De Chinese Wouden, maandag 8 juli: China aan Poolse grens, overstromingen
Het meest opvallende nieuws is de aankondiging dat de legers van China en Belarus een anti-terrorisme-oefening gaan houden bij Brest. Die plek ligt op de grens van Belarus met Polen, niet ver van de grens met Oekraïne. Dichter bij NAVO-grondgebied kan het Chinese Volksbevrijdingsleger niet komen.
Dit komt kort nadat Xi Jinping in Centraal-Azië was voor de top van de Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, de door China opgerichte maar steeds meer verwaterde Euraziatische veiligheidsorganisatie. Belarus werd toen lid. Rusland is al lid.
Gezien het gezelschap dat Peking dus aanhoudt, is het niet heel vreemd dat de EU-ambassadeur Jorge Toledo in Peking zegt dat China het niet makkelijk maakt om de banden met Europa te verstevigen. Los van de steun voor Rusland en de afwezigheid van de recente Oekraïense vredesconferentie in Zwitserland noemt Toledo ook het feit dat Peking maandenlang de vraag van Brussel om een gesprek over elektrische auto’s afhield en nu pas na de heffingen een dialoog is aangegaan.
Het belangrijkste nieuws in China zelf is de dijkdoorbraak bij het meer Dongting. Er zijn al tijden overstromingen op verschillende plekken in het land. Nu is het water uit het tweede meer van het land gebroken. Duizenden burgers zijn geëvacueerd. Het belang van het gebeuren kun je o.a. afzien aan de instructies die president en premier zelf uitvaardigen.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Oud-ASML-ceo Wennink: „Chipoorlog tussen VS en China zal nog tientallen jaren duren” – BNR: „Het stoort Wennink dat veel discussies over zaken met China vaak niet worden gevoerd op basis van cijfers of data, maar op basis van ideologie.”
„Wennink heeft veel tijd gestoken in lobby’s om te voorkomen dat de exportbeperkingen te streng zouden worden. Maar tegelijkertijd klaagde hij bij hooggeplaatste Chinese politici toen het intellectuele eigendom van het bedrijf volgens hem op het spel stond.” 🇳🇱🇺🇸
Former ASML CEO Wennink says US-China chip fight will continue – Reuters 🇳🇱🇺🇸
Ambassador Tan Jian attends the dinner held by the Netherlands Hong Kong Business Association (NHKBA) – Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Kingdom of the Netherlands 🇳🇱
‘🇭🇺🇨🇳 Following his surprise trip to Moscow Mr Orban is rumoured to visit Beijing on Monday. As usual, details are completely unknown. Western allies are probably going nuts.’ – Tamás Matura, Twitter 🇭🇺
China making it ‘very difficult’ for EU to deepen ties: ambassador Jorge Toledo – SCMP: ‘noted that people-to-people exchanges between China and the bloc had not recovered since the pandemic. Rather, they were “very far” off from pre-pandemic levels, he said, echoing sentiments earlier shared by Nicholas Burns, the US envoy to China.’
‘Toledo also cast doubt on the EU-China partnership, given China’s absence at the Ukraine peace summit hosted by Switzerland last month.’ 🇪🇺
China responded only recently to EU requests for talks in the bloc’s investigation into subsidies for electric vehicles, the EU’s ambassador in Beijing said – Bloomberg: ‘“We have offered consultations to the Chinese government on this case for months,” Jorge Toledo, the EU’s ambassador to China, said at a conference in Beijing Sunday. “It was only nine days ago” that European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis received a call from China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao to start consultations.’ 🇪🇺
France asks two Chinese spies to leave after attempt to forcibly repatriate man: The top official in Paris of the Ministry of State Security, the Chinese intelligence agency, and his deputy have been asked to leave the country – Le Monde 🇫🇷
Het Franse verhaal van vorige week, nu ook in het Engels.
