercise self-restraint, Taiwan’s defence ministry says – Taipei Times: ‘Nineteen PLA Navy vessels and seven Chinese coast guard ships continued to operate in the Taiwan Strait’
China’s drills against Taiwan likely ‘preordained’ with ‘room to escalate’ – Nikkei Asia: ‘the use of civilian platforms — namely the coast guard — as part of the exercises is new and “blurs the lines between military and civilian capabilities.”’
China says it is testing ability to ‘seize power’ in second day of military drills around Taiwan – The Guardian
China stages mock missile strikes on Taiwan, jets with live missiles used in drills – Reuters: ‘several Chinese coastguard boats also conduced “harassment” drills off Taiwan’s east coast, including mock inspections of civilian ships.’
Propaganda flyers allegedly from China found on Taiwan-controlled island Erdan – Focus Taiwan: ‘it believed the propaganda pamphlets had been dropped on the islet by a drone’
China’s large military drills around Taiwan could become regular, experts say – Focus Taiwan
How is China responding to the inauguration of Taiwan’s President William Lai? – CSIS ChinaPower
Biden ‘willing to use force’ to help allies – Taipei Times 🇺🇸
A bipartisan delegation of US lawmakers arrived in Taiwan a day after China ended its biggest military exercise in a year around the island – Bloomberg: ‘led by Representative Michael McCaul, Republican of Texas, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’ 🇺🇸
US State Department coordinates closely with Taiwan amid PLA drills – Focus Taiwan 🇺🇸
Philippine defence chief says Taiwan Strait situation an ‘internal matter’ – Reuters 🇵🇭
Kishida conveys Japan’s concern about China military activities – Kyodo News 🇯🇵
China’s defence ministry says every ‘Taiwan independence’ provocation to invite countermeasures – Xinhua: ‘every time “Taiwan independence” forces make provocations, the countermeasures will be advanced further, until the complete reunification of China is achieved.’
Taiwan looks to resolve suspended cross-Strait travel by May end, transport ministry says – Focus Taiwan: ‘does not rule out the possibility of Taiwan taking the first step by making a gesture of goodwill’
Normality continues in Taiwan amid China drills – Taipei Times: ‘While Taiwanese media have covered the drills, a lot of the focus has instead been on continuing protests against efforts by the opposition to push legislative reforms, and occasional fighting by lawmakers on the floor of the chamber.’
Any view of China’s display of military aggression as being business as usual brings with it global economic peril – Bloomberg: ‘Bloomberg Economics calculates about a one-in-four chance of a “major crisis” in the Taiwan Strait over the next five years. The growing concern in Taipei is the idea of a blockade’
Politicians lament Taiwan stars’ forced pro-China statements – Taipei Times
Tech War
Wordt China koploper in artificiële intelligentie? – VRT NWS
TSMC Nanjing gets permanent US approval – Taipei Times: ‘confirming that the items and services subject to US export control regulations could continue to be provided to TSMC’s Nanjing fab without the need for vendors to get individual licenses.’
Exclusive: Nvidia cuts China prices in Huawei 华为 chip fight, sources say – Reuters
Chinese vice premier Dīng Xuēxiáng 丁薛祥 highlights high-quality development of digital economy – Xinhua: ‘Building a digital China is an important engine for advancing Chinese modernization, Ding said, noting that it is necessary to prioritize independent innovation of key and core technologies.’
Hyundai 現代 is ‘doubling down’ on EVs despite sales slowdown, CEO says – The Verge 🇰🇷
Are these drones too Chinese to pass US muster in an anti-China moment? – The New York Times: ‘Given its links to DJI, Anzu is in some ways a litmus test for Chinese companies facing an increasingly hostile regulatory environment in the United States.’ 🇺🇸
Western companies drive Chinese biotech licensing deal blitz – FT: ‘Western pharma companies are seeking to expand their product pipelines as they confront patent expiries of lucrative drugs in the coming years, while Chinese drugmakers are struggling to raise funds domestically for drug development and clinical trials during a stock market slump.’
