De Chinese Wouden, vrijdag 28 juni: elektrische auto’s, Plenum
De gesprekken tussen Brussel en Peking over de heffingen op elektrische auto’s uit China zijn begonnen. De onderhandelingen zullen hard werken zijn voor alle partijen. Er komen nu al verschillende signalen op verschillende terreinen uit China.
Ondertussen is er ook een datum voor het belangrijke Derde Plenum van het Centraal Comité van de CCP. Op de derde keer dat een Centraal Comité in zijn termijn volledig bijeenkomt, gaat het normaal over de economie. Deze keer is hij later bijeen geroepen dat eerder gebruikelijk was.
De voorbereidingen laten zien dat we inderdaad een erg belangrijke set maatregelen kunnen verwachten die moeten reageren op de economische uitdagingen die China nu heeft én vooral het nieuwe economische paradigma van Xi Jinping, waar high-tech en zelfvoorzienendheid tot een weerbare en sterke economie moeten leiden.
Er is ook nieuws over de verdween defensieminister Li Shangfu en zijn voorganger Wei Fenghe. Ze zijn beiden nu uit de Partij gezet voor corruptie. De zaak is nu overgedragen aan de aanklagers. Het is vrij uniek allemaal.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Europe teams up with universities linked to China’s military – POLITICO China Watcher: ‘The University of Groningen, which coordinates the decarbonization project, said that the Seven Sons are “in any case” a high-risk partner. For that reason, the university’s research security team reviewed the project to check whether there was any risk of the results being misused. “The research topic is as such that we didn’t see a risk of misuse for military or other unwanted goals,” the university said in a statement shared with China Watcher.’ 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Police bust gang using luxury cars to smuggle Chinese migrants into Italy – The Guardian 🇮🇹
Uyghur group wins appeal over UK investigation into ‘slave labour’ cotton – Reuters 🇬🇧
Ruslands oorlog
China shipbuilders cast off Russia, yielding to Western sanctions after blacklisting – SCMP: ‘with shipyards in eastern China severing long-standing ties with their Russian buyers in recent weeks’ 🇷🇺
Beijing misjudged the impact on its relationship with Europe by providing support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, America’s top diplomat in China warned – Bloomberg 🇪🇺🇷🇺
Chinese PLA honor guards to participate in military parade in Belarus – Xinhua 🇧🇾
Elektrische auto’s 🚗⚡️
German ministers dash to China in bid to escape retaliation over EV duties – POLITICO Europe: ‘Scholz wants to make sure he’s still seen as the good cop in Beijing.’ 🇩🇪
‘Back in Brussels, civil servants from the Commission and Chinese sides are meeting to discuss the EV duties on a technical level. Consultations opened this week after the bloc’s trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis took a video call last Saturday with his Chinese counterpart, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao.’🇪🇺
China hopes consultations with EU on EVs probe to make positive progress as soon as possible, commerce spokesperson says – Xinhua 🇪🇺
China’s commerce ministry receives materials from domestic electronic products sector over EU barrier probe – Xinhua 🇪🇺
Dit gaat over de FRS-onderzoeken, iets anders dan de dumping-onderzoeken gericht op elektrische auto’s.
China to review [potential expiry of] anti-dumping measures on toluidine imports from EU – Xinhua: ‘China in 2013 imposed anti-dumping duties on toluidine imported from the EU, with rates ranging from 19.6 to 36.9 percent.’ 🇪🇺
China’s commerce minister meets with Finland’s economy minister – Xinhua: ‘the minister said that China hopes Finland will adhere to the principle of free trade and play a constructive role in the European Union, encourage the EU to show sincerity in the consultations and meet China halfway.’ 🇫🇮
Wàn Gāng 万钢, former government minister considered the father of China’s electric car industry, has called for China and Europe to resume talks for investment deal CAI as a way to resolve trade tensions – Bloomberg: ‘said Wednesday the tariffs were politically motivated and not supported by all EU countries.’ 🇪🇺
China targets Morocco as launchpad into Europe’s green auto market – POLITICO Europe: ‘it allows Beijing to leverage the North African country’s ambition to become a leader in the electric vehicle revolution, taking advantage of its proximity to Europe and its existing trade accords with both the European Union and the U.S.’ 🇲🇦
Pork subsidy king China investigates EU pork subsidies – Dim Sums: ‘China itself probably has more pork subsidies and government intervention than any other country.’