‘In #Latvia, Special Representative Wu Hongbo met with Foreign Policy Advisor to PM Ivars Liepnieks and Parliamentary Secretary @Latvian_MFA Dace Melbarde, and held consultations with DG @KPlatere. #China is ready to boost 🇨🇳🇱🇻cooperation and promote growth of🇨🇳🇱🇻 &🇨🇳🇪🇺relations.’ – 王鲁彤 Wang Lutong, Twitter 🇱🇻
‘Special Representative Amb Wu Hongbo met with Celia Kuningas-Saagpakk, Foreign Affairs Adviser to #Estonian President, and Kristi Karelsohn @MFAestonia. Wu said 🇨🇳🇪🇪 need to continue to maintain political foundation of bilateral relations for closer ties and cooperation.’ – 王鲁彤 Wang Lutong, Twitter 🇪🇪
‘On April 2024, Mélenchon defending Beijing’s ‘one 🇨🇳 principle’: “#Taiwan is an integral part of the People’s Republic of China”.’ – Xiani P.Ch. 鄭夏霓 🌻, Twitter 🇫🇷
verkiezingen VK 🇬🇧
Britain’s new Labour government may bring ‘clarity’ on China, but a major change of course is not expected – SCMP 🇬🇧
Chinese premier congratulates new British PM – Xinhua 🇬🇧
Taiwan congratulates UK’s new prime minister – Focus Taiwan 🇬🇧
‘New British PM Keir Starmer has visited Taiwan twice in 2016 & 2018. […]’ – ogasawara_yoshiyuki, Twitter 🇬🇧
Dat was nog om te lobbyen tegen de doodstraf daar voor het Death Penalty Project.
Labour to seek joint declaration with EU on wide-ranging security pact – The Guardian: ‘He added: “Particularly on critical minerals, we do need to cooperate with our European partners […]”’ 🇬🇧
Rusland 🇷🇺
China and Russia prepare for Pacific Rim navy drill in US, Japan, and South Korea’s wake – SCMP: ‘PLA and Russian warships converge near [South Korea’s] Jeju Island’ 🇷🇺
Rehearsing for war: China and Russia’s military exercises – Ondrej Ditrych and Alice Ekman for EUISS: ‘Military cooperation is a cornerstone of the Sino-Russian partnership.’ 🇷🇺
China and Belarus to hold joint army training – Xinhua: ‘in mid-July near Brest’ 🇧🇾
Brest ligt tegen de grens met Polen, niet ver van Oekraïne.
Sidestepping Russia, China shores up new Caspian Sea trade route through Central Asia to Europe – SCMP
Overstromingen
Dyke repair work at China’s Dongting Lake to take 4 days as southwest braces for downpours – SCMP
Race against time to combat dike breach in China's second-largest freshwater lake – Xinhua
Dyke breach in China’s No 2 freshwater lake Dongting sparks emergency evacuation – SCMP
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 urges all-out rescue and relief work after dyke breach in central China – Xinhua
CCP stresses exemplary, vanguard role of Party members in flood relief efforts – Xinhua
China allocates funds for disaster relief work – Xinhua
Elektrische auto’s 🇪🇺🇨🇳
China verkoopt stekkerwagens voorlopig uit voorraad om heffing te vermijden – De Standaard
EU must not be ‘naive’ in China EV talks, Spain economy minister says – Nikkei Asia 🇪🇸🇪🇺
China’s SAIC Motor 上汽集团 seeks European Commission hearing on EV tariffs – Reuters: ‘A spokesman for SAIC subsidiary MG in France told Reuters the automaker had enough MG4 vehicles in stock “to last until November without increasing prices.”’ 🇪🇺
China autos group CAAM ‘strongly dissatisfied’ with EU anti-subsidy tariffs – Reuters 🇪🇺
China reveals next steps in EU brandy probe as EV tariffs take effect – Reuters: ‘On Friday, the commerce ministry said it would hold a hearing on July 18 to discuss an investigation into claims that European brandy producers are selling into China at below market rates.’ 🇪🇺
Europe’s top cognac makers to attend China meeting on anti-dumping probe, source says – Reuters 🇪🇺
China’s GAC 广汽集团 and Turkish carmaker TOGG in EV talks, says AK Party official – Reuters 🇹🇷
Turkije sluit een deal met Chinese elektrische autofabrikant BYD 比亚迪 voor de bouw van een fabriek, aldus Bloomberg – ANP 🇹🇷
Battery maker SK On declares ‘emergency’ as EV sales disappoint – FT 🇰🇷
Zuidoost-Azië
China’s BYD 比亚迪 opens EV factory in Thailand, first in Southeast Asia – Reuters: ‘The BYD plant is part of a wave of investment worth more than $1.44 billion from Chinese EV makers who are setting up factories in Thailand, helped by government subsidies and tax incentives.’ 🇹🇭
China’s BYD 比亚迪 acquires 20% stake in Thai dealer Rever Automotive – Reuters 🇹🇭
BYD 比亚迪’s steep EV discounting in Thailand sparks backlash, PM seeks assurances – Reuters 🇹🇭
