De Chinese Wouden, donderdag 6 april: Tsai Ing-wen en McCarthy; Macron in China
Vanwege het vele nakijkwerk dat op mij wacht nu mijn studenten hun opdrachten in hebben geleverd, ga ik een lang paasweekend nemen. Dit is de weekendeditie van de nieuwsbrief, jullie zien mij dinsdag weer.
Los van alle incidenten en bezoeken waar we het nu volop over hebben, wil ik als boodschap meesturen dat men in Nederland eventjes moet uitzoomen. Hoeveel Chinese vliegtuigjes de middenlijn van de Straat van Taiwan oversteken is even niet het belangrijkste. Het is tijd dat we rekenschap geven van de strijd die al gaande is tussen China en wat men in Peking vaak het VS-Westen (美西方 měi-xī fāng) noemt. Het gaat alleen maar slechter worden.
De podcast van The Economist is een goede plek om te starten. De hoofdredacteur was in Peking en kon daarom de correspondent meenemen naar allerlei ontmoetingen. De sfeer die ze aantroffen, was uiterst pessimistisch. Gesprekspartners in Peking die oprecht verbaasd zijn als ze horen van de emotie die voor Europa bij Oekraïne zit, Westerse gasten die in de gangen van een conferentie uit The Guns of August citeren, en Chinezen die overtuigd zijn dat Amerika het land hoe dan ook kapot wil maken. Los van wat we vinden van de Chinaconsensus in Washington DC, in Peking is men ook al overtuigd van het feit dat het tijd is om – zoals een stukje van het nieuwe maxim van Xi Jinping stelt – „durven te strijden” (敢于斗争 gǎn yú dòuzhēng).
Gezien het feit dat het het actief beleid is in Peking om Europa te verdelen en los te weken van de westerse alliantie, zouden leiders als Scholz, Macron en Sánchez zich daar wel iets meer rekenschap van mogen geven bij het ontplooien van hun nationale initiatieven. De expliciete manier waarop Chinese functionarissen en denktankers de ‘strategische autonomie’ van Macron vieren geeft te denken. De toespraak van Von der Leyen was gecoördineerd binnen Europa en met niet-westerse bondgenoten. Nu spreekt de Duitse belangengroep voor industrie BDI zijn steun uit voor haar opmerkingen over de investeringsovereenkomst met China. De Commissie is veel consensusgerichter bezig dan sommige hoofdsteden en ook veel beter in tune met wat er leeft in landen als Japan, India, en Australië. Juist het constante gehamer van Macron op de Verenigde Staten is americentrisch.
Over de ontmoeting tussen Tsai en McCarthy valt niet veel nieuws te zeggen; het is gebeurd, er zijn al Chinese militaire oefeningen en nu is het wachten of er nog iets groters gaat komen als Tsai en Ma Ying-jeou weer terug zijn in Taiwan. Belangrijker vandaag is de sectie onderaan over de aanstaande verkiezingen van januari 2024.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
China wil via WTO opheldering over chipafspraken VS en Nederland – ANP 🇳🇱
China calls for WTO review of US-led chip export restrictions – AFP: ‘Beijing has asked the United States, Japan and the Netherlands to confirm the existence of an alleged agreement’ 🇳🇱
China’s ambassador to the EU Fù Cōng 傅聪 tries to distance Beijing from Moscow – The New York Times:
‘He added, “‘No limit’ is nothing but rhetoric.”’ [De zoveelste poging de slecht gevallen woordkeuze weg te verklaren.] ‘Beijing has not condemned the invasion, he said, because it understood Russia’s claims about a defensive war against NATO encroachment, and because his government believes “the root causes are more complicated” than Western leaders say.’ 🇺🇦
‘“I had the impression as if two people are quarreling with each other [in von der Leyen’s speech],” Mr. Fu said. “So this ambivalence signifies that Europe has not formulated a coherent policy toward China.”’
‘“E.U. claims to be a big center, a power center in the world, an independent power center in the world, as much as the United States, as much as China,” Mr. Fu said. “So why does it have to listen to the United States all the time?”’
Fu Cong’s claim dat Xi Jinping geen tijd heeft om Zelensky te bellen is alleen maar verdere belediging van zijn toehoorders.
German business calls for renegotiation of China investment agreement – EUractiv: ‘“Much has changed in China and the rest of the world since then. Before resuming the ratification process, a reassessment of the agreement would first be necessary,” the BDI said.’ 🇩🇪
Von der Leyen 冯德莱恩
Von der Leyen en Macron willen Chinese president Xi losweken van Poetin – NOS
Voor Macron rolt Beijing de rode loper uit, maar Von der Leyen is de schoothond van de VS – de Volkskrant: „Voor Beijing is het helder: Europa heeft China nodig, en verkeert niet in de positie om kritiek te uiten.”
