De Chinese Wouden, dinsdag 30 mei: gezant Oekraïne, de-risking
Welkom terug na het pinksterweekend. Er is een berg artikelen, zelfs na schifting.
In The Wall Street Journal stond een stuk over de slechte ontvangst in Europa van de voorstellen van Chinees speciaal gezant voor Eurazië Li Hui tijdens zijn Oekraïne-toer. Hij zou hebben aangestuurd op een staakt-het-vuren waarbij de bezette gebieden nog onder de facto Russische controle zouden blijven.
In een veelzeggend interview met de Chinese ambassadeur in Brussel Fu Cong voert The New Statesmen een EU-bron die dezelfde weergave geeft van het voorstel van Li. Dat vervolgens de Chinese en Oekraïense ministeries ontkennen dat Li zou hebben voorgesteld om de bezette gebieden als Russisch te erkennen is dus een verdraaiing: dat is helemaal niet wat WSJ en NS berichtten.
Ik hoop dat Li in ieder geval een goede indruk heeft gekregen van de gevoelens over Oekraïne in Europa en dat mee neemt naar Peking. Fu weigert in zijn interview in ieder geval te zeggen wie de oorlog in Oekraïne begonnen is. Directeur-generaal Europese Zaken Wang Lutong vond het nodig om op Twitter een boost te geven aan samenzweringstheorieën over Nord Stream uit de Spaanse pers.
Bloomberg en The Diplomat hebben interessante stukken over Pekings campagne tegen ‘de-risking’. Dat het woord zo breed aanslaat in het Westen zal in China wel met ongemak ontvangen zijn, dus nu probeert met te zeggen dat het een Amerikaans excuus is voor ontkoppelen.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Minister Schreinemacher: Europese energietransitie niet mogelijk zonder China – NU.nl 🇳🇱
Europe’s green transition impossible without China, says Dutch minister for trade and development Schreinemacher (VVD) – FT: ‘Schreinemacher said the EU should think carefully before screening European investment in China’s cutting-edge technologies, an issue that was also discussed by the G7 leaders this month. She described the so-called outbound investment screening as a “very heavy instrument” to use to protect the bloc’s economic interests.’ 🇳🇱
Ambassadeur Fu Cong is het op Twitter helemaal eens met de „objective & rational view” van de minister.
Minister Adriaansens (VVD) wil verkoop van „Chinese troep” aan banden leggen – RTL Nieuws 🇳🇱
TSMC is in talks to receive German government subsidies for as much as 50% of the costs to build its new semiconductor plant in the country – Bloomberg: ‘its partners on the project — Bosch Ltd., NXP Semiconductors NV and Infineon Technologies AG’ 🇩🇪🇳🇱
TSMC en NXP Semiconductors hebben al een gezamenlijke fabriek in Singapore: SSMC.
The mystery of the disappearing Van Gogh – The New York Times
China verlaat Architectuur Biënnale uit woede over Xinjiang-onderzoek met Nederlandse inbreng – de Volkskrant 🇮🇹
China exits Venice Biennale over Xinjiang video – Decode39 🇮🇹
‘Complete denial’: Europe largely blind to Chinese efforts to influence policy and public opinion, says EU adviser to Vice President Jourová – POLITICO Europe: ‘particularly outside of eastern Europe’ 🇪🇺
As China and the US redefine geopolitics, Europe faces a win-win situation – CNBC 🇪🇺
Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung (CSU): Stiftungsvertreter irritiert mit Aussagen zu Chinas Tibet-Politik – SZ 🇩🇪
Italy’s Meloni: Good China relations possible without Belt and Road – POLITICO Europe 🇮🇹
HMRC passes dissidents’ details to China via tax-evasion crackdown – The Times 🇬🇧
Taiwan and Lithuania seek to promote cooperation in scientific research – Focus Taiwan 🇱🇹
Interview ambassadeur Fu
💡 Ambassador Fù Cōng 傅聪: ‘Europe will not become a vassal to China’ – The New Statesman: ‘The diplomat in the EEAS told me that China has suggested a “sequencing” for peace in Ukraine that the EU cannot accept: first a ceasefire freezing the conflict, then negotiations and finally a possible withdrawal of Russian troops from certain negotiated areas.’