Chinese firms mull options as Indonesia plans tariffs of up to 200% – Yicai Global: ‘Diamond Sport International Trading has already shifted from exporting footwear to shipping shoe materials this year’ 🇮🇩
Tech War 💽💥
Exclusive: Europe seeks industry views on China’s older generation chips – Reuters: ‘The Commission, the EU executive, has sought feedback ahead of two voluntary surveys for the chip industry and major chip-using industrial firms that will be due in September.’ 🇪🇺
Multiple nations enact mysterious export controls on quantum computers – New Scientist: ‘imposing identical export controls on quantum computers, while refusing to disclose the scientific rationale behind the regulations.’
Texas governor pursues Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea chip investments – Nikkei Asia
China plays down importance of lithography tools in semiconductor challenges – DigiTimes Asia
Four things to know about Tianqi Lithium 天齐锂业’s reversal of fortunes – Caixin Global: ‘Plunging lithium prices have pushed the Chinese producer of the key battery raw material far deeper into the red, just as an ongoing tussle with the Chilean government has left the payoff from its biggest overseas investment in doubt.’
China, struggling to make use of a boom in energy storage, calls for even more – Reuters
China offers SMEs and green sector boost with 3-year action plan to lift government purchases – SCMP: ‘the plan proposed creating a channel to share central government procurement information with financial institutions to enable commercial banks to expedite loan support for SMEs.’
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
Xinhua Headlines: China endeavours to foster more united and prosperous SCO community – Xinhua: ‘real security is premised on the security of all countries’
Xi’s Central Asia trip significant for regional cooperation, development, Chinese foreign minister says – Xinhua
Xi says China-Central Asia mechanism joint initiative of six countries – Xinhua
Xi says China ready to develop comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in new era with Tajikistan – Xinhua: ‘China firmly opposes interference in Tajikistan’s internal affairs under any excuse by any external force.’ 🇹🇯
Xi seen off by Rahmon at airport after state visit to Tajikistan – Xinhua 🇹🇯
Feature: Xi awards Friendship Medal to Tajikistan’s Rahmon, testimony to strengthened bond – Xinhua 🇹🇯
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
China treads complex path between North and South Korea as nuclear risk rises – SCMP 🇰🇵🇰🇷🇷🇺
US and South Korea concerned North Korea may send troops to Ukraine; Putin and Kim have reportedly discussed possibility – The Yomiuri Shimbun: ‘such as engineering units’🇰🇵🇷🇺🇺🇦
Ukraine to join meeting of Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand on sidelines of NATO gathering in Washington – The Yomiuri Shimbun: ‘A senior U.S. government official told reporters on Friday that the summit of NATO and IP4 will raise the issue of China’s support for the defense industrial base of Russia.’ 🇺🇦🇯🇵🇰🇷🇦🇺🇳🇿
NATO needs to look toward Pacific because of current realities, Jens Stoltenberg says – POLITICO
Japan and Philippines set to sign key military pact – Bloomberg: ‘an agreement that would facilitate mutual military visits’ 🇯🇵🇵🇭
Chinese and Ethiopian officials appeal to embrace civilisation diversity for peaceful and better world – Xinhua: ‘after the commemoration of the China-proposed International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, which was designated on June 10 by the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.’ 🇪🇹
Is the ‘Angola model’ over as China buys more crude oil from Gulf and Russia than Africa? – SCMP: ‘Africa once accounted for more than a third of Chinese oil imports. But by 2022, that figure had dropped to about one-tenth’
The future for foreign companies in China looks increasingly finite – Louis Brennan for Nikkei Asia: ‘even in those areas where China is still in catch-up mode and foreign companies still have an advantage — and hence continue to be welcome in China — the window of opportunity in the market is likely to be short lived.’
