De Chinese Wouden, donderdag 13 april: persconferentie Macron, no-flyzone boven Taiwan
Een Nederlandse delegatie was in Peking om over wapenbeheersing en non-proliferatie te spreken. De Duitse buitenlandminister gaat naar Peking, de Europese buitenlandvertegenwoordiger zóu gaan, maar is ziek met covid.
Ik neem aan dat we nu in de laatste fase van de Macron-ophef zijn. Bij de persconferentie met Rutte aan het einde van zijn staatsbezoek stelde de Franse president gerust dat hij de status quo in de Straat van Taiwan steunt. Wel zullen er nog mensen blijven vallen over het feit dat hij volgens een diplomaat het treffen tussen Tsai en McCarthy een ‘provocatie’ vond.
Opvallender is de berichtgeving over een door China aangekondigde driedaagse no-flyzone boven Taiwan die ineens ingekort werd tot 27 minuten. Taipei claimt dat dit door Taiwanese protesten kwam. Het verbod zou verband hebben met ruimtevaart, en op de aanvliegroute liggen voor wereldleiders die naar Japan gaan voor de G7-top. Genoeg om over de speculeren, dus.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Chinese and Dutch officials hold security talks in Beijing – Reuters: ‘Chinese and Dutch officials held consultations on international and regional security, arms control and non-proliferation in Beijing on Tuesday, China’s foreign ministry said in a statement.’ 🇳🇱
中荷举行军控与防扩散磋商 – 中华人民共和国外交部: “2023年4月11日,外交部军控司司长孙晓波与荷兰外交部安全政策司司长弗拉芒在京举行中荷军控与防扩散磋商。双方就国际地区安全形势和军控、防扩散问题等交换了看法。” 🇳🇱
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to visit China from April 13 to 15 – Xinhua 🇩🇪
EU top diplomat Josep Borrell postpones April 13 to 15 China trip after positive covid test – POLITICO Europe 🇪🇺
Siemens unterstützt Chinas Rüstungsindustrie – Handelsblatt 🇩🇪
Germany reviews Chinese group Cosco’s acquisition of Hamburg port stake – FT 🇩🇪
As US tries to isolate China, German companies move closer – The New York Times: ‘Martin Brudermüller, BASF’s chief executive, said earnings from China allowed the company to effectively offset losses from Europe’s high energy costs and stringent environmental rules.’ 🇩🇪
Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Korean Peninsula Affairs Liú Xiǎomíng 刘晓明 visits Germany – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China 🇩🇪
Macron 🇫🇷🇨🇳
Macron: France favours ‘status quo’ on Taiwan, position unchanged – Reuters
Macron stands by China interview, says French diplomat – Reuters: ‘the French leader thought the meeting between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California last week […] was a “provocation”, the diplomat said.’
Taiwan aware of recent French warship Taiwan Strait transit – Focus Taiwan
Germany foreign minister embarks on post-Macron ‘damage control’ in China trip – Reuters
EU should avoid China dependency as it builds ‘de-risking’ strategy with US, says trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis – SCMP
French policy on Taiwan ‘constant’, says representative office in Taipei – Taipei Times
Macron comments leave Taiwanese legislature chief ‘puzzled’ – Reuters
France’s Macron is sending China the wrong signals – Celine Pajon in Nikkei Asia
Macron et la Chine : les périls du "en même temps" – François Godement : « Car si le président désire si fort éviter un conflit effectivement catastrophique, faut-il vraiment donner par avance un blanc-seing à la Chine populaire, concentrer ses critiques contre les États-Unis sur le chemin du retour et s’afficher en chef d’une Europe "ni-ni" ? »
Europe is disastrously split on China: Emmanuel Macron served Xi Jinping a strategic triumph on a silver platter – Thorsten Benner for Foreign Policy
Iemand een stuk met steun voor zijn uitspraken gezien waarmee ik een ander geluid kan laten horen? Ik zie ze niet.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s Regular Press Conference on April 12, 2023 – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China: ‘It comes as no surprise that President Macron’s view that Europe should develop more strategic autonomy and avoid getting entangled in bloc confrontation has attracted some criticism, especially from the US. From our perspective, certain country is reluctant to see other countries being independent, and often seeks to coerce others into doing its bidding. But the truth is, strategic autonomy will bring more respect and friends, while coercion and pressure will only cause more resistance and opposition.’
Spanningen Taiwan-China 🇳🇫🇹🇼🇨🇳
Taiwan says it convinced China to rein in no-fly zone plan – Reuters: ‘South Korea, which was also briefed on the plans, said it was due to an object falling from a satellite launch vehicle.’ ‘Taiwan's transport ministry said that was later reduced to a period of just 27 minutes on Sunday morning after it objected.’ ‘The official said Taiwan had informed all parties that would be impacted by the Chinese request, including some Group of Seven (G7) countries whose foreign ministers are set to travel to Japan for a meeting from April 16-18.’
China to close airspace north of Taiwan April 16-18, sources say – Reuters: ‘One senior official with direct knowledge of the matter said the flight ban would affect 60%-70% of flights going between Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia’
China launches probe into Taiwan’s ‘trade barriers’ affecting 2,400 products – SCMP: ‘“The probe should be concluded by October 12, 2023. Under special circumstances, it can be extended to January 12, 2024,” the ministry added. Taiwan will hold its next presidential election on January 13’
China eyes commercial ships in a move to intimidate Taiwan – Elisabeth Braw for WSJ
China colonel likens Taiwan’s public to ‘tumor’ – Newsweek: ‘“If you talk in abstract terms, you don’t have to deal with people’s individuality. The CCP likes to talk in big categories like the vast majority of the people versus the extreme minority. In both cases, the individual disappears within the group,” Hofstede told Newsweek.’
Mijn commentaar: ^^
Tech War 💽💥
As the west tries to limit TikTok’s reach, what about China’s other apps? – The Guardian
China commerce minister and Intel CEO discuss semiconductor industry chain, commerce ministry says – Reuters
Kantelpunt 🌎⏱️
Renminbi’s share of trade finance doubles since start of Ukraine war – FT: ‘from less than 2 per cent in February 2022 to 4.5 per cent a year later’
G-7 top diplomats to put pressure on Russia and China at Japan meeting – Kyodo News
Tighter ties between China and Russia worry India – The Straits Times
Australia tells exporters to diversify from top trade partner China – Reuters
Why China should worry about Asia’s reaction to AUKUS: Even some non-aligned countries have cautiously signalled support – Derek Grossman for Foreign Policy
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
Xi Focus: Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 inspects navy of PLA Southern Theater Command – Xinhua
After military drills around Taiwan, Xi says China must strengthen training for ‘actual combat’ – AFP
NB: dit soort taalgebruik slaat op het verkrijgen van vaardigheden, niet per se het voorbereiden op een aanstaande invasie.
Iran in secret talks with China and Russia to acquire sanctioned missile fuel – POLITICO Europe
China and the World Bank are exploring compromises over how to restructure billions of dollars of debt held by poor nations, seeking a breakthrough that could unlock desperately needed aid – Bloomberg
China to drop demand for development bank debt restructuring losses, according to source – Reuters
China’s intensive spring diplomacy boosts confidence in global growth and peace – Xinhua
Over 80% of Americans critical of China's global role, according to survey – Nikkei Asia
China economie
China’s consumer and factory prices skid as demand falters – Reuters
China bets on biggest consumer expo to jolt anaemic spending – Nikkei Asia
China binnenland
China’s government is withholding data and censoring debate as Beijing promotes a narrative of triumph as to how it handled the virus – WSJ
Chinese tentoonstelling over zerocovid na vier dagen gesloten: „Ze willen ons geheugen wissen” – de Volkskrant
China reports the first human death from a strain of bird flu that circulates widely in animals but has rarely crossed over into people – Bloomberg
Brief lid / fractie: Verzoek om een schriftelijke reactie van de minister van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit op het bericht ‘Eerste overlijden van mens door vogelgriep gemeld in China’ – Tjeerd de Groot (D66), Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal
Guizhou, one of China’s most debt-ridden provinces, asks Beijing for help in now-deleted online post – SCMP
Hong Kong
Hong Kong emigrants to UK blocked from accessing £2.2bn in pensions – FT
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Taiwan to stage the year’s first civil defence drill in Taichung – Focus Taiwan ‘The drills, which will be held in 11 cities and counties, cover two parts — “war games” and “general exercises for scenarios in the real world,” Shen said.’
US State Department reveals talks aimed at Taipei presence for WHA meeting – SCMP
Visiting MP links Taiwanese and Canadian issues – Taipei Times
Taiwan binnenland en economie
2024 election a choice between ‘democracy and autocracy’, says DPP nominee Lai Ching-te 賴清德 [Lài Qīngdé] – Focus Taiwan
Hiermee kan Lai zowel de voor de DPP nuttige focus houden op het Chinese gevaar en tegelijkertijd mensen herinneren aan het dictatoriale partijstaatverleden van de KMT. De waarschijnlijke KMT-kandidaat, de relatief populaire burgemeester van New Taipei Hou You-yi, was politiecommandant tijdens de dictatuur. Hij overzag de operatie tegen tijdschrifthoofdredacteur Nylon Deng 鄭南榕 die eindigde in de zelfverbranding van de laatste toen de politie het beleg van zijn kantoor wilde beëindigen – elk jaar herdacht als de Dag van de Vrijheid van Meningsuiting.
De KMT probeert de DPP aan te vallen op de zwakke plek in hun imago als ideologische onruststokers door de DPP te beschuldigen van oorlogszuchtigheid.
Als de TPP komt met een verhaal over de stijgende ongelijkheid en kosten van levensonderhoud in Taiwan, dan zou de derde partij van Ko Wen-je nog een serieuze speler kunnen worden.
Taiwan’s ruling DPP names William Lai 賴清德 [Lài Qīngdé] as presidential candidate – Nikkei Asia
New Taipei Mayor Hou You-yi 侯友宜 [Hóu Yǒuyí] (KMT) says ‘good to go’ when asked about potential presidential bid – Taipei Times