De Chinese Wouden, donderdag 11 mei: vicepresident Han Zheng in Nederland
Voor mijn commentaar beperk ik me vandaag tot de koppen. Juist in Taiwan is veel politiek nieuws. Ondertussen laat Peking zich horen over Chinese onvrede met het concept ‘de-risking’ en mogelijke sancties tegen Chinese bedrijven voor leveren aan Rusland. Directeur-generaal Wang Lutong spreekt op Twitter zelfs over een ‘stab in the back’ als dank voor China’s zogenaamde inspanningen voor de vrede.
Diplomatiek lenteoffensief in Europa 🇪🇺🇨🇳
Koning en minister-president ontvangen vicepresident China – RVD 🇳🇱
China is not the real risk for Europe, Qín Gāng 秦刚 warns Berlin hosts – SCMP: ‘the real “risk” Europe faces comes from “a certain country” that is waging a “new cold war”’ 🇩🇪
China concerned with EU’s ‘de-risking’ allegations, says foreign minister Qín Gāng 秦刚 – Xinhua: ‘If (some countries or parties) pursue de-sinicization in the name of de-risking, they would be actually breaking away from opportunities, cooperation, stability and development, said Qin.’ 🇩🇪
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s Regular Press Conference on May 10, 2023 – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China: ‘State Councilor Qin noted that while China appreciates Germany and the EU’s statements of not aiming for decoupling from China, China is, however, concerned about what the EU said about “de-risking”. […] It is essential that China, Germany and the EU all abide by international trade rules and honor the spirit of contract’ 🇩🇪
China’s national reunification must be realised, foreign minister says in Potsdam – Xinhua
Dit is wat Peking bedoelt als het oproept tot het beschermen van de na-oorlogse orde.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
France and Germany’s top diplomats sought to present a united front on China, calling on Beijing to pressure Russia to end its war in Ukraine – Bloomberg 🇫🇷🇩🇪
Ulrich Speck las in de toespraak van bondskanselier Scholz voor het Europees Parlement wel enige afwijking van de lijn van president Macron.
Vorstoss der EU-Kommission: Handelssanktionen gegen ganz China? – FAZ 🇪🇺
Directeur-generaal Europese Zaken bij het Chinese ministerie van buitenlandse zaken Wang Lutong noemt mogelijke Europese sancties op Chinese bedrijven ‘een mes in de rug’. Harde taal:
Germany doubles down on China port deal in Hamburg despite new security rules concerns – POLITICO Europe 🇩🇪
Italian PM Meloni: No decision yet on quitting BRI deal with China – Reuters 🇮🇹
Cluster of Chinese vessels spotted near Russian rig off Vietnam, ship monitors say – Reuters
Tech War 💽💥
Batteries électriques : Macron attendu à Dunkerque pour confirmer l'usine taïwanaise – Les Échos
Taiwan’s ProLogium picks northern France for new battery gigafactory, according sources – Reuters
Chinese chipmaker ChangXin Shanghai plans listing after clearing US export controls – FT
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
Analysis: China’s messaging machine tamps down Taiwan war hype – Katsuji Nakazawa for Nikkei Asia: ‘A contrarian and even taboo view has been allowed to flourish [online] —that deciding to forcibly unify Taiwan now would be unrealistic and even dangerous.’
India and the Gulf are getting cozy—to counter China – Michael Kugelman for Foreign Policy
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai plans to meet China’s commerce minister in Detroit later this month – Bloomberg
China pours cold water on bilateral meeting with US defence minister – FT: ‘arranging such a meeting is fraught with difficulty because Li was sanctioned by the US in 2018 in relation to Chinese imports of Russian arms when he was serving as a general.’
China wil wel praten met klimaatpaus Kerry en handelsminister Tai, maar minister buitenlandse zaken Blinken en defensie Austin komen er niet doorheen.