Middle powers are the new architects of the world order – Ret. Amb. Dino Patti Djalal – Nikkei Asia: ‘The middle powers of the Global South are stronger and richer than they were when the Non-Aligned Movement came to birth six decades ago.’ 🇮🇩
How Taiwan conquered US politics — and showed Europe how it’s done – POLITICO Magazine: ‘Years of painstaking retail politics across the U.S. political spectrum has built an expansive network of pro-Taiwan elected officials in both parties and throughout the American government.’ 🇺🇸
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
Exclusive: Philippines turned down US help amid South China Sea tensions, military chief says – Reuters: ‘The US, a treaty ally, has offered support but Manila prefers to handle operations on its own, Armed Forces Chief General Romeo Brawner told Reuters late Thursday.’ 🇵🇭🇺🇸
China anchors ‘monster ship’ in South China Sea, Philippine coast guard says – Reuters: ‘The Chinese ship, which has also deployed a small boat, was anchored 800 yards away from the PCG's vessel, Tarriela said.’ 🇵🇭
China legt ‘reuzenschip’ in Filipijnse wateren, om Filipijnse kustwacht te intimideren – de Volkskrant 🇵🇭
Japan confirms China set up buoy over its southern continental shelf – Kyodo News: ‘in the waters off Japan’s western main island of Shikoku and north of the southernmost Okinotori Island’
‘Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the buoy, which is to monitor tsunami, was set up in the high seas “for the purposes of scientific research and serving public good” and […]. “Japan has no right to interfere in such activities,” she told a press conference in Beijing.’ 🇯🇵
Mooi dat China zo opkomt voor de ruimte die iedereen heeft voor onschuldige activiteiten in de EEZ van andere landen. Heeft de TU Delft nog een mooie boei om voor de Chinese kust te plaatsen?
China is finally starting to do something about the US fentanyl crisis – WSJ 🇺🇸
US investigating Chinese swimmers doping case – Reuters 🇺🇸
Chinese scholars highlighted a period of turbulence in the bilateral relationship with Washington ahead of US presidential elections – Bloomberg 🇺🇸
Probation officer sacked for snooping is linked to alleged spy and former National MP Yang Jian – Stuff: ‘All of the files were of Chinese offenders.’ 🇳🇿
North Korea using Chinese machines to make weapons at new factory, photos show – NK News 🇰🇵
China’s latest stealth fighter jet ‘J-31B’ ready for military service, CCTV video post suggests – SCMP
China’s new interception radar ‘can track 10 hypersonic missiles at Mach 20’ – SCMP
China develops new stealth aircraft likely to be deployed on carriers – Nikkei Asia
China economie
China’s central bank has hundreds of billions of yuan of bonds at its disposal to cool long rally – Reuters: ‘China's central bank said earlier this week it would borrow treasury bonds from some primary dealers soon, outlining the specifics of a plan analysts say is aimed at putting a floor under plunging domestic interest rates.’
