De Chinese Wouden, vrijdag 5 juli: Duitsland, elektrische auto’s
Gisteren maakte de Europese Commissie de definitieve percentages bekend voor de invoerheffingen op elektrische auto’s uit China. De onderzoeken en onderhandelingen zijn bezig. Dat is ook waar de Chinese reactie zich op richt. Er is geen boze, wraakzuchtige reactie nog – dat wil zeggen dat Peking nog inzet op de onderhandelingen. Maar dat de beperkingen op high-tech belangrijk zijn, blijkt wel uit de aanklacht tegen het Amerikaanse beleid ‘small yard, high fences’ van Xi Jinping op de top van de Euraziatische veiligheidsorganisatie SCO.
Een hele serie nieuwsberichten uit Duitsland laat zien dat de Chinese hoop in Berlijn te vinden is. Bondskanselier Scholz lijkt wanhopig voorstellen geaccepteerd te krijgen die een einde moeten maken aan de maatregelen tegen auto’s uit China. Duitse fabrikanten daar zouden dat ook wel willen. Ondertussen zijn er klachten in het kabinet over een FDP-minister die een recente overeenkomst met China zou hebben getekend zonder overleg thuis.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Deux espions chinois priés de quitter la France, après la tentative de rapatriement forcé d’un ressortissant – Le Monde : « Le chef de poste du ministère de la sécurité de l’Etat (MSE, ou Guoanbu, les services secrets chinois), basé à l’ambassade de Chine à Paris, et son adjoint, ont été priés de quitter le territoire français. Paris leur reproche notamment d’avoir orchestré, en mars, une tentative de rapatriement forcé d’un dissident politique. » 🇫🇷
Afgelopen maart kwam in het nieuws dat een Chinese poging om een dissident uit Frankrijk te ontvoeren pas op de luchthaven kon worden tegen gehouden. Nu schrijft Le Monde dat als reactie daarop het Franse buitenlandse zaken achter de schermen de vertegenwoordiger van de Chinese geheime dienst MSS op de ambassade in Parijs en zijn plaatsvervanger heeft opgedragen Frankrijk te verlaten.
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 congratulates Antonio Costa on election as president of European Council – Xinhua: ‘Xi pointed out that China has always regarded Europe as an important pole in the multi-polar structure’ 🇪🇺
Opinie: Tegen spionage door China mogen we best wat meer doen – Bart Groothuis (VVD/Renew) in FD: „Steeds wanneer een significant Europees bedrijf slachtoffer is van (digitale) Chinese spionage, volgt een verhoging van het Europees importtarief voor Chinese bedrijven uit die hele sector – precies omdat we niet vooraf weten welke Chinese bedrijven voordeel krijgen van die spionage.” 🇪🇺
Italian PM Meloni likely to visit China this month, the reward of cautious diplomacy – SCMP: ‘Meloni is likely to visit China on July 29 and 30, with President Sergio Mattarella possibly following with a stopover in November.’