China says PLA Rocket Force joined Shandong carrier group in drills near US base in western Pacific – SCMP
Japan’s prime minister Kishida Fumio 岸田 文雄 says peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is global issue – Nikkei Asia
China foreign minister Qín Gāng 秦刚 conveyed intention to visit Japan – Kyodo News
Japan protests to China over ambassador’s remarks on Taiwan policy – Kyodo News
Taiwan conflict and South China Sea code to figure in ASEAN talks, Philippine president Marcos says – Reuters
Sudan conflict delivers fresh blow to China’s African lending strategy – FT: ‘Sudan’s outstanding debts to China stood at $5.12bn in early 2022, according to Sudanese central bank documents. But analysts said this did not include oil prepayment facilities’ ‘Chinese state-owned entities extended loans worth $15.5bn to Sudan in the decade to 2020’
China plans to boost naval ties with Pakistan. How will India respond? – SCMP
China economie
China’s crackdown on perceived threats to national security is roiling the industry of consultants and researchers who help some of the world’s biggest investors understand China – Bloomberg
CICC Capital bans consulting firm Capvision after China crackdown – Reuters
Toezichthouder: audits KPMG in China en PwC in Hongkong rammelden – FD
US accounting regulator finds ‘unacceptable rate’ of shortcomings in China audits by PwC and KPMG – SCMP
China names little-known Lǐ Yúnzé 李云泽 top financial regulator in surprise move – Bloomberg
China binnenland
Severe heat impacting Asia threatens another summer of worries over power supply in parts of China – Bloomberg
Extreme rainfall is taking a toll on China’s rice crops, and it could get much worse – SCMP
China to implement stricter vehicle emissions standards from July 1 – Reuters
Xi Focus: Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 inspects Xiong'an New Area, urges new progress for ‘city of future’ – Xinhua
Juridische strijd van alleenstaande Chinese vrouw die eicellen wil laten invriezen lijkt niet langer kansloos – de Volkskrant
Hong Kong
Hong Kong lawmakers unanimously vote to let city leader restrict overseas lawyers from national security cases – HKFP
Son of jailed Hong Kong activist and US congressman slam UK and Vatican over rights weakness – Reuters
Hong Kong mulls wider ban on insults to regional flag, making online desecration illegal – HKFP: ‘The proposed amendments also covered the etiquette to be adopted at a ceremony in which the regional flag was raised. […] Any behaviour deemed as undermining the dignity of the regional flag would be prohibited.’
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Taiwanese banks have slashed their exposure to China to the lowest level in at least a decade as increasingly fraught ties across the Strait deter lenders from expanding in the world’s second-largest economy – Bloomberg
Los van maatregelen die je kunt nemen zullen de geopolitieke ontwikkelingen alleen al effect hebben door hoe investeerders en zakenmensen gedwongen zijn ze in te prijzen.
Taiwan to receive HIMARS one year earlier than expected, military says – Focus Taiwan
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Taiwan’s quarterly average real regular wages fall most in 7 years – Focus Taiwan
Niet China maar dit thema gaat misschien wel de verkiezingsuitslag bepalen in januari 2024.
TPP demands explanation from China’s Taiwan Affairs Office after party lawmaker Lai Hsiang-ling 賴香伶 [Lài Xiānglíng] denied entry to China for religious event – Focus Taiwan
Niet handig voor China om deze nieuwe kracht in de Taiwanese politiek van zich te vervreemden, zeker gezien de Verenigd Front-rol die religieuze organisaties in China vaak spelen.
KMT presidential hopeful Hsu You-yi 侯友宜 [Hóu Yǒuyí] says he opposes ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and Taiwan independence – Focus Taiwan
Foxconn founder Terry Gou 郭台銘 [Guō Táimíng] makes waves in Taiwan’s KMT presidential non-primary – Courtney Donovan Smith
Government denies Terry Gou 郭台銘 [Guō Táimíng] accusations on handling of failed vaccine deal – Focus Taiwan
KMT en aanverwanten hebben enthousiast zoveel misinformatie en desinformatie gemengd in hun kritiek op de vaccinaankoop van de regering, dat het lastig is beschuldigen serieus te nemen.
Taipei court ruling overturns NCC decision to shut down [Beijing-friendly] CTi News – Focus Taiwan: ‘the regulator must review the case again based on the 2018 criteria.’
Train hits fallen crane boom in Taichung, killing one – Taipei Times
Construction company fined NT$1.11 million [€33k] over deadly MRT accident – Focus Taiwan