Plenum
CCP to convene 3rd plenary session of 20th central committee on July 15 – Xinhua: ‘to discuss the issue of further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese modernization.’
China’s third plenum to target ‘most urgent’ economic reforms: People’s Daily – SCMP
China eyes bold tech and economic goals for next decade, sets plenum dates to work on details – SCMP: ‘It will also lay out a series of interim goals to be reached by 2035, which is pivotal for China to narrow the gap with the United States and other advanced economies, and seek a stronger footing in the high-end value chain, which ultimately serve China’s second ambitious centenary goal in 2049 – to become an economic and technology superpower.’
Chinese premier chairs State Council executive meeting – Xinhua: ‘It also highlighted the important role of foreign-funded enterprises in fostering China's new development paradigm, and urged further measures to attract and utilize foreign capital.’
China’s Study Times advises ‘softer approach’ to law enforcement to ease jitters in private sector – SCMP
Ideas for the Third Plenum: The forthcoming Plenum will be decisive for China’s development for a decade to come – Bert Hofman
Tech War 💽💥
Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia invests US$200 mln in European expansion – Reuters: ‘to expand capacity at its main production site in Hamburg, Germany.’ 🇳🇱🇩🇪
In race to regain rare earth glory, Europe falls short on mineral goals – Reuters 🇪🇺
Thousands of Chinese tech workers fail to get Indian visas, industry says – FT: ‘India-based global manufacturers rely in many cases on Chinese engineers and technicians to help install or operate their plant’ 🇮🇳
Mexico to seek deal over disputed mining concession with Chinese lithium firm – Reuters 🇲🇽
Chinese telecoms giant Huawei 华为 signs deal to train thousands of Peruvians in new technology – SCMP 🇵🇪
MOEA approves TSMC 台積電’s additional outbound investment plans for Japan and US – Focus Taiwan 🇯🇵🇺🇸
Chinese photovoltaic inverters at military facility, TPP legislator alleges – Taipei Times: ‘United Renewable Energy issued a statement yesterday saying that purchasing photovoltaic inverters from a German company that had them assembled in China was an “error”’ 🇩🇪
Japan plans support for Philippine 5G network to counter China tech – Nikkei Asia 🇯🇵🇵🇭
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
China and Saudi military cooperation on ‘fast track’ as top defence officials meet – SCMP: ‘the Middle Eastern power has increased its Chinese weapons imports in recent years.’ 🇸🇦
Japan, US, and South Korea begin new military exercise in East China Sea to counter North Korea – Kyodo News 🇯🇵🇺🇸🇰🇷
Japan’s Air Self-Defence Force to hold joint drills with German, French, and Spanish forces on July 19-25 – The Yomiuri Shimbun 🇯🇵🇩🇪🇫🇷🇪🇸
Myanmar regime uses Chinese tech to surveil internet users, report says – Nikkei Asia 🇲🇲
Weekend 🏖️📚
Longreads en achtergrond
China-Russia alignment: a threat to Europe’s security – Natalie Sabanadze, Abigaël Vasselier, and Gunnar Wiegand for Chatham House, MERICS, and GMF: ‘Beijing’s assistance to Russia turns China into a security threat to be contained rather than only a “partner, competitor and systemic rival”.’ 🇷🇺
Xi Jinping’s Russian lessons: What the Chinese leader’s father taught him about dealing with Moscow – Joseph Torigian for Foreign Affairs 🇷🇺
How China’s ‘dual circulation’ drive is shaping up—and what’s next on the agenda – SCMP: ‘From seeds to semiconductors, the world’s second-largest economy is rushing to replace Western technologies and goods with domestic alternatives under this new paradigm’ ‘However, he noted, “the irony is that the struggle to be self-reliant – where consumption absorbs production – may increase China’s reliance on the global market.”’
