De Chinese Wouden, maandag 17 juni: Tromp, G7, elektrische auto’s, Amerikaans nepnieuws
Gezien de berichtgeving over de ervaringen die de Zr.Ms. Tromp recentelijk had met de Chinese strijdkrachten, lijkt het mij nodig om enige aandacht te besteden aan de redenen waarom en de manier waarop Nederland daar aanwezig is. De Koninklijke Marine is daar niet om ‘opeens’ uit het niks Peking te gaan ‘tarten’. De route en handelingen van de Tromp volgen uit bewuste afwegingen en beleid dat om meer dan alleen VS-China gaat.
Nederland is een van de eerste landen in Europa die kwam met een strategie (leidraad) voor de Indo-Pacific. Zoals de webpagina zegt: „Om de Nederlandse en Europese economische en politieke belangen in de belangrijkste groeiregio van de wereld adequaat te behartigen, is een actievere inzet van Nederland en de EU in de Indo-Pacific regio en een eigen Nederlandse en EU-visie op de regio van belang.”
Het was in lijn hiermee dat in 2021 de Zr.Ms. Evertsen via de Zuid-Chinese Zee naar Japan en terug ging. In 2022 beloofde defensieminister Ollongren tijdens haar eerste optreden op de Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) in Singapore dat elke twee jaar een Nederlands marineschip door de Indo-Pacific zou varen. De Nederlandse leidraad, de reis van de Evertsen en aanwezigheid op de regionaal cruciale SLD vielen positief op in de door Europa lang genegeerde regio, als bewijs van oprechte toewijding.
Natuurlijk zijn er mensen in de regio die bang zijn dat meer schepen meer escalatie betekent. Ook zijn er in Den Haag en Den Helder vragen over prioriteitstelling. Van mijn contacten uit de regio en hier, en via het voorwerk voor de dialoog die leidde tot onze policy brief Prospects for Europe with the Indo-Pacific, hoorde ik echter ook dat het onder andere mensen wel echt gewaardeerd wordt.
In de policy brief schrijven we dat de aanwezigheid van niet-Amerikaanse schepen zorgt, dat het meer om het internationaal recht versus revisionisme gaat i.p.v. cynische Sino-Amerikaanse concurrentie. Daarnaast is de aanwezigheid van zulke schepen een duidelijk signaal van toewijding aan de regio en een belangrijke binnenkomer voor economische en politieke missies. Ook biedt het belangrijke oefenmogelijkheden, samenwerkingskansen en mogelijkheden om (ruilbare) inlichten te verzamelen aan de Nederlandse marine.
De aanwezigheid van de Zr.Ms. Tromp is dan ook niet te versimpelen als een nutteloze poging om met één bootje het machtsevenwicht te beïnvloeden, zoals Pekings campagne het vaak afdoet. Ook laat het bovenstaande zien dat de signalen die Nederland hiermee afgeeft, vooral op andere landen dan China gericht zijn. Wij willen die landen zelfvertrouwen geven om achter het internationaal recht te blijven staan, onze aandacht voor de regio demonstreren en verbintenissen met steeds belangrijkere partners als Japan en Zuid-Korea aanhalen.
Daarnaast is er inderdaad ook een element gericht op China. Dat is een weloverwogen risico waar mijns inziens in Den Haag en Den Helder echt over na is gedacht. Ook kan het sanctieregime op Noord-Korea alle steun gebruiken, nu Rusland zijn wapenleverancier probeert vrij te spelen.
Nederland was niet in de Oost-Chinese Zee met de bedoeling om China te pesten; Peking probeert regels te verschuiven, o.a. door dingen te framen als ‘tarten’. Het is echter niet slechts zo dat enkel Nederland ‘vindt’ dat de EEZ grotendeels internationale wateren zijn – dat zegt het internationaal recht. Pekings poging om anders te suggereren is onderdeel van een lawfare-campagne. De beschrijving van de wateren waar het incident met de Tromp plaatsvond als ‘zeegebied ten oosten van Shanghai’ is ook framing – net als de reis afdoen als een poging om China ‘af te schrikken’ onderdeel is van de propaganda die moet laten lijken alsof wij slechts onderdeel zijn van Amerikaanse hegemonie.
Je kunt het niet eens zijn met het besluit om de schaarse middelen van de uitgeklede Nederlandse strijdkrachten op deze manier in te zetten. Je kunt ook vinden dat we ons wat betreft China ver moeten houden van de Verenigde Staten. Maar het is wel belangrijk om de logica van de voorstanders van deze reis serieus te nemen. Het doel van de Nederlandse aanwezigheid is niet domweg om het militair kinetisch machtsevenwicht serieus te beïnvloeden of met wapens China in te dammen. De Koninklijke Marine is daar om breed doordachte geopolitieke redenen, om te oefenen, om een signaal aan de regio inclusief China af te geven en om onze diplomatie te helpen.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Opeens [sic] tartte [sic] het fregat Tromp de Chinezen – NRC 🇳🇱
Adidas onderzoekt smeergeldaffaire bij Chinese tak – NOS Nieuws 🇩🇪
China Focus: China advances space mission with Europe amid ambitious exploration agenda – Xinhua: ‘SMILE is scheduled for launch in 2025 from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana’ 🇪🇺
Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni is planning to travel to China in coming weeks – Bloomberg 🇮🇹
Spokesperson of the Chinese Mission to the EU Speaks on a Question Concerning the EU’s Annual Reports on Hong Kong and Macao – Mission of the People's Republic of China to the European Union 🇪🇺
President Lai and Czech Senate leader Jiří Drahoš laud close ties during meet – Focus Taiwan: ‘Taiwan's National Palace Museum and the National Museum in Prague signed an exhibition cooperation deal on Wednesday, and Taiwan is working to establish its first overseas IC design training base in the Czech capital, Lai said’ 🇨🇿
Czech Centre Taipei marks ‘landmark’ in bilateral relations, VP Hsiao says – Focus Taiwan 🇨🇿
Ruslands oorlog 🇷🇺
China calls for direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks ‘as soon as possible’ after skipping Swiss summit that shunned Moscow – SCMP: ‘Geng’s appeal was largely in line with China’s own peace proposal unveiled a year ago, which was praised by Russia as an alternative to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s plan, but largely dismissed by the US and its allies.’ 🇺🇦🇷🇺
China’s absence at Ukraine peace summit seen as sign of pro-Russia tilt – The Straits Times 🇺🇦🇷🇺
Ukraine’s Zelenskiy says China’s Xi told him he will not sell any weapons to Russia – Reuters: ‘during a phone conversation between the two men’ ‘He did not specify when the conversation with Xi took place.’ 🇺🇦
G7 🇮🇹🏔️
G7 waarschuwt China dat het Ruslands oorlog in Oekraïne ‘mogelijk maakt’ – NU.nl
G7 trekken samen op tegen ‘oneerlijke handelspraktijken’ van China – FD
G7 ups pressure on China, condemns Russia-North Korea military ties – Kyodo News
Apulia G7 Leaders’ Communiqué – G7 Italia:
We will continue taking measures against actors in China and third countries that materially support Russia’s war machine, including financial institutions, consistent with our legal systems, and other entities in China that facilitate Russia’s acquisition of items for its defense industrial base.
[…]
[…] However, we express our concerns about China’s persistent industrial targeting and comprehensive non-market policies and practices that are leading to global spillovers, market distortions and harmful overcapacity in a growing range of sectors, undermining our workers, industries, and economic resilience and security.
[…]
We reaffirm that maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is indispensable to international security and prosperity. We support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations, […]
We remain seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas and reiterate our strong opposition to any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion. […] We express serious concern about the increasing use of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons against Philippine vessels. […]
We express our deep concern at the People’s Republic of China’s support to Russia. […]
Elektrische auto’s 🚗⚡️
The German government is working to prevent the new EU tariffs on Chinese EVs from coming into force—or at least soften them should a full halt not be possible – Bloomberg: ‘Habeck will travel to China next week and plans to discuss the issue with government officials there.’ 🇩🇪🇪🇺
Germany says ‘serious movement’ needed from China in EV tariff row – Reuters: ‘hopes that talks in the coming weeks can stave off an escalating trade conflict that the transport minister on Friday warned could be catastrophic.’ 🇩🇪🇪🇺
Mario Draghi says Europe must not be ‘passive’ in face of China import threat – FT: ‘He said the EU should make greater use of tariffs and subsidies “to offset unfair advantages created by industrial policies and real exchange rate devaluations abroad”.’ 🇪🇺
EU presents China with clear way to avert EV duties — good luck with that – POLITICO Europe: ‘Since the EU is keenly aware China will not be able or willing to sweep the broom through its own system of subsidies, what it really hopes for is actual dialogue on how trade should work in the future.’ 🇪🇺
Top Chinese official visits Brussels next week amid trade tension – POLITICO Europe: ‘First Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang will co-chair the EU-China High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue’ 🇪🇺
Chinese vice premier to hold China-EU climate dialogue and visit Luxembourg – Xinhua
Senior Chinese official Dīng Xuēxiáng 丁薛祥 to visit EU days after electric vehicle tariffs raise trade war risk – SCMP: ‘In an article published on Thursday via its social media channel, China’s National Development and Reform Commission hinted that its retaliation may target fuel-powered “large-displacement” vehicles from the EU.’
‘Yuyuan Tantian, a social media channel affiliated with state broadcaster CCTV, said firms such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz would be the first to be hit by the move. The channel also said China is expected to announce a preliminary ruling on an anti-dumping investigation on imported European brandy by the end of August.’ 🇪🇺
BMW electric Mini threatened with highest EV tariff from EU, source says – Reuters 🇪🇺
BMW wordt van beide kanten geraakt.
Keynote Speech by Minister PENG Gang at the CCCEU 2024 Europe-China Business Summit (14th June 2024) – Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the European Union: ‘The Chinese side has made clear its solemn position that it is highly concerned about and strongly dissatisfied with the EU’s practices. At the same time, