De Chinese Wouden, woensdag 19 juni: varkensvlees, Filipijnen, ASML, NAVO
China kondigt aan het verzoek van de branchevereniging om onderzoek te doen naar dumping van Europees varkensvlees in te willigen. De eerste formele stap voor vergelding op de voorlopige EU-heffingen op invoer van Chinese elektrische auto’s is genomen.
De WTO laat toe dat je heffingen invoert na gedegen onderzoek. Dat is reden dat de EU het proces zo nauw volgt. De beloning voor het door die hoepeltjes springen, is dat het andere land niet zomaar automatisch mag vergelden (je kunt natuurlijk altijd in beroep). China komt nu toch dreigen met allerlei maatregelen.
Peking heeft wel de juridische ruimte om de invoerheffingen voor Europese auto’s weer terug te zetten van 15% naar 25%. Die verlaging was een eenzijdige concessie aan Europa uit het tijdperk van Trump – China heeft zich binnen de WTO slechts verplicht tot een minimum van 25%. Dat gebeurt nog niet.
In plaats daarvan komt nu een ‘onafhankelijke’ brancheorganisatie ‘toevallig’ met klachten over dumping in een hele andere industrie. Dat signaal is duidelijk – maar het is ook een signaal aan Brussel dat alle regeltjes volgen dus alsnog buitenregelementaire vergelding oplevert. Misschien dat het Chinese onderzoek ook volgens de regeltjes gaat verlopen. Maar op deze manier ondergraaft Peking wel het WTO-systeem weer een beetje.
NRC wijst fijntjes op het feit dat de landen die het meest getroffen zouden worden door varkensheffingen, zich ook het minst uit hebben gesproken tegen de autoheffingen. Dat past goed binnen de gebruikelijke verdeel-en-heersstrategie die vooral China zo goed beheerst – hoewel ook Europa bijvoorbeeld goed in de smiezen houdt welke producten belangrijk zijn voor de kiesdistricten van belangrijke Amerikaanse congresleden.
De Europese landbouw is niet alleen een dankbaar doelwit voor Peking vanwege het electorale belang. De gigantische Europese landbouwsubsidies zijn in veel andere landen een steen des aanstoots. Vooral in het naburige Afrika zien sommige regeringen het als oneerlijke concurrentie. Verwacht daarom niet veel internationale sympathie.
Ondertussen is er in de Zuid-Chinese Zee iets veel belangrijkers aan de hand. De Chinese kustwacht heeft op gewelddadige wijze een bevoorrading verhinderd door de Filipijnse strijdkrachten van de gestrande BRP Sierra Madre bij Second Thomas Shoal. Er zouden gewonden zijn gevallen aan Filipijnse kant – waaronder een verloren duim – en boten en wapens af zijn gepakt. Dit kan extreem gevaarlijk worden als dit verder blijft escaleren – en Peking laat doorschemeren dat het nog wel extremer wil gaan.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Amerikaanse functionaris gaat Nederland bezoeken om te pleiten voor meer sancties tegen China – FD 🇳🇱
A senior American official is set to visit Japan and the Netherlands to ask the two countries to add fresh restrictions on China’s semiconductor sector – Bloomberg: ‘including on its ability to make the high-end memory chips needed for artificial intelligence.’
‘repeat a standing US request for the two countries to tighten restrictions on ASML and Tokyo Electron’s ability to maintain and repair their other advanced equipment in China as well, the people said.’
‘It is uncertain how the new Dutch government led by Wilders will react to US demands for additional measures. Klever is co-founder of a far-right TV channel Ongehoord Nederland, which stirred controversy for its pro-Russian reporting and climate change skepticism.’ 🇳🇱🇯🇵
Motie van de leden Boswijk en Paternotte over een stappenpan voor het verkrijgen van de wetenschappelijke onderbouwing om de Chinese aanpak van Oeigoeren als genocide te bestempelen – Derk Boswijk (CDA) en Jan Paternotte (D66), Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal 🇳🇱
China dismisses EU comments on human rights crackdown – Reuters: ‘The EU said on Monday after an EU delegation visited Tibet and met with Chinese officials last week that it was concerned about what it called the “very serious” human rights situation in China, in particular in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong.’ 🇪🇺
China: 39th Human Rights Dialogue with the European Union took place in Chongqing – EU EEAS: ‘China raised the situation and treatment of refugees and migrants, and manifestations of racism and xenophobia in the EU. China also focused on economic, social and cultural rights’
‘A side visit to Tibet took place before the Human Rights Dialogue, in Nyingchi and Lhasa. It was organised by the relevant Chinese authorities at central and local level.’ 🇪🇺
EU [hoped] to work with China in same direction on human rights cause, foreign ministry spokesperson says – Xinhua 🇪🇺
MI5 alert on alleged Chinese mole Lee may have been to distract from Partygate, tribunal hears from affected Gardiner – The Guardian: ‘Lee donated more than £500,000 to Gardiner’ 🇬🇧
Ik heb de kop uitgebreid, want de vele stukken hierover maken niet gelijk duidelijk dat het gaat om een claim van een betrokken partij in een bericht aan de vermeende ‘mole’ van wie hij geld had gekregen. Gardiner moet zich tenslotte ook verdedigen tegen de insinuatie dat de donaties van Lee hem beïnvloedden.