: ‘the tariffs may be too late and too little. The Chinese are already inside — and they have all the leverage. As one Western executive put it to me this week: “The Europeans are screwed.”’ 🇪🇺The new money laundering network fuelling the fentanyl crisis – FT: ‘a sophisticated and growing form of illicit finance that involves so-called Chinese underground banks and the Mexican drugs cartels.’ 🇺🇸🇲🇽
The herders caught in India and China’s icy conflict – AFP 🇮🇳
Excerpt: How to Avoid Conflict in Taiwan – Matt Pottinger in China Book Review
Will Taiwan’s Future Be Settled in Washington? Pottinger’s ‘The Boiling Moat’ is more interested in American arguments than the country itself. – Brian Hioe for Foreign Policy
Quand Badinter conseillait Taïwan sur la cohabitation – Le Point : « L'ancien ministre de la Justice de François Mitterrand est en effet l'invité du président taïwanais Lee Teng-hui »
Podcasts
Reviving the China-Japan-South Korea Trilateral Summit and Putin’s visit to Pyongyang – Bonnie S. Glaser for GMFUS Global China with Yun Sun 🍎
我的軍校同學也走上絶路⋯⋯悲傷的讀者投書:揭開4個月13軍人自殺背後,國軍部隊文化需要重視的事 – 報導者 《The Real Story》 🍎
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
Zuid-Chinese Zee
US and Philippines seek to de-escalate after sea skirmish with China – The Washington Post: ‘The United States will hold a joint maritime exercise with the Philippines in the coming weeks as a “show of support” to a key U.S. ally, officials said. The exercise was preplanned and is not intended to escalate tensions with China’ ‘The exercise will occur in disputed waters that Manila claims as the West Philippine Sea, and could also involve other U.S. allies, such as Australia or Japan, say U.S. officials.’
‘Since the incident, U.S. officials at “the highest levels” have been debating an appropriate response said one official in Asia, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the matter’s sensitivity.’
‘Separate from the joint exercise with the United States, the Philippines will attempt another resupply mission to the Sierra Madre, potentially as soon as this week, according to U.S. and Philippine officials. And U.S. officials will be watching to see how that goes. In a change of policy, the Philippines will now be publicly announcing the resupply missions ahead of time’ 🇵🇭🇺🇸
The latest South China Sea clash saw China’s coast guard wielding axes and a Philippine sailor lose his thumb in an escalation that underscored Beijing’s willingness to see how far it can push Manila — and its allies in Washington – Bloomberg: ‘“China’s escalating violence reflects Beijing’s confidence the US will do nothing more than make another strong statement,” said Carl Schuster’ 🇵🇭🇺🇸
China neemt een groot risico door bewust te testen hoe ver de Verenigde Staten willen gaan.
China’s recent aggression in the South China Sea aimed at figuring out Philippines’ red line – The Straits Times 🇵🇭
China plucks suspected US Navy submarine detection probe from waters near South China Sea shoal – SCMP: ‘near the sensitive Second Thomas Shoal.’ 🇺🇸
Chinese and Vietnamese navies conclude joint patrol in Beibu [Tonkin] Gulf – Xinhua 🇻🇳
overige
New tactic in China’s information war: Harassing a critic’s child in the US – The New York Times: ‘A covert propaganda network linked to the country’s security services has barraged not just Mr. Deng [Yuwen] but also his teenage daughter with sexually suggestive and threatening posts on popular social media platforms, according to researchers at both Clemson University and Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.’
Urgent: Two giant pandas arrive in US California from China – Xinhua🇺🇸
China and Vietnam must build stronger ties and ‘shared destiny’, Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 tells counterpart – SCMP 🇻🇳
Sri Lanka inks pacts with OCC and China to restructure debt – Hindustan Times 🇱🇰
China denounces Japan’s move to expand continental shelf – Xinhua 🇯🇵
China economie
China’s factories seen extending activity declines in June, Reuters Poll says – Reuters
China’s ‘too small’ property rescue leaves market wanting more – Nikkei Asia
China’s big housing correction is not over – Chen Long for FT: ‘Both living space per person and urbanisation rate will probably continue to progress. However, they will be unlikely to grow as fast as they did’
Chinese developer Shimao 世茂’s liquidation hearing adjourned to July 31 – Reuters
In many parts of China, the warehouses and industrial parks that used to be a magnet for international investors are grappling with a surprising slowdown – Bloomberg: ‘Average vacancy rates at logistics properties in east and north China are approaching 20%’
Topbonussen in Chinese financiële sector aan banden gelegd – FD
China binnenland
In a first, China accuses former defence ministers Lǐ Shàngfú 李尚福 and Wèi Fènghé 魏凤和 of corruption – SCMP: ‘also uncovered evidence of other possible “serious disciplinary and criminal offences” by the two men’
CCP expels former Chinese defence minister Lǐ Shàngfú 李尚福 – Xinhua: ‘The CMC’s disciplinary and supervisory agency launched an investigation against Li on Aug. 31, 2023.’