‘China is not Europe’: EU move to tie Chinese relations to Ukraine war is unfair, Fu Cong says – SCMP
Transcript of Ambassador Fù Cōng 傅聪’s Interview with the New Statesman – Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the European Union:
New Statesman: But you agreed that Russia started the war, not Ukraine.
Fu Cong: That’s for the historians to decide.
[…]
if “de-risking” means ridding China of the global industrial and supply chains, especially in key areas, and when it involves key technology, we are firmly opposed to that.
[…]
When it comes to these companies, let me be very clear: if the European side imposes sanctions on Chinese companies without providing us with any solid evidence to show that these companies are engaged with activities that may circumvent or that have circumvented the EU sanctions on Russia, then we certainly will retaliate.
[…]
I would say that some of the European countries would not have taken the positions they have taken if they had not been pressured or influenced by the United States. The cases in point again are the semiconductor and also the Huawei. So we do believe that the EU needs to really take its fate into its own hands and really practice this strategic autonomy as they always speak about.
Volgens de interviewer liet de ambassade een vraag over Lu Shaye weg uit het transcript.
China en Rusland 🇨🇳🇷🇺
💡 Europe rebuffs China’s efforts to split the West in pushing Ukraine cease-fire – WSJ: ‘The Chinese envoy dispatched to push Beijing’s peace plan for Ukraine carried a clear message: U.S. allies in Europe should assert their autonomy and urge an immediate cease-fire, leaving Russia in possession of the parts of its smaller neighbor that it now occupies, according to Western officials familiar with talks in capitals across the continent.’
‘Diplomat Li Hui, who has visited Kyiv, Warsaw, Berlin, Paris and Brussels this month, urged European governments to view China as an economic alternative to Washington and said they should move quickly to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine before it spreads, those officials said.’
‘China’s main interests appeared to be to ensure that Russia doesn’t lose the war and that Moscow refrains from using nuclear weapons, another said.’
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister denies that Chinese envoy called on European countries to recognise Ukrainian territories as belonging to Russian – European Pravda
De WSJ en The New Statesman berichtten helemaal niet dat het om erkenning… Maar een dankbaar Chinees ministerie van buitenlandse zaken haalde Koelebas opmerking aan bij de persconferentie gisteren om WSJ aan te vallen.
China-EU Dynamics 28 May 2023 – Mission of China to the European Union: ‘The EU officials spoke highly of China’s positive role and the relevant principles in its position paper and expressed their willingness to work with the Chinese side to promote a peaceful resolution.’
Ondertussen leeft de nieuwsbrief van de Chinese vertegenwoordiging in Brussel in een eigen realiteit.
GCHQ’s Jeremy Fleming: ‘pretty sure [Xi] doesn’t want to see President Putin humiliated’ – FT
China and Russia hold security talks in Moscow amid tensions with the West – SCMP
Chinese ships ignore Vietnam demand to leave area close to Russian-run gas fields – Reuters
Military intervention in Taiwan and conflict with US among top worries for Chinese surveyed in security poll – SCMP: ‘On the war in Ukraine, 80.1 per cent of Chinese respondents believed the US and Western countries were “most accountable”, followed by Ukraine (11.7 per cent), and Russia (8.2 per cent).’
Tech War
Portugal has effectively banned Chinese companies from supplying equipment for its 5G phone network – Bloomberg
Tech war: China’s top server makers stop orders of memory modules containing Micron chips, sources say – SCMP
Tech war: major Micron client in China retracted Shanghai IPO application three days before Beijing opened cybersecurity investigation into US firm – SCMP
Vliegtuig van Chinese makelij heeft eerste vlucht succesvol afgerond – FD
China heeft nu eigen vliegtuig: „Maar belangrijkste onderdelen zijn westers” – RTL Nieuws
Ex-Apple employee accused of stealing trade secrets is exec at Baidu self-driving car joint venture – CNBC
China and South Korea agree to strengthen talks on chip industry, Chinese commerce ministry says – Reuters: ‘However, a South Korean statement on the same meeting did not mention chips, instead saying the country's trade minister had asked China to stabilise the supply of key raw materials’
China urges Japan to halt export restrictions on chips – Reuters
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 calls for global cooperation on technology at Zhongguancun as Beijing courts top scientists – SCMP
Vice Premier Dīng Xuēxiáng 丁薛祥 sets fast pace for China’s hi-tech drive in another sign of new role – SCMP
Taiwan’s MJIB raids eight alleged Chinese tech firms over illegal hirings – Taipei Times
Kantelpunt
Jörg Wuttke: „China en de VS liggen duidelijk op ramkoers” – FD
Japan and NATO to level up cooperation with eye on China and Russia – Nikkei Asia: ‘The revamped partnership will look to keep the two sides on the same page regarding Russia and China.’
China warns against Japan PM’s attendance at NATO summit – Kyodo News
Philippines, US, and Japan coast guards to hold first joint drills – Nikkei Asia
China-South Korea ties are low and could go lower, Chinese envoy Xíng Hǎimíng 邢海明 says – SCMP: ‘Seoul would first need to show “full respect for China’s core concerns in areas such as the Taiwan issue”, before other talks could take place, Xing said.’
‘before leaving for a trip to the US last month, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said Taiwan was “not simply an issue between China and Taiwan”. “Like the issue of North Korea, it is a global issue,” Yoon said in an interview with Reuters.’
Peking is ook bepaald niet blij met de herstellende betrekkingen tussen Japan en Zuid-Korea.
Offshore access curbed for statistics website of Chinese province Fujian facing Taiwan – Reuters
De-risking
💡 Chinese state media, officials, and academics have all publicly rejected the distinction between de-risking and decoupling in recent weeks, in a seemingly concerted effort to undermine the rhetorical shift – Bloomberg
What ‘De-risking’ Means for China: Beijing seems unable or unwilling to grasp the very different lineages of ‘containment’ and de-risking – Denny Roy for The Diplomat
De-risking trade with China is a risky business – Gideon Rachman in FT
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
Suspected Chinese hackers allegedly breached the US Navy as part of a broader campaign – Bloomberg
US raises concerns with China about actions against US companies – Reuters
Readout of Secretary Raimondo’s Meeting with Ministry of Commerce Minister Wang Wentao – US Department of Commerce
US-China relations continue to thaw at meeting between trade officials Tai and Wang in Detroit — SCMP
Chinese defence chief Lǐ Shàngfú 李尚福 to travel to Singapore on Wednesday to speak at Shangri-La Dialogue, ministry says
China declined a US request for Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to meet his counterpart Lǐ Shàngfú 李尚福 in Singapore this week – Bloomberg
China not responding to US requests for open lines of communication, says Pentagon official – The Hindustan Times
Dismissed US case shows divide within Tibetan diaspora – and the thin line Beijing makes it walk – SCMP
US charges two LA residents in Beijing-directed targeting of Falun Gong – Reuters
China vessels near disputed Japan-controlled Senkaku/Diaoyutai islands sending location data – Kyodo News
Maleisië houdt Chinees schip vast dat mogelijk Britse WO II-schepen plunderde – NOS
Eerste bezoek Congolese president Tshisekedi aan China: heronderhandeling mijncontracten op agenda – VRT NWS
How China is expanding its law enforcement activities across Africa – SCMP
China wil voor 2030 taikonauten op de maan zetten – NOS
China economie
China is considering new tax incentives for high-end manufacturing companies, sources say, as Beijing seeks to bolster the economy and encourage more innovation in technology to counter US competition – Bloomberg
China’s steel mills and coal mines are bearing the brunt of declining profits at major industrial firms with all eyes now on whether Beijing is prepared to add stimulus to juice the economy – Bloomberg
China’s economy loses steam as concerns mount over Covid recovery – FT
China keen to join Digital Economy Partnership Agreement: commerce minister – Xinhua
JPMorgan chief Jamie Dimon gathers business elite in Shanghai amid China-US tensions – FT
Elon Musk expected to visit China this week, meet officials - sources – Reuters
China binnenland
Chinese police clash with protesters over plans to demolish mosque – The Washington Post
China’s war chest: Beijing seeks to remedy its vulnerability to food and energy embargoes – The Guardian
Number of people prosecuted in China’s courts up 12% in five years, report shows – The Guardian
Guo Esther Yan was abducted. Her tale does not bode well for China’s Kaifeng Jews – Haaretz: ‘These days, the authorities prohibit the public display of anything identified with Jewishness’
Hong Kong
Hong Kong denies knowledge about Uyghur student, slams Amnesty for saying he disappeared at airport – AP
Hong Kong’s pro-democracy Civic Party votes to dissolve – HKFP
As books disappear from Hong Kong’s public libraries, some ‘rescue’ titles for private, overseas collections – HKFP: ‘In an emailed response to HKFP, the Leisure and Cultural Service Department (LCSD), which manages public libraries, said it would review and destroy books deemed inappropriate.’