elektrische auto’s 🚗⚡️
China opent onderzoek naar ‘dumping Europees varkensvlees’ – NRC: „ Nederland exporteert jaarlijks voor enkele honderden miljoenen euro’s aan varkensvlees naar China. Daarmee staat het achter Spanje, dat met meer dan een miljard euro verreweg de grootste exporteur is.”
„Volgens Chinese staatsmedia heeft de associatie voor varkensvleesproducenten in het land het onderzoek begin juni aangevraagd.”
„De keuze voor varkensvlees raakt met name landen die zich niet tegen de heffingen op elektrische auto’s hebben uitgesproken, zoals Zweden en Hongarije wél deden.” 🇪🇺
Varkenshouders vrezen dupe te worden van handelsoorlog met China – FD 🇪🇺🇳🇱
China start antidumpingonderzoek naar Europees varkensvlees: „Kan verschil maken tussen winst en verlies voor Belgische boeren” – De Standaard 🇪🇺🇧🇪
Commission ‘not worried’ as China probes EU pork imports – Euractiv: ‘Despite the importance of EU pork exports to China, the trend has been declining in recent years, going down by as much as 23% in volume in 2023 from the previous year.’ 🇪🇺
EU gambles on diplomatic approach with Chinese electric vehicles – FT Trade Secrets 🇪🇺
German economy minister’s China trip features low-key business delegation amid EV clash – Reuters 🇩🇪
German firms hope EU-China tariff talks can help dodge shake-up in EV business – SCMP: ‘German firms in China have yet to revise their business plans’ 🇩🇪
German firms worried about China price falls – AFP 🇩🇪
China increases EV market share in Germany despite import slump – Reuters 🇩🇪
Global aviation giants hope Beijing business is unscathed by China-EU trade rows – SCMP
China en Rusland 🇨🇳🇷🇺
NAVO
China should pay for propping up Putin’s war, Nato chief says – BBC News: ‘Jens Stoltenberg said Beijing was “trying to get it both ways” by supporting Russia’s war effort, while also trying to maintain relationships with European allies.’
‘He added that “at some stage, we should consider some kind of economic cost if China doesn’t change their behaviour”.’ 🇷🇺
China support for Russia in Ukraine compels Nato to seek Asian partnerships, top official says – SCMP: ‘“The growing alignment between Russia and its authoritarian friends in Asia makes it even more important that we work closely with our friends in the Indo-Pacific,” he said.’ 🇷🇺
‘Neither a party of the conflict nor a supplier of lethal weapons, #China is nonetheless accused of fueling the #Ukraine crisis. Can it be more absurd? #NATO should stop the hypocrisy and do something to ease the world’s worry of a potential conflict between NATO and #Russia.’ – 王鲁彤 Wang Lutong, Twitter
De beschuldigingen aan China gaan over meer dan slechts of het zelf meevecht en letterlijk hele tanks de grens over duwt.
Chinese en de Filipijnen 🇨🇳🇵🇭
incident 🚨
Philippine officials say Chinese forces seized 2 navy boats in disputed Second Thomas Shoal, injuring sailors – AP: ‘Two Philippine security officials, who had knowledge of the supply mission at the shoal, separately told The Associated Press that two rubber boats manned by Filipino navy personnel had approached the BRP Sierra Madre at the shoal to deliver fresh supplies when several Chinese coast guard personnel on speedboats arrived to disrupt the mission, sparking a scuffle and collisions.
At least eight of the Filipinos were injured, including one who lost a thumb, in the scuffle, said one of the two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were under orders not to discuss the high-seas confrontation publicly.
Five of the injured sailors were rescued by one of two Philippine coast guard patrol ships that were waiting at a distance to back up the navy’s supply mission at the shoal. The two rubber supply boats were towed away by Chinese coast guard personnel and then abandoned after being damaged and emptied of their contents, including an unspecified number of rifles, the two officials said. They were later recovered by the Filipino navy, they said.’ 🇵🇭
China Coast Guard seizes Philippine guns in latest Second Thomas/Ayungin Shoal encounter – GMA News: ‘Another source told GMA Integrated News that four Philippine RHIBs were “hostaged” by China but were later released following negotiations.’ 🇵🇭
China ships ram, tow Philippine vessels at Ayungin – The Inquirer: ‘The collision on Monday happened as China’s new coast guard rules took effect over the weekend. Under the said rules, the CCG can detain foreigners for up to 60 days for alleged trespassing in Beijing-claimed waters.’