‘Fardella said Meloni’s subtle moves that pleased Beijing included welcoming a high-profile delegation led by Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in April, offering muted recognition of the elections in Taipei in January and seemingly preventing parliamentarians from her Brothers of Italy party from attending new leader William Lai Ching-te’s inauguration.’ 🇮🇹
‘Special Representative Amb Wu Hongbo met with PM @ediramaal and FM @IgliHasani of #Albania. #China is ready to cement traditional friendship and deepen cooperation with Albania and take the opportunity of the 75th anniversary of bilateral ties to promote growth of relations.’ – 王鲁彤 Wang Lutong, Twitter 🇦🇱
‘In meetings with #Montenegro’s MFA, MPs, Chair of Economic Chamber, local travel agencies & farmers, Special Representative Jiang Yu encouraged Montenegro to leverage #China-#CEEC platforms to expand export of agri-food products to China and enhance tourism cooperation.’ – 王鲁彤 Wang Lutong, Twitter 🇲🇪
China protests Taiwan festival ‘guest of honour’ – Taipei Times: ‘The organizers of the French Festival Off Avignon yesterday said they received protests and threats from China’ 🇫🇷
Duitsland 🇩🇪🇨🇳
Ungewöhnlicher Vorschlag: Olaf Scholz (SPD) will EU von E-Auto-Zöllen abbringen – Handelsblatt: „Der Kanzler schlägt einen Deal vor, bei dem beide Seiten gleich hohe Zölle auf Autoimporte verhängen würden.“ 🇩🇪🇪🇺
Watching China in Europe—July 2024 – Noah Barkin: ‘The immediate challenge will be to bring the outgoing Commission’s plans to impose duties on electric vehicle (EV) imports from China to a successful conclusion in the face of what EU officials have described to me in recent weeks as intense pressure from Scholz and his entourage to do a “dirty deal” with Beijing.’ 🇩🇪🇪🇺
‘While a dirty deal on EV duties looks unlikely, we could get one soon on the issue of Huawei’s role in the German 5G network. […] The operators […] appear to be dictating the terms of the deal.
This fits a pattern in Berlin under which Scholz and his untethered coalition partner, the Free Democrats, are pushing back against any steps that might result in additional costs to German industry or hurt the country’s reputation as an investment destination. I am told that this resistance could doom plans, announced when the German government unveiled its China strategy a year ago, to push through a new inbound investment screening law.’ 🇩🇪
German car industry urges EU to drop tariffs on China-made cars – Reuters: ‘said in a statement on Wednesday the tariffs would hurt European and U.S. carmakers exporting from China and risked retaliation by China with counter-tariffs’ 🇩🇪🇪🇺
Warum die deutsche Autoindustrie Strafzölle auf chinesische E-Autos ablehnt – FAZ 🇩🇪🇪🇺
Duitse joint ventures in China profiteren ook van Chinese staatssteun.
Scholz (SPD) rügt Verkehrsminister Wissing (FDP) für Alleingang in Peking – Handelsblatt: „Bei seiner Chinareise in dieser Woche unterschrieb Wissing eine Absichtserklärung mit der chinesischen Staatsführung in Peking, die zu einer Lösung für ein Problem des grenzüberschreitenden Datenverkehrs führen soll. Dieses betrifft vor allem die deutschen Autounternehmen in China. Doch der Abschluss der Absichtserklärung war – so berichteten es Regierungskreise dem Handelsblatt – zuvor nicht ausreichend mit den anderen zuständigen Ressorts der Bundesregierung abgesprochen.“ 🇩🇪
Pläne für chinesische Windräder vor Borkum: Sicherheitsbedenken – Handelsblatt: „Bislang wurde das Windgeschäft vor Deutschlands Küste von westlichen Herstellern dominiert“ 🇩🇪
Germany vetoes sale of sensitive turbine unit to Chinese group – FT: ‘veto on the sale of MAN Energy Solutions’ unit’ 🇩🇪
Handel 🇪🇺🇨🇳
EU firms up duties on Chinese EVs, skirting Berlin’s pressure – POLITICO Europe: ‘The duties differ marginally from the levels the Commission announced mid-June, owing to tweaks in calculations provided by the three exporters that underwent inspections.’ 🇪🇺
China-EU trade reaches turning point with EV tariffs set to begin, but ‘scope to compromise’ – SCMP: ‘Earlier on Thursday, Ministry of Commerce spokesman He Yadong said that China had expressed its opposition “many times” towards the EU’s anti-subsidy investigation. “Both sides have already held many rounds of negotiations up to now,” he said at a regular press conference in Beijing.’ 🇪🇺
Press Release: Commission imposes provisional countervailing duties on imports of battery electric vehicles from China while discussions with China continue – European Commission: ‘Consultations with the Chinese government have intensified in recent weeks, following an exchange of views between Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis and Chinese Trade Minister Wang Wentao. Contacts continue at technical level with a view to reaching a WTO-compatible solution’ 🇪🇺
