De Chinese Wouden, dinsdag 20 december: Tilburg, Rusland, covid
De laatste week voor kerst is ook rustiger in het nieuws. Voor mij springt het meest in het oog de gezamenlijke marine-oefening van China en Rusland in de Stille Ocean. Deze keert elk jaar terug en is dus geen teken van nauwere samenwerking. Wel is het een mooie illustratie van samenwerking die al bestaat en ook niet verdwijnt. Het is niet te verwachten dat Peking ruzie wil met de grootste buur. Maar er is meer. Als we terug gaan naar de Koude Oorlog: Nixon en Kissinger konden hun felbegeerde doorbraak bereiken, omdat Washington en Peking elkaar vonden in de wens tegendruk te bieden tegen de Sovjetunie. Nu volgens de Chinese strategie de VS de hoofdvijand blijkt, bevinden we ons in de omgekeerde situatie. Dan hebben we het nog niet eens gehad over eventuele ideologische affiniteit en vriendschap tussen Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 en Vladimir Poetin.
Verder: Tilburg verrekt stedenbanden, politiek nieuws over het rapport over Chinese politieservicestations in Italië en Japan, covidpandemie woekert voort en The Economist heeft zorgwekkende cijfers.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Ook Tilburg trekt stekker uit Chinese stedenbanden, met Changzhou en Chengdu, vanwege schending van mensenrechten – Brabants Dagblad 🇳🇱
Italy stops joint police patrols with China, interior minister says – Reuters: ‘The joint patrols took place in 2016-2019 and were “suspended” in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Piantedosi said.’ 🇮🇹
The long arm of Chinese censorship has reached Europe, forcing artists and institutions to watch what they say against Beijing – Artnet News 🇪🇺
China covid 🦠
Covidgolf zaait chaos in Chinese economie – De Standaard
Police and security guards were stationed outside a Beijing crematorium reportedly designated to handle Covid fatalities, as questions over China’s virus death toll mount – Bloomberg
China runs low on blood supplies as Covid keeps donors away – FT
China reports first official covid deaths in weeks as doubts gather over official count –Reuters
‘I don't trust it’: Vaccine hesitancy lingers even as China COVID cases surge – Reuters
A wave of covid-19 reveals flaws in China’s health system: It is better than it used to be, but still needs reform – The Economist: ‘The profit motive in hospitals has created a blizzard of distortions.’
China megacity Chongqing says people with symptomatic Covid can work ‘as normal’ – AFP
From Zero Covid to No Plan: Behind China’s pandemic u-turn – The New York Times: ‘an examination of how the shift unfolded in Chongqing and elsewhere reveals a government overtaken by a cascade of Covid outbreaks, confusion over directives, economic woes and then rare political protests.’
How Twitter bots drowned out posts about protests in China - The New York Times
Zeitentechwarwende ⏱️💽
Opinie: Nederland, let op uw zaak bij export geavanceerde ASML-machines naar China – Gerrit van der Wees in het Nederlands Dagblad: „Het moge duidelijk zijn dat elke machine die nu nog aan China verkocht wordt, dat land in staat stelt de technologie nog vollediger in de vingers te krijgen.” 🇳🇱
Are US allies falling out of ‘alignment’ on China? – Shannon Tiezzi for The Diplomat: ‘An administration that came to office extolling its intention to closely consult with partners needs to be especially aware of how its efforts at home will be received in foreign capitals.’
German firms splash out billions on Taiwan supply chain, largely in semiconductors and chemicals – SCMP: ‘The value of German imports from Taiwan rose from €10.1 billion (US$10.7 billion) in 2019 to €12.2 billion in 2021, and they totalled €8 billion in the first half of 2022’
Nokian Tyres replaces some Russian production with China subcontractor – Reuters
Diversificatie van de één naar de ander.
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
Japan begint aan militaire opbouw, met offensieve wapens – NRC: „Volgens de nieuwe veiligheidsstrategie die de regering van premier Kishida vrijdag presenteerde wordt China als belangrijkste bedreiging gezien voor het veiligstellen van de vrede en stabiliteit in Japan.” „De kwestie-Taiwan is daarbij cruciaal.”
Tokyo unwitting host to Chinese ‘police service station’, according to report – Kyodo News
Russia and China to hold joint annual naval drills this week – Reuters
9 Chinese warships spotted in East China Sea ahead of week-long joint drills with Russia – SCMP
‘We didn’t accept it’: DRC minister laments forcing through of Cop15 deal – The Guardian: ‘It comes after the Chinese Cop15 president, Huang Runqiu, appeared to force through the agreement in the final plenary just moments after the DRC negotiator had said did not support the deal, which is typically negotiated by consensus. His interventions prompted further objections from Uganda and Cameroon.’
Los van ideologie en houding is het ook gewoon praktisch moeilijk om te leren de rol van grootmacht te vervullen in het diplomatieke circuit.
US struggles to lure African nations over from China – Nikkei Asia
US Republicans to turn up pressure on Biden with China panel – Nikkei Asia
Australia foreign minister Penny Wong to travel to China this week for 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations – The Guardian
Military says Chinese vessels ‘challenged, shadowed’ Philippine boat to Second Thomas/Ayungin Shoal – Philstar
‘No point in return to China, prefer India… best place’, says Dalai Lama – Hindustan Times
China economie
China’s top leaders said they will focus on boosting the economy next year and hinted at business-friendly policies – Bloomberg
China tries to calm economic waters as Covid storm rages – SCMP
China’s reopening from covid raises spectre of new inflation – Nikkei Asia
Interpreting China’s 2022 Central Economic Work Conference - Chutian Zhou for The Diplomat
China pares back Xinjiang trade data after US import ban – Nikkei Asia
China binnenland
China removes former industry minister Xiāo Yàqìng 肖亚庆 from post for bribery – Reuters: ‘will be demoted to a lower-level position and arrangements will be made for his retiremen’
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 stresses writing new chapter in China's Constitution practice in new era – Xinhua
Hong Kong
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Guatemala plans March summit for ‘Taiwan-friendly’ countries – Reuters
日本國會議員將來台向安倍銅像獻花 台將贈日安倍金幣、銅像 – 自由時報
Taiwan binnenland economie
DPP taking stock after defeats, defeated Chiayi candidate says – Taipei Times
The 2022 elections in review: How Taiwan failed to adapt voting for a pandemic – Kharis Templeman for Taiwan Insight
Mainland Affairs Council launches probe into possible illegal TikTok activities in Taiwan – Focus Taiwan
TikTok denies setting up ‘illegal operations’ in Taiwan – AFP