‘Not recommended’ reading: The books Hong Kong is purging from public libraries – HKFP
Hong Kong court rejects media tycoon Jimmy Lai 黎智英’s bid to halt national security trial – HKFP
Where Foreign Correspondents Capitulated to Autocracy: Hong Kong’s main press club has given up in the face of a new, repressive regime – The Atlantic
Hong Kong foreign press club raises concerns over unexplained media bans at government events – HKFP
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
‘Chinese are ROC citizens’ rule is outdated, says premier Chen Chien-jen 陳建仁 [Chén Jiànrén] following new Executive Yuan policy – Taipei Times
中國人民不具中華民國國籍 – 自由時報:「⋯⋯。而行政院25日通令各部會新函釋,『中國大陸人民不具中華民國國籍、非屬中華民國國民,自不享有或負擔中華民國國民的權利義務。』」
Premier Chen Chien-jen 陳建仁 [Chén Jiànrén] praises media after China’s Cross-Strait Media People Summit flop – Taipei Times: ‘Wang Huning was reportedly furious that no Taiwanese media representatives attended a scheduled meeting with him on Thursday last week.’
Taiwan reports Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong sailed through Strait – Reuters
War over Taiwan unlikely despite rise in temperatures, says Chinese scholar Jiǎ Qìngguó 贾庆国 at Nikkei forum – The Straits Times
Taiwan congratulates Turkish President Erdoğan on winning reelection – Focus Taiwan
New Zealand parliamentarians to visit Taiwan – Focus Taiwan
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Taiwan is set to reveal how much the recession has undermined the economy this year, with the deteriorating economic situation likely to become a key campaign issue – Bloomberg
Taiwan GDP forecast trimmed to 2.04% – Taipei Times
US scholar Bonnie Glaser says Taiwan presidential hopeful Ko Wen-je 柯文哲 [Kē Wénzhé] (TPP) ‘twisted’ her remarks – Focus Taiwan: ‘“This is not the first time that Mayor Ko has twisted the meaning of my words to suggest that I support him,” Glaser said, without elaborating.’
KMT-vriendelijk televisiekanaal TVBS ging er ook in mee. In pro-KMT krant UDN is een serie aanvallen op Glaser begonnen, van analyse tot (misleidend) commentaar onder de pennaam Heibaiji, die eens de hamer van de dictatoriale partijstaat richtinggaf.
DPP councillors question Hou Yu-ih 侯友宜 [Hóu Yǒuyí] (KMT) over corruption links – Taipei Times
De KMT-vriendelijke pers probeert al weken de DPP in verband te brengen met corruptie. Dit is een mooie poging dat terug te doen.
Nomination scandal in Zhongzheng-Wanhua may be due to Lai Ching-te aiming to replace politicians close with Tsai Ing-wen in DPP – New Bloom
De eenheid binnen de DPP was opmerkelijk gezien de eerdere strijd tussen Tsai en Lai. Dit zou betekenen dat het toch niet helemaal weg is.
Ko Wen-je 柯文哲 [Kē Wénzhé] (TPP) to visit Japan next week, meet with officials – Taipei Times
Laws revised to bar certain ex-convicts from running for public office – Focus Taiwan: ‘the amended law also stipulates that newspapers, magazines, television and radio stations, and internet service providers must not publish or broadcast election- or recall-related advertisements that are funded by overseas individuals, companies or groups.’
Legislature passes Indigenous Peoples’ Health Act – Taipei Times
Amendments to Mining Act giving Indigenous peoples more say passed – Taipei Times
Solar panel mandate to pass Taiwan legislature – Taipei Times