Philippine sailor ‘severely injured’ and vessels damaged as Chinese block South China Sea mission – USNI News: ‘While the Pentagon referred USNI News to the Philippine government for additional details, Manila has not released imagery nor a timeline of events since the incident. When China blocked previous resupply missions, officials have quickly released images and videos.’ 🇵🇭
Normaal volgen de Filipijnen hun strategie van ‘assertiviteit transparantie’. Het incident wat hierboven beschreven is, is ernstig. Dat Manila nu niks vrijgeeft, zou kunnen zijn om niet ook nog de publieke druk die daardoor zou ontstaan erbij te krijgen.
Philippines’ infringements, provocations warned – The Global Times: ‘The China Coast Guard (CCG) on Monday took control measures in accordance with the law, including issuing warnings, intercepting, boarding and conducting inspections’ 🇵🇭
China’s Coast Guard says Chinese and Philippine vessels had a collision in waters near the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, but Manila described Beijing’s account as ‘misleading’ – Bloomberg 🇵🇭
overige
US, Canada, Japan, and Philippines conduct exercises in South China Sea – Reuters: ‘in Manila’s exclusive economic zone’ 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇯🇵🇵🇭
Chinese en Australië 🇨🇳🇦🇺
Australian PM Anthony Albanese raises concerns over Chinese embassy staff’s ‘clumsy’ Chéng Lěi 成蕾 obstruction – ABC News: ‘One federal government source said the logistics of the event and the whole trip had been “painstakingly planned out” but the Chinese government broke with prior agreements.’ 🇦🇺
Chinese premier’s Australia visit overshadowed by officials’ apparent attempt to block Chéng Lěi 成蕾’s view at event – The Guardian: ‘attended the event in her capacity as a presenter and reporter for Sky News Australia.’ 🇦🇺
Protestors have been harassed in Canberra during Chinese premier Lǐ Qiáng 李强’s visit – Amnesty International Australia: ‘expresses its concern about the behaviour of counter-protestors who intimidated and attempted to silence peaceful demonstrators gathered at Parliament Lawns in Canberra this morning.’ 🇦🇺
Calls to ban WeChat grow after Canberra clashes – Australian Financial Review: ‘WeChat has censored posts mentioning clashes between Chinese Australians over Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit to Australia, heightening calls from cybersecurity experts for the social media platform to be banned.’ 🇦🇺
Vanwege het kiesdistrictenstelsel in Australië is er grote politieke aandacht voor de nieuwsvoorziening van de Chinese gemeenschap in het land. Veel Chinese-Australiërs zitten in een bubbel van Chinese apps en websites. Daardoor kan Peking zelfs Australische nieuwsberichten en Australische partijpolitieke uitingen gericht op Australiërs in Australië censureren en manipuleren.
Tech War 💽💥
German robotics industry faces stiff competition from China, engineering association VDMA says – Reuters 🇩🇪
Taiwan’s GlobalWafers gets EU and Italian funding for 12-inch chip plant in Italy – Focus Taiwan 🇪🇺🇮🇹
Germany’s Zeiss opens innovation hub in Taiwan, plans NT$10 billion [€288mn] investment – Focus Taiwan 🇩🇪
Germany’s Infineon plans NT$1.2bn [€35mn] R&D centre in Taiwan – Taipei Times: ‘with government funding of NT$480 million to develop next-generation Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips for electric vehicles in collaboration with local partners.’ 🇩🇪
US as many as 15 years behind China on nuclear power, report says – Reuters 🇺🇸
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
Poetin naar Noord-Korea onder het motto ‘alles wat niet verboden is, is toegestaan’ – de Volkskrant 🇰🇵
Interview Eric Penton-Voak: „Sancties tegen Noord-Korea werken niet als ze niet worden toegepast” – NRC: „Het fundamentele probleem is dat China, en sinds de invasie van Oekraïne in toenemende mate ook Rusland, dat niet doet. Ze zeggen van wel, maar daar is geen snipper bewijs voor.” 🇰🇵
(URGENT) Putin orders signing of comprehensive strategic partnership treaty with N. Korea: TASS – Yonhap News 🇰🇵
De ontwikkelingen in/om Noord-Korea moeten we ook niet vergeten. Zelfs Peking wordt een beetje nerveus van dit soort dingen.
China to see biggest millionaire exodus in 2024 as many head to US, Canada, and Singapore – Nikkei Asia: ‘Immigration consultants and analysts have also observed a sharp increase in enquiries from Chinese people, both rich and middle class, looking to move to Japan.’