Tariefmuur? Welke tariefmuur? Het Chinese Dongfeng 东风 komt hier gewoon de automarkt veroveren – de Volkskrant 🇳🇱
EU governments waver over Chinese EV tariffs as trade spat escalates – Reuters: ‘a majority of countries are still weighing the pros and cons of the escalating trade spat, according to an informal poll by Reuters of EU governments.’ 🇪🇺
Tesla received EU inspectors last week at its Chinese factories – POLITICO Europe: ‘Such an inspection could result in Tesla getting a lower duty than the average of 21 percent’ 🇪🇺
EU takes aim at China’s Temu and Shein 希音 with proposed import duty – FT: ‘The European Commission later this month will suggest scrapping a current €150 threshold under which items can be bought duty free, three people briefed on the matter told the Financial Times.’ 🇪🇺
Bargain shopping apps Temu and Shein 希音 are reshaping the air cargo market out of China – WSJ
China’s trade landscape a battleground, as data shows tariff duels to escalate with WTO hamstrung – SCMP
Tech War 💽💥
Opstartproblemen bij het Zweedse Northvolt, dé hoop voor Europese batterijproductie – NRC 🇸🇪🇪🇺
China to boost basic research in natural resources on its path to tech self-reliance – SCMP
Chinese premier urges digital transformation of manufacturing sector – Xinhua: ‘and boost the development of enterprises that use specialized, sophisticated technologies to produce unique and novel products’
China to formulate over 50 standards for AI sector by 2026 – Xinhua
China kicks off largest AI conference in Shanghai as tech rivalry with the US heats up – SCMP
Semiconductor and AI firms dominate venture capital deals in China amid government push – SCMP
Hon Hai 鴻海 unit invests U$119.6 million in Vietnam, eyes key component expansion – Focus Taiwan 🇻🇳
SCO 🏔️
China’s Xi urges regional security bloc SCO to resist ‘external interference’ – Reuters: ‘“In the face of the real risks of small yards with high fences, we must safeguard the right to development,” Xi was quoted’
President Vladimir Putin trumpeted Russia’s ‘fully-fledged partnership’ with China as he met Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for the second time in less than two months, highlighting Moscow’s deepening embrace of Beijing – Bloomberg 🇷🇺
Xi urges China and Russia to continue strengthening alignment of development strategies – Xinhua: ‘He urged China and Russia to continuously conserve the unique value in China-Russia relations, and explore the internal driving force of bilateral cooperation, saying that the two countries should also make new efforts to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests and safeguard the basic norms governing international relations.’
‘China and Russia, Xi said, should continue to strengthen comprehensive strategic coordination, oppose external interference and jointly safeguard regional tranquility and stability.’ 🇷🇺
Is India sending a message to ‘China’s show’ as Narendra Modi skips SCO summit? – SCMP 🇮🇳
China-India border dispute ‘not in either side’s interest’, foreign ministers agree – SCMP 🇮🇳
China supports Kazakhstan joining BRICS, President Xi says – Reuters 🇰🇿
Xi kicks off state visit to Tajikistan, eyeing new heights in bilateral cooperation – Xinhua 🇹🇯
Xi says China and Türkiye should push for greater development of strategic cooperative relationship – Xinhua: ‘Xi stressed that China supports Türkiye in following a development path suited to its own national conditions’ 🇹🇷
Xi says UN’s role as core platform for practicing multilateralism should be strengthened – Xinhua 🇺🇳
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
Japan, Philippines defence pact negotiations nearing conclusion, ambassador says – Reuters 🇯🇵🇵🇭
Japan to subsidise antibiotics supply chain to curb China risk – Nikkei Asia 🇯🇵
Weekend 🏖️📚
Longreads en achtergrond
Engaging Southeast Asia: The EU’s role as a resilient and reliable middle power? – EugeneR.L. Tan and Joanne Lin for Fulcrum: ‘The perception of a disunited and conflict-ridden Europe can have ripple effects in Southeast Asia.’ 🇪🇺
MAGA Communism and the China Grift – China Media Project 🇺🇸
China’s Achilles’ heel—capital flight – Robin Brooks for Brookings
How China and Russia compete, and cooperate, in Central Asia – The New York Times 🇷🇺
Donovan’s Deep Dives: Jostling for power in 2026 local elections has already begun, a look at North Taiwan – Courtney Donovan Smith for Taipei Times: ‘President and party Chair William Lai (賴清德) has dispensed with the carefully balanced appointment formula that his predecessor Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) had imposed to keep the peace between the factions and has packed the government with his loyalists and New Tide (新潮流系統, usually abbreviated to 新系) figures.’