CCP expels former Chinese defence minister Wèi Fènghé 魏凤和 – Xinhua: ‘The CMC’s disciplinary and supervisory agency launched an investigation against Wei on Sept. 21, 2023.’
China gives cities over US$316 mln in emergency relief amid deadly floods – Reuters
Provinces along Yangtze on alert for more flood emergencies as heavy rain continues in China – SCMP
China pressures Japan-based Liu Yanzi’s mother over Tiananmen book; daughter shouldn’t ‘betray Motherland,’ woman told – The Yomiuri Shimbun: ‘Liu said three security officials came to the home of her mother, who lives alone.’
China backs off plans for ‘hurt feelings’ clothing law – Nikkei Asia
Microsoft Bing’s censorship in China is even “more extreme” than Chinese companies’ – Rest of World
Hong Kong
Twee scholen in Hongkong berispt: leerlingen zingen het Chinese volkslied niet hard genoeg – de Volkskrant
Hong Kong’s pride month bazaar cancelled over government licensing requirement – HKFP: ‘According to the group, they had not applied for a licence for similar events held in previous years. They said they had planned to apply for the licence after they were informed by FEHD. But the government department contacted the venue operator directly and told them not to lease the venue to the LGBTQ group.’
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
China says it is still holding former Taiwanese soldier who was picked up while fishing – SCMP: ‘Hu, 25, and another man surnamed Wu, were rescued by the mainland coastguard in March after their small fishing boat lost power in Weitou Bay’ 🇨🇳
Taiwan reports Chinese ‘joint combat readiness patrol’, Beijing vows to hunt independence ‘diehards’ – Reuters 🇨🇳
China attempting to normalise maritime patrols around Kinmen, defence minister says – Focus Taiwan 🇨🇳
Taiwan raises travel alert for China, Hong Kong, and Macau over safety concerns – Focus Taiwan: ‘advising Taiwanese citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to these regions’ ‘because of China, Hong Kong and Macau amending and enacting various national security laws in recent years’ 🇨🇳
Chinese reporter allegedly involved in political TV show left in May, Taiwan’s MAC says – Focus Taiwan: ‘The [Liberty Times] report alleged that the Xinhua reporter heavily influenced the themes and scripts of the show, even directly monitoring filming of the show.’ 🇨🇳
Taiwan’s DPP authorities urged to stop obstructing mainland journalists – Xinhua 🇨🇳
Donovan’s Deep Dives: What was behind the CCP’s military hissy fit? – Courtney Donovan Smith for Taipei Times: ‘One day diplomats assemble in Taipei to discuss expanding Taiwan’s international presence, the next day Beijing brands them all criminals worthy of jail or execution. While things have not yet reached the level of tension where the CCP is likely to act against foreign diplomats, that could change.’
Focus on defence cited for dropping of ‘for show’ live-fire Han Kuang drills on Taiwan – Focus Taiwan: ‘Using live ammunition may lead to injuries given that, in order to simulate real-life battlefield conditions, the drills will be unrehearsed, Mei said.’
Taiwan shifts focus of annual military exercise to test units’ ability to operate without orders from top – SCMP
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Cabinet formally seeks court injunction, ruling on oversight laws – Focus Taiwan
DPP caucus formally requests injunction, ruling on oversight laws – Focus Taiwan: ‘In addition to the DPP caucus, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), the Executive Yuan and the Control Yuan have announced plans to challenge the amendments by taking the case to the Constitutional Court.’
Reporter’s notebook: President Lai faces battle to appoint Taiwan Foundation for Democracy chief executive – Taipei Times
Government debating labour import plan – Taipei Times: ‘to deal with an impending shortage of engineers and other highly skilled workers’
MOU caps Indian workers in Taiwan at 1,000 initially, labour minister says – Focus Taiwan: ‘adopt a dual-track direct hiring and labor brokerage system, primarily focusing on the manufacturing industry’