China sees foreign visitor numbers more than double after lifting visa rules for many travellers – SCMP
China to set annual salary cap on finance sector amid common prosperity push, sources say – SCMP: ‘plans to cap the annual salaries of financial workers at around 3 million yuan (US$412,460)’ ‘applied retroactively’
China binnenland
China amasses record half-year ‘tiger’ tally in anti-corruption campaign – SCMP: ‘The detention of the 36 senior officials of at least vice-ministerial rank compares [in 2024H1] to the 22 investigated in the same time last year’
China’s short films must now follow script for overseas screenings, with new rules from regulator – SCMP: ‘could only appear at foreign film festivals or exhibitions if they obtained permits for public screenings.’
China’s Xinjiang Communist Party chief urges ‘unwavering’ terror crackdown – SCMP: ‘The latest military-police drills took place in “southern Xinjiang”, in the Kunlun Mountains bordering India and Pakistan, according to Xinjiang Daily.’
Senior legislator Lǐ Hóngzhōng 李鸿忠 stresses fostering strong sense of community for Chinese nation – Xinhua: ‘marking the 40th anniversary of the promulgation and implementation of the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy on Thursday.’
China stabbing attacks raise concerns of growing social tensions – FT
Hong Kong en Macau
China cracks down on money-changing syndicates in Macau – AFP
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Japan intercepts Taiwan boat suspected of illegal fishing – Kyodo News: ‘on suspicion of illegally operating in waters near Amami-Oshima Island in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima’ 🇯🇵
Taiwanese fishing crew interrogated for allegedly operating in Japan’s waters – Focus Taiwan: ‘Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) urged Japan to release the Taiwanese boat and its crew as soon as possible.’ 🇯🇵
Visiting Texas governor opens state office in Taipei, signs economic pact – Focus Taiwan 🇺🇸
Palau’s diplomatic ties with Taiwan to be tested in election year as tourism falters – CNA: ‘As China seeks to further isolate Taiwan, Palau’s tourism industry has suffered.’ 🇵🇼🇨🇳
Probe finds illegal Chinese devices in military projects – Taipei Times: ‘including Huawei Technologies Co routers’ 🇨🇳
Taiwan’s defence ministry plans suicide drone production – Taipei Times: ‘Taiwan needs to mass produce locally made attack drones, including Type-1 and Type-2 suicide drones, they said.’
Taiwan’s defence ministry plans 7 improved attack subs – Taipei Times: ‘The first of the new submarines would enter into production in 2026’
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Former Taoyuan mayor, former Vice Premier and current Chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Cheng Wen-tsan 鄭文燦 (DPP), interrogated over corruption allegations – Focus Taiwan: ‘local media reported that the case was about a project involving a land use purpose change during his term as Taoyuan mayor.’
‘In late 2022, National Taiwan University revoked Cheng’s master’s degree for plagiarism in the writing of his thesis’
Former vice premier Cheng Wen-tsan 鄭文燦 (DPP) released on bail over alleged corruption – Focus Taiwan
Former Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan 鄭文燦 (DPP) steps down as SEF chair – Focus Taiwan: ‘Meanwhile, the DPP’s anti-corruption committee will convene an impromptu meeting Monday night regarding the corruption probe into Cheng’
Voordat de keuze op Lai Ching-te viel, werd Cheng nog gezien als mogelijke presidentskandidaat voor de DPP.
Taiwan opposition wields new powers in bid to reshape media landscape – Nikkei Asia: ‘The Association of Taiwan Journalists, a body representing mostly local media practitioners, warned that the amendment to the Satellite Broadcasting Act would bring about “extremely bad” consequences.’
SET-ACE link should be probed, KMT and TPP legislator say – Taipei Times
KMT agrees to reconsider outlying islands contractor amendments – Taipei Times: ‘TPP caucus whip Huang Kuo-chang said his party did not support the amendments, as they could open up a backdoor for Chinese firms’
Changing of the guard to be moved outside hall – Taipei Times: ‘Military honor guards are to cease their sentry duty at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei and perform drills at Democracy Boulevard in front of the hall’
Forex reserves hit new high; foreign investors’ holdings also reach record – Focus Taiwan
Government to subsidise egg freezing for medical reasons – Taipei Times