Donovan’s Deep Dives: Jostling for power in 2026 local elections has already begun, a look at South Taiwan – Courtney Donovan Smith for Taipei Times
Podcasts
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
China’s demand for loyalty creates jeopardy for its expats in US – FT: ‘The directives have included participating in webinars during which they are coached to promote China’s image in front of their American peers, paying membership dues to the Communist party, studying political material sent from China and checking in with party officials to ensure their continued loyalty, according to interviews and documents obtained by the Financial Times.’
‘In interviews with 10 party members studying and working in the US, students said they had followed the demands to speak positively about China in public, while employees said they sought to hide their links to the party when applying for US work visas, denying membership when asked.’ 🇺🇸
Philippines president orders de-escalation in South China Sea, military chief says – Reuters: ‘But that did not stop the Philippine military from calling for China to return the firearms that its coast guard seized from Filipino navy personnel and pay around $1 million in compensation for damaging vessels involved in last month's resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal.’ 🇵🇭
Philippines says US mid-range missile system to be pulled out – AFP: ‘deployed in the Philippines for annual joint military exercises’ 🇵🇭🇺🇸
Militia in eastern DR Congo kill at least four Chinese nationals, local sources say – AFP: ‘attack on a mining site in the gold-rich Ituri province’ 🇨🇩
China’s aircraft carrier Fujian may be set for third sea trial in quick succession – SCMP
China rejects key Western calls for human-rights reforms at UN meeting – Reuters
China economie
China’s services activity growth hits 8-month low, Caixin PMI shows – Reuters
The global oil market faces soft spots in the outlook for Chinese demand this half, potentially adding a headwind for crude prices – Bloomberg
Unemployment spike in Shenzhen: ‘blip’ or a chip at China’s economic might? – SCMP: ‘There are concerns that China’s unemployment picture remains blurry, as only officially documented or surveyed jobless persons are tallied’
China’s CICC 中金公司 eyes Southeast Asia expansion in bid to ease domestic woes – Reuters
Xi’s China proves a hard sell at officials’ overseas roadshows – Bloomberg: ‘For Communist Party officials chasing fresh capital, Singapore has emerged as a popular stop thanks to its proximity to China, friendly ties with Beijing and majority-Chinese population. But even in that welcoming environment hard questions remain.’
Singapore’s CapitaLand charts Japan real estate buying spree – Nikkei Asia: ‘in a bid to diversify away from China's troubled property market.’ 🇸🇬
Weak Chinese demand dents India’s diamond exports, industry seeks support – Reuters 🇮🇳
‘Signs of life’ in China’s markets as supportive measures boost confidence, forum told – SCMP
China binnenland
China’s internet watchdog calls for ‘favourable’ public opinion environment ahead of Third Plenum – SCMP: ‘The statement also warned regulators and internet companies to properly handle “the relationship between security and development”.’
China to press on with organised crime crackdown, keeping up campaign’s intensity – SCMP: ‘According to Xinhua, Wang also asked police across the country to strengthen inspections and rectification in some key areas and industries to eradicate potential breeding grounds for organised crime.’
Chinese premier urges unswerving efforts on flood control and disaster relief – Xinhua: ‘made the remarks when inspecting flood-prevention and control work in the city of Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province, from Monday to Tuesday.’
China faces diluted early-season rice harvest as floods drench crops in farming hubs – SCMP: ‘putting pressure on annual output at a time when Beijing is fighting to strengthen its food security.’
Flood fears in China’s east as rain swells Yangtze River levels – Reuters
Police host activities for Uyghurs in Xinjiang on Islamic holiday – RFA
Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s PLA garrison to take part in joint China-Laos military exercise – SCMP 🇱🇦
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Taiwan urges release of boat caught fishing illegally in Chinese waters – Focus Taiwan: ‘According to Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration (CGA), the Da Jin Man No. 88 was intercepted 11.2 nautical miles inside Chinese-controlled waters’ 🇨🇳
Taiwan fishing boat seized by China Coast Guard off Kinmen – Focus Taiwan: ‘at a location east-northeast of Liaoluo Bay 17.5 nautical miles outside Taiwan-controlled “restricted waters” off the Kinmen Islands’ 🇨🇳
Taiwanese coast guard links seizure of fishing vessel to new China Coast Guard rule – Focus Taiwan: ‘The regulation allows the China Coast Guard to board and hold vessels in disputed waters it claims and to question and detain foreign nationals’ 🇨🇳
Taiwan security official says China seizure of trawler may be act of psychological warfare – Reuters 🇨🇳
Taiwan fishing boat seized for suspected illegal operations – Xinhua 🇨🇳
Taiwan coast guard drove away 567 Chinese boats in 6 months – Taipei Times: ‘They mostly operated near Kinmen and Penghu counties’ 🇨🇳
Exclusive: Firms weigh removing Taiwanese staff from China after death penalty threat – Reuters: ‘“The companies are still concerned that there may be some grey areas such as whether a benign social media post or voting for a particular political party or candidate in Taiwan elections could be interpreted as engaging in pro-independence activities,” Zimmerman said.’ 🇨🇳
One of Taiwan’s largest financial groups, Cathay Financial 國泰金控, downplayed risks from the cross-Strait relationship with China – Bloomberg 🇨🇳
Cross-Strait youth summit opens in Beijing – Xinhua 🇨🇳
Singapore hooks Taiwan companies shunning China’s investors – Nikkei Asia 🇸🇬
Taiwan and Marshall Islands sign MOU on education cooperation – Focus Taiwan 🇲🇭
Taiwan pledges US$300,000 in aid to allies devastated by Hurricane Beryl – Focus Taiwan
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Constitutional Court to hear injunction case on oversight laws – Focus Taiwan: ‘a preparatory hearing was scheduled for July 10’
Constitutional Court to hear arguments on oversight laws in August – Focus Taiwan
KMT and TPP launch NCC task force – Taipei Times: ‘The probe, the first using the controversial powers, would investigate allegations that the government influenced the NCC to approve Mirror Media’s application to establish Mirror TV.’
De KMT is nog steeds boos dat toezichthouder NCC het pro-democratische Mirror Media een televisievergunning heeft gegeven en juist de vergunning heeft afgenomen van het pro-Peking CTi News, na herhaaldelijke overtredingen en weigering om verbeterinstructies bij eerdere verlenging op te volgen.
Lawmakers clash over recall changes – Taipei Times: ‘The DPP mobilized its members when the committee room opened at 7am, sitting in chairs to form a barricade to prevent KMT and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) legislators from reaching the podium.’
MAC opposes KMT China contractors amendment – Taipei Times: ‘would allow Chinese contractors to bid for government-funded infrastructure projects in outlying islands, recruit Chinese specialists to operate construction machinery’
KMT proposal will open back door for spies, DPP legislators say – Taipei Times: ‘proposed amendments to the Offshore Islands Development Act […] would allow Chinese manufacturers to participate in industrial development and public construction projects on outlying islands.’
NGOs and Taiwanese government at odds over migrant fisher care as US ‘forced labour’ list looms – Focus Taiwan
Section of Hualien’s east railway line closed due to rockslide – Focus Taiwan