Kantelpunt
US starts delivering drones to its military under programme aimed at China’s growing military – SCMP 🇺🇸
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
Low expectations for rare heads of government summit between China, Japan, and South Korea – Reuters: ‘The absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping effectively keeps military, foreign affairs, and security issues off the agenda, said Kang Jun-young’ 🇯🇵🇰🇷
‘No high hopes’ for China at summit with Japan, South Korea, though return of 3-way talks marks a start – SCMP: ‘The last such summit was hosted by China in December 2019.’ 🇯🇵🇰🇷
Economic woes push Japan, China, and South Korea to restart 3-way summit – Nikkei Asia: ‘A summit of business leaders from the three countries will be held at the same time’ 🇯🇵🇰🇷
China, Japan, and South Korea to revive FTA talks – Nikkei Asia 🇯🇵🇰🇷
Philippines builds coastguard station in islands near Taiwan – Reuters: ‘will improve Manila’s ability to monitor the Luzon Strait’ 🇵🇭
Philippines says China Coast Guard operation rules a provocation – Reuters 🇵🇭
Jakarta’s ties with Beijing could be tested by South China Sea clashes, think tank warns – SCMP 🇮🇩
Mahathir says Beijing ‘can claim’ South China Sea, no need for war – Nikkei Asia 🇲🇾
China reports crash of survey drone in vital South China Sea waters between Taiwan and Philippines – SCMP: ‘earlier this month’ ‘the crash site did not appear to be close to the drill area.’ 🇵🇭🇹🇼
China’s CNOOC signs oil exploration, production contracts with Mozambique – Reuters 🇲🇿
Chinese funding keeps Cameroon’s deep seaport expansion project afloat – SCMP 🇨🇲
Former US Marine pilot can be extradited, Australian magistrate rules – Reuters: ‘charges of training Chinese military pilots to land on aircraft carriers’ 🇺🇸🇦🇺
Ex-CIA officer accused of spying for China pleads guilty in a Honolulu courtroom – AP 🇺🇸
US and Chinese defence chiefs to meet at Singapore gathering following Taiwan tension – AFP 🇺🇸
Xi replies to letters from student representatives of Chinese language education project in UAE – Xinhua 🇦🇪
Chinese invloed in Golfregio groeit rap, maar Europa moet niet in paniek raken – BNR Nieuws
China economie
China sees more stations shut down as high-speed rail debt crisis deepens – Epardafas: ‘A recent report from the China Business Journal highlights that at least 26 high-speed rail stations across the country are inactive due to their remote locations, insufficient surrounding facilities, and low passenger numbers.’
China’s local governments shut down social media accounts as budgets shrink – SCMP
Jamie Dimon admits to ‘tough’ going for JPMorgan in China – FT: ‘“There’s no reason it has to get into a war,” he said. “China has never [sic] been expansionary.”’
China binnenland
China jails former Three Gorges chief Cáo Guǎngjīng 曹广晶 for life for taking bribes – SCMP
A deputy head of China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration is the latest senior official to be under investigation for ‘serious violations’ – Bloomberg
Last major Arabic-style mosque in China loses its domes – The Guardian: ‘A leaked Chinese Communist party memo shows that local authorities were instructed to “adhere to the principle of demolishing more and building less”.’
China’s political advisors discuss fortifying strong sense of community for Chinese nation – Xinhua: ‘Wang urged political advisors to contribute their insights toward building China's independent systems of historical records, discourse, and theory for the community of the Chinese nation.’
Xi Jinping’s recipe for total control: An army of eyes and ears – The New York Times: ‘to embed the party so deeply in daily life that no trouble, no matter how seemingly minor or apolitical, can even arise. Mr. Xi has branded this effort the “Fengqiao experience for a new era.”’
Dit is het systeem dat langskomt in het recente boek The Sentinel State: Surveillance and the Survival of Dictatorship in China van Minxin Pei.
China’s online ‘Kim Kardashian’ banned for being too ostentatious – FT
Book of Xi’s discourses on Party discipline published – Xinhua
Hong Kong
International graft busters jointly announce Hong Kong declaration – Xinhua
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Vice President Hsiao calls for Taiwan WHA inclusion – Taipei Times: ‘Meanwhile, a governmental delegation “WHA Action Team” led by Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源), a separate promotional group led by civic organizations and a bipartisan legislative group led by Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) have arrived in Geneva to promote the country’s participation in the UN agency.’
US and allies call for Taiwan to be allowed to take part in WHO meeting – Reuters: ‘The United States and several of its allies, including Britain, Canada, Australia, Germany, and Japan, issued a joint statement on Friday’ 🇺🇸🇦🇺🇬🇧🇨🇦🇨🇿🇩🇪🇯🇵🇱🇹
Xinhua Commentary: Malicious intent behind US ‘congratulations’ – Xinhua: ‘The one-China principle is a consensus [sic] in the international community and a basic norm [sic] governing international relations.’ 🇺🇸
‘From the very first country that established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China to the 183rd country of Nauru, they have all [sic] made commitments to adhering to the one-China principle [sic], which shows that the one-China principle [sic] is universally recognized and represents public opinion and a global trend.’
‘After then-Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in 2022, more than 170 [sic] countries and many international organizations have spoken up for what is right, reaffirming their commitment to the one-China principle [sic] and expressing support for China [sic] in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity.’
Taiwan is a province of China, says UN spokesperson – Xinhua 🇺🇳
Mainland, Taiwan experts hold dialogue in east China – Xinhua 🇺🇳
US and China lock horns in renewed debate over Taiwan’s UN status – The Straits tImes 🇺🇳🇺🇸
Jammer dat dit ook weer in de context van VS versus China wordt geplaatst, terwijl de geschiedschrijving vrij duidelijk is dat bij aanname van de motie in 1971 het expliciete compromis was dat de status van ‘Taiwan’ niet besproken werd. China heeft gewoon niet gelijk – ook al slaagt het erin de misinterpretatie op te dwingen aan VN-functionarissen.
China’s rejection of Guatemalan shipments could be related to Taiwan ties, Guatemala president says – Reuters 🇬🇹
China hopes relevant Guatemalan officials to make right decision, foreign ministry spokesperson says – Xinhua 🇬🇹
Taiwan to join data protection group Global CAPE – Taipei Times
Lai’s inauguration boosts Taiwan’s ties with Tibet – Tenzing Dhambul in Taipei Times
Navy relaunches guided missile frigate project – Taipei Times
Taiwan protesten
100,000 demonstrate in Taipei against pan-Blue camp’s power grab – New Bloom: ‘one of the largest demonstrations in Taiwan since the 2014 Sunflower Movement’
More than 100,000 attend Taipei protests, organisers estimate – Taipei Times: ‘The KMT had applied to hold a protest on Qingdao E Road, where they had a stage truck set up, but only a handful of people were there through the evening.’
Protesters and [some] supporters of reform bills gather outside Legislature – Focus Taiwan
KMT lawmaker propose President Lai convene national affairs advisory meeting on reform bills – Taipei Times
Nationale Affairs-conferenties waarbij regering en oppositie ideeën uitwisselden speelden een belangrijke rol in de stapsgewijze politieke hervormingen die van Taiwan een democratie maakten.
Revisions boosting Legislature’s investigative powers pass 2nd reading – Focus Taiwan: ‘would grant the Legislative Yuan formal “investigative powers,” in contrast to the existing law’
‘Another banner read “solar power plants, egg [shortages and imports], rapid test kits, vaccines,” pointing to areas where the KMT believes there was fraudulent behavior and a lack of transparency by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) from 2016 to 2024, when it controlled both the executive and legislative branches.’
Editorial: KMT bills are worrying for defence – Taipei Times
Taiwan ruling DPP’s most senior lawmaker Ker Chien-ming 柯建銘 says opposition wants another ‘Hong Kong’ – Nikkei Asia
In het Groene Kamp gaat al een tijdje een vergaand stuk uit februari rond uit de Chinese dissidentenmedia, waarin een Chinese dissident spreekt over een document van de CCP dat een plan zou zijn om de Taiwanese wetgevende macht onder controle te stellen. De KMT’ers kamervoorzitter Han Kuo-yu en fractievoorzitter Fu Kun-chi zouden hierbij een belangrijke rol spelen. Er is verder geen bewijs, maar het helpt wel om beter te begrijpen waarom sommige Taiwanese nationalisten in het Groene Kamp deze strijd in existentiële termen zien – helemaal omdat het gedrag van Han en Fu wel lijkt te gaan zoals voorspeld.
Why are Taiwanese youth protesting against legislative reform? – Austin Horng-En Wang, Fang-Yu Chen, Charles K. S. Wu, and Yao-Yuan Yeh for The Diplomat: ‘the KMT and TPP’s forcible push for the bill also made young people doubt their motivations.’
Opinion: Taiwan politicians’ zero-sum mentality is the island democracy’s greatest burden – Gunter Schubert for CommonWealth Magazine: ‘President Lai and his new government are therefore likely to have a very hard time over the next four years.’
Taiwan’s increasingly political Drag Race queen Nymphia Wind wows fans on home stage – Reuters: ‘last week she took part in massed protests against contentious parliament reforms.’
Who’s actually using Meta’s Threads? Young protesters in Taiwan – Rest of World
Dat het Taiwanese parlement nog geen fatsoenlijke implementatie heeft van de onderzoeksmogelijkheden waarin de grondwet voorziet, kun je ook de DPP aanrekenen. Die hebben tenslotte acht jaar de tijd gehad. Hun voorstel in 2016 mislukte. Maar uiteindelijk gaat het niet alleen daarom.
Fundamenteel heeft het verzet niet alleen te maken met de slordige omgang met procedures in het parlement en de slecht geschreven wetsvoorstellen. Uiteindelijk is de grondoorzaak een fundamenteel wantrouwen in de KMT. Wat voor zin heeft geheimhouding als China-vriendelijke KMT-parlementariërs gevoelige documenten alsnog lekken – zoals al gebeurd is om bijvoorbeeld de bouw van eigen onderzeeboten te saboteren? Meer middelen om nominaties tegen te houden of functionarissen de disciplineren zijn niet verkeerd in het nogal presidentiële systeem in Taiwan. Maar de DPP en het democratische kamp dat in grote getallen verscheen op de straat geloven niet dat de KMT/TPP deze nieuwe mogelijkheden in good faith in gaat zetten. Ondertussen zien de KMT/TPP-supporters dit als het zoveelste bewijs dat DPP geen democratisch verlies accepteert.
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Offence of insulting public officials’ duties unconstitutional, Taiwan’s Constitutional Court ruled Friday – Focus Taiwan: ‘a controversial case that involved individuals spreading online insulting remarks against Taiwan’s representative office in Osaka, Japan in 2018’
Telecoms to watch for mass texts, NCC says – Taipei Times
Life expectancy records largest decline in 21 years – Taipei Times
民進黨地方黨部主委結果出爐 親賴陣營大獲全勝 – 自由時報