How the UAE is leveraging ties with China for its own security needs – Emil Avdaliani for SCMP 🇦🇪
The US wants to decouple its military supplies from China — but can it? – SCMP 🇺🇸
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
Maleisië is van plan toe te treden tot Brics-groep – FD 🇲🇾
Malaysia preparing to join BRICS economic group, media report says – Reuters: ‘Malaysia is preparing to join the BRICS group of emerging economies, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in an interview with [nationalist] Chinese media outlet Guancha.’ 🇲🇾
As China ties deepen, Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim says geopolitics is no zero-sum game – SCMP: ‘Anwar said it made sense for Malaysia to ramp up ties with China, a country “willing to accommodate and listen” to his nation’s suggestions and concerns.’ 🇲🇾
Premier Lǐ Qiáng 李强’s visit has Malaysia wanting more from China pivot – FT: ‘the absence of President Xi Jinping, who sent number-two official Li in his place, has dejected some in the government in Kuala Lumpur, according to Malaysian officials and political observers.’ 🇲🇾
China-backed railway could be game changer as Malaysia marks 50 years of ties with Beijing – The Straits Times 🇲🇾
Ecuador stops waiving visas for Chinese nationals because of an increase in irregular migration – AP: ‘has become a popular starting point for Chinese migrants who would then trek northward through Central America before entering the United States. The other country is the Republic of Suriname.’ 🇪🇨🇸🇷
China’s embassy in the Philippines accuses US of ‘malign intention’ to discredit its Covid vaccines – Reuters 🇺🇸
US Justice Department accuses Chinese ‘underground bankers’ of laundering US$50m in cartel drug money – The Guardian 🇺🇸
150 telecom fraud suspects handed over to China by Myanmar – Xinhua 🇲🇲
China economie
China property drag is getting worse, factory output disappoints: Retail spending picked up but remains weak by past standards – Bloomberg
China’s property crisis sees homeowners scramble to pay off mortgages at record pace – SCMP
China’s property fall overshadows spending rebound in May, challenging Beijing’s economic targets – SCMP
China’s property measures give sales a boost, but only in big cities – Reuters
Chinese outbound travel recovery lags due to costs and visa snags – Reuters
China’s rich ditch flashy luxury as global sales stall, says Bain – Reuters
Some Chinese insurers face ‘material’ profit risk from property exposure, Moody’s says – SCMP
China securities regulator vows ‘zero-tolerance’ stance on illegal activities – Reuters
Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing 滴滴出行 says it has no timetable for Hong Kong IPO – SCMP
Shein 希音 chases new revenue streams as it prepares for London listing – FT
China’s firms risk stunting growth with ‘vicious competition’, senior official says – SCMP
China binnenland
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 flags ‘severe’ task of flood control as rains lash China – Reuters
China’s south bears brunt of rains with at least 9 dead and hundreds homeless – SCMP
The head of China’s police has vowed to crack down on agricultural crimes to safeguard food security – Bloomberg: ‘He also cited the threat of drought in the central province of Henan, a key grains hub, and called on authorities to respond to emergencies.’
Cover Story: China’s sports corruption dragnet casts pall ahead of Paris Olympics – Caixin Global
Hong Kong
China’s top spy agency calls trial of Hong Kong 47 a ‘pivotal test’ of rule of law – SCMP
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Taiwan is not seeking war with China, defence minister says – Reuters: ‘Asked at parliament by reporters how long Taiwan could hold out without U.S. support in the event of a Chinese attack, Koo said that was not the point of their strategy.
“It’s not an issue of how long we can last. Our strategy, our hypothesis, is asymmetric warfare to build our multi-domain deterrence, and during this process to weaken” China’s ability to invade, he said.’
Taiwan to get all 1,700 TOW 2B anti-tank missiles from US by year-end – Focus Taiwan 🇺🇸
Amid allegations, interior ministry warns against Chinese influence in political parties – Focus Taiwan: ‘claim[s] that a Chinese company, Beijing Ciguang Film and Television Media Co., Ltd., tried to recruit [artists] via email to participate in pro-China activities.’ 🇨🇳
Surfaced PLA submarine sighting near Taiwan Strait median line ‘understood’ but classified, defence minister Koo says – Taipei Times: ‘A Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) naval ship came over to assist the submarine with an apparent problem, and escorted the vessel back toward China, the fisher said.’ 🇨🇳
Taiwan binnenland en economie
President Lai to launch three committees to address public issues – Taipei Times: ‘to address climate change, civil defense and health’
Most support Cabinet sending KMT’s reform bills back to Legislature, TPOF poll says – Taipei Times: ‘The poll showed that 51.9 percent of adults over the age of 20 support the Executive Yuan’s decision’
KMT legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin 徐巧芯 comes under fire for scandals – New Bloom
Who to watch in the new Lai administration – Courtney Donovan Smith for Taipei Times