Same trip, different plans: EU’s von der Leyen dances around Macron in China – POLITICO Europe: ‘Commission officials have stressed that von der Leyen is pursuing an entirely different program than the French president’
Macron und von der Leyen: Eine europäische Position gegen Xi – FAZ: „Scholz hat Macron mit seinem Wunsch nach einem deutsch-französischen Schulterschluss in der Chinapolitik abblitzen lassen.“
Macron 马克龙
China has key role in finding ‘path to peace’ in Ukraine, Macron says – POLITICO Europe
French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in Beijing for state visit – Xinhua
Chinese foreign minister meets French counterpart – Xinhua
Can China make peace in Ukraine? Macron isn’t saying no. – The New York Times: ‘“Only China can have a game-changer effect,” the official, who requested anonymity in line with French diplomatic practice, said.’
Emmanuel Macron to urge China’s Xi Jinping to drop support for Russia over Ukraine war – FT: ‘Beijing has sought to cleave individual officials away from broader anti-China sentiment and an escalating push for economic decoupling.’
Wat denkt Macron dat hij kan bieden aan Xi om hem te overtuigen de duidelijke Chinese positie bij te stellen?
The Importance of France and Macron to China –
: ‘France’s main appeal to China’s international relations experts is its potential role in helping prevent a further “Americanisation” of the EU’s China policy’Macron and Xi’s Guangzhou rendezvous a sign of China’s enthusiasm for French leader, analysts say – SCMP
Editorial: Macron’s China visit embodies the value of strategic autonomy – The Global Times: ‘Some media intentionally [sic] praised Von der Leyen while criticizing Macron’ ‘It is clear to everyone that being a strategic vassal of Washington is a dead end.’
Tsai Ing-wen 蔡英文
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen 蔡英文 [Cài Yīngwén] and US Speaker McCarthy meet in California despite Chinese warnings – Reuters
Tsai and McCarthy reaffirm strong Taiwan-US bond after historic meeting – Focus Taiwan
Dus zoals Bloomberg al berichtte, geen toespraak, maar wel een gezamenlijke persconferentie na afloop.
China launches Taiwan Strait maritime safety drills as Tsai Ing-wen 蔡英文 [Cài Yīngwén] prepares to meet US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy – SCMP
China sends carrier group off Taiwan’s southeast coast ahead of US meeting – Reuters
Taiwan’s military closely watching Chinese drill – Taipei Times
China’s latest drills attempt to eliminate ‘median line’, says expert – Focus Taiwan
China’s top legislature issues statement on meeting between US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Tsai Ing-wen – Xinhua: ‘The Taiwan question is at the very core of China’s core interests’
Taiwan Work Office of CCP Central Committee [= Taiwan Affairs Office of the PRC State Council] issues statement on Tsai Ing-wen’s ‘transit’ trip to US – Xinhua
Chinese defence ministry delivers remarks on Tsai Ing-wen’s ‘transit’ trip through US – Xinhua
Remarks by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tsai Ing-wen’s ‘transit’ trip through US – Xinhua
Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen floated virtual talks with Kevin McCarthy ahead of meeting – Nikkei Asia: ‘“Maybe now is not the best time for an actual visit,” a Taiwanese contact said, according to the source.’
Ma Ying-jeou in China
Tech War 💽💥
💡 China plans to ban exports of rare earth magnet tech citing national security – Yomiuri Shimbun
Global rare metal prices sink on sluggish Chinese auto demand – Nikkei Asia
US allies are on board for China chip tech controls after all – Chris Miller for Nikkei Asia
Apple’s complex strategy to reduce dependence on China – Bloomberg Businessweek: ‘Apple is also exploring ways to reduce its reliance on Taiwan’
TikTok fined £12.7m [€14.5] for misusing children’s data – BBC News
Taiwan’s attracts tech talent even as Chinese threat grows – Semafor
Sequoia and other US-backed VCs are funding China’s answer to OpenAI – The Information
Kantelpunt 🌏🌍
Japan to provide equipment to militaries of like-minded nations – Kyodo News: ‘Malaysia, the Philippines, Bangladesh and Fiji have been designated as recipients of the new grant assistance, designed to “create a favorable security environment” for Japan, according to the government.’
Foreign business community in China beware: The raid against due diligence firm Mintz sent a chilling warning – Peter Humphrey for POLITICO Europe
NAVO
Australia a ‘vital partner’ for NATO’s plans on security challenges posed by China – The Sydney Morning Herald: ‘Jens Stoltenberg says NATO needs to be prepared to deal with a potential Taiwan crisis, saying any use of force by China would have profound consequences for global and European security, economy and trade.’
NATO pledges involvement in Indo-Pacific with eye on China – Nikkei Asia: ‘Representatives from those four Indo-Pacific countries [Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia], […], were invited to the meeting.’
Japan welcomes increased NATO involvement in Indo-Pacific region – Kyodo News
Russia’s Belarus nuclear threat shows ‘empty promises’ of China statement, says Stoltenberg – Reuters
Spokesperson Speaks on a Question Concerning NATO Secretary General’s China-related Remarks – Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the European Union: ‘We have noticed Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s remarks and firmly oppose NATO’s repeated smears and accusations against China. […] Why NATO does not reflect on itself first and count how many bombs it has dropped on the soil of foreign countries?’
Lang weekend 🐣
Achtergrond en longreads
Zonder China geen zonnepanelen, MRI-scanners en straaljagers in Europa. Wat nu? – Simon van Teutem voor De Correspondent praat met Joris Teer over grondstoffen
💡 Xi Jinping’s idea of world order – Mark Leonard for ASPI’s The Strategist: ‘The contest between these two visions is deliberately asymmetrical. While the United States is betting on a polarised world, China is doing everything it can to advance a more fragmented one.’
« En Chine, le discours officiel est de plus en plus violent », une conversation avec Alice Ekman – Le Grand Continent
Ferrari’s, goudstaven en iPhones op het graf – Chinezen gedenken hun doden met papieren offergaven – de Volkskrant
Crikey: Queer China deserves better journalism – The China Project
Ethnic terminology bedevils Taiwan-China relations – The Economist
Podcasts
💡 China v America – The Economist’s Drum Tower 🍎
Hoofdredacteur Zanny Minton Beddoes was in Peking en kon daarom correspondent David Renie meenemen naar allerlei ontmoetingen. Ze vertellen over de pessimistische sfeer in Peking. We moeten de waarschuwing in de kop van het laatste nummer ten harte nemen: „It’s worse than you think.”
What’s behind Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow – Carnegie Politika host Alexander Gabuev with Yanmei Xie and Vita Spivak 🍎
De EU probeert Poetin te bewerken, via Xi Jinping – de Volkskrant Elke Dag 🍎
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
Toenadering Iran en Saudi-Arabië zet door, snelle doorbraak met dank aan China – NOS
Top Russian technical university campus in China’s Hainan island to focus on aviation and aerospace – SCMP
Top Chinese officials stress infrastructure, supply chains in talks with Asean powers – SCMP
Chinese state media propagated fake news story about US response to China-Brazil currency swap deal – The China Global South Project
Canadians describe surveillance, intimidation and terror ‘under China’s shadow’ – Global News CA
Australia PM Albanese says has not received invitation for China visit – Reuters
India’s still long way off from reducing dependence on China for drug ingredients, according to experts – The Straits Times
China economie
China’s factories try to manufacture their way out of a shortage of both jobs and hi-tech – SCMP
China’s oversupply of unsold apartments is holding back a recovery in its property market – WSJ
China binnenland
China Focus: CCP equips itself with new theories for journey ahead – Xinhua: ‘over 96 million CPC members will focus on the study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era’
China publishes data showing raccoon dog DNA at Wuhan market – The New York Times
Taiwan verkiezingen 2024
Taiwan’s deepening political divide over the US and China – FT: ‘the illusion that Taiwan could have it both ways is over.’
‘According to people close to Tsai, whose second and final term in office will end in May next year, evaluating and countering the security challenges posed by China has become almost the single focus of her daily work and now takes up almost all of her time.’
‘Hong believes that the dynamics driving next year’s election could be very different from 2020 due to a slowing economy and unprecedented Chinese threats and manipulation.’
Foxconn founder Terry Gou 郭台銘 [Guō Táimíng] says he will seek presidential nomination for Taiwan’s main opposition party KMT – Reuters: ‘Gou said the only way to avoid war with China was to reduce Sino-U.S. tensions and get Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) out of office.’ ‘“We can’t let the DPP continue to govern, we can’t let our children live in a forest of guns and the hail of bullets,” he said.’
Taiwan can learn from Japan and Singapore on US-China rift, says presidential hopeful Ko Wen-je 柯文哲 [Kē Wénzhé] (TPP) – Nikkei Asia: ‘He criticized the DPP for being “pro-war” with its strong stance against Beijing’s pressure and branded the KMT as “too deferential” toward China’
Taipei mayor Chiang Wan-an 蔣萬安 [Jiǎng Wàn'ān] (KMT) and New Taipei mayor Hou You-yi 侯友宜 [Hóu Yǒuyí] (KMT) neglect duties, DPP says – Taipei Times
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Two desalination plants to open this month amid continuing drought – Focus Taiwan