De Chinese Wouden, donderdag 16 februari: Nederlands nieuws, ASML, ballon
Niet heel veel om uit te lichten vandaag, hoewel de meeste aandacht uit zal gaan naar de Chinese medewerker van ASML die betrapt is op het stelen van intellectueel eigendom. Aandacht voor het weer in plaats van de bui.
China’s hoogste diplomaat, directeur van het kantoor van Commissie voor buitenlandse-zakenwerk van het Centraal comité van de Chinese Communistische Partij Wang Yi, is zijn Europese tour begonnen in Frankrijk. Met Macron sprak hij ook over Oekraïne.
De ballonnencrisis wordt levend gehouden aan Chinese kant, waar men nu met tegenmaatregelen tegen de VS dreigt. Ook gebruikte de woordvoerder de dagelijkse persconferentie van het ministerie van buitenlandse zaken om lucht te geven aan enkele anti-Amerikaanse complottheorieën.
Xi Jinping spreekt al tijden over ‘strijd’. Beschuldigingen van Amerikaanse indamming van China spelen al tijden. Als je werkelijk denkt in een cynische strijd te zijn verwikkeld met de VS, eentje waarin waarheid minder belangrijk is, dan zie je zo’n incident met een surveillanceballon sneller als een bewuste escalatie van Amerikaanse kant. Daarop volgt gepaste tegenescalatie in plaats van proberen de angel eruit te halen.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Taiwanese lawmakers hosted in Dutch parliament for first time – Focus Taiwan: ‘According to the Taipei Representative Office in the Netherlands, the Dutch parliament made an exception in arranging the meeting as it does not usually host foreign visitors during a voting session.’ 🇳🇱
Tweede Kamer wil verbod TikTok op werktelefoon rijksambtenaren – RTL Nieuws 🇳🇱
Slecht nieuws voor enkele lezers.
Brief regering: Reactie op het rapport ‘Navigating an uncertain future’ – Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal 🇳🇱
Remarks by Ambassador Tán Jiàn 谈践 at the Chinese New Year Dinner – Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Kingdom of the Netherlands: ‘While China will continue to improve its investment environment and ease of doing business, we also hope that the business environment in the Netherlands could remain friendly and attractive.’
‘Recently I have been puzzled by the news of suspending or considering to suspend the sister relations by the Dutch side with the Chinese provinces or cities.’ ‘I have received a lot of calls asking for advice, asking if the Dutch are now more the missionary than the merchant.’
Iemand heeft ambassadeur Tan vertelt over koopman en dominee.
Chinese diplomat Wang Yi, French President Emmanuel Macron discuss Ukraine war during meeting in Paris – SCMP: ‘According to a Chinese government readout of the meeting […], Wang and Macron exchanged “in-depth views about the Ukraine issue”.’ ‘According to a readout from the French government, both parties “expressed the same objective of contributing to peace in accordance with international law”.’ 🇫🇷
China’s top diplomat Wáng Yì 王毅 starts weeklong Europe tour in Paris – AP 🇪🇺
Despite Beijing’s pleas, now is not time to lift China sanctions – Maya Wang for The EU Observer 🇪🇺
UK rehearsing economic fallout scenarios if China invades Taiwan – The Guardian: ‘he invasion of Taiwan was one of a number of scenario plans for “black swan events” that are regularly rehearsed by the UK government’ 🇬🇧
Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani says Italy is against altering ‘status quo’ – Taipei Times: ‘saying that “the status quo must be maintained in the Indo-Pacific; we are committed to this with NATO and the EU.” “Taipei must remain as it is,” the report quoted him as saying, an apparent reference to China’s aim of unification with Taiwan.’ 🇮🇹
Halfgeleiders 🍪🇳🇱
Chinese werknemer ASML betrapt op verduisteren technologische informatie – NRC 🇳🇱
ASML vaker doelwit van spionage door isoleren China – FD 🇳🇱
A China-based former employee of ASML stole data from a software system that the corporation uses to store technical information about its machinery – Bloomberg 🇳🇱
ASML says new China export restrictions will not have material impact in 2023 – Reuters 🇳🇱
Ballon 🎈
Chinese foreign ministry claims US balloons flew over Xinjiang and Tibet [zonder bewijs te leveren], warns of countermeasures – Reuters
China to take countermeasures against US entities undermining China’s sovereignty and security, says foreign ministry spokesperson – Xinhua
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s Regular Press Conference on February 15, 2023 – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China: ‘China is strongly opposed to this and will take countermeasures in accordance with law against relevant US entities that have undermined China’s sovereignty and security to firmly safeguard China’s sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests.’
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation secretary-general Zhāng Míng 张明 comments on US act of shooting down unmanned Chinese airship [sic] – Xinhua: ‘the United States violated the spirit of international law and international practice’
Downed Chinese balloon aimed for Hawaii but was blown off course, US official says – Reuters
US says will preserve dialogue with China despite balloon rift – AFP
US President Biden may give speech on balloon and unidentified objects, according to source – Reuters
Japan told China violation of airspace by balloons is unacceptable, spokesman says – Reuters
Japan mulls easing conditions for weapon use against flying objects – Kyodo News
China calls on Japan, South Korea to shun ‘spy balloon’ rumours and ‘stop following the US’ – SCMP
Zeitentechwarwende ⏱️💽
Germany’s president aims to diversify ties during Southeast Asia trip – The Diplomat
Canada ends all research funding with Chinese military and state security institutions – The Globe and Mail
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s Regular Press Conference on February 15, 2023 – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China: ‘At present, more and more clues from the international science community are pointing the origins of SARS-CoV-2 to sources around the world. Many have raised questions and concerns about US bio-military bases at Fort Detrick and around the world.’
‘silent over Seymour Hersh’s investigative report. Doesn’t this call for concern and reflection?}
‘Since the train derailment caused the chemical leak in the US, many American people have questioned the US government and media for downplaying the accident.’
Samenzweringstheoristen konden hun hart ophalen aan de persconferentie van het Chinese ministerie van buitenlandse zaken gisteren.
China reopens to South Korean visitors, ending Covid-19 tit-for-tat – SCMP
Exclusive: G20 host India to propose China and other creditors take haircuts on loans – Reuters
China economie
China binnenland
China’s virus data is once again questioned after the country posted the steepest drop in Covid deaths among more than 20 places hit hardest by omicron – Bloomberg
How deadly was China’s covid wave? – The New York Times
WHO says it will keep pushing for answers after Nature said the organisation had shelved its probe into Covid’s origins over a lack of cooperation from China – Bloomberg
China’s provinces spent almost £43bn on Covid measures in 2022 – The Guardian
Chinese pensioners return to the streets of Wuhan to protest changes to their medical benefits – Bloomberg
China retirees dispute deep cuts to health insurance benefits – Caixin Global
China’s elderly protest against health insurance reforms – FT: ‘as cash-strapped city governments seek to control spending in the aftermath of Xi Jinping’s costly zero-Covid policy.’
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council OKs Taipei City request for visit by Shanghai officials – Focus Taiwan
Peace and development common aspiration of compatriots across Taiwan Strait, says Song Tao meeting agriculture and fisheries association chief – Xinhua
Nog een teken dat de handelsbeperkingen waarschijnlijk verder versoepeld gaan worden.
President Tsai Ing-wen 蔡英文 [Cài Yīngwén] and Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benitez tout women empowerment efforts – Taipei Times
Taiwan binnenland en economie
DPP moves to bar gangsters and ex-convicts from running for office – Focus Taiwan
缺乏「既競爭又合作」素養 國民黨總統提名就怕自傷 – 聯合報副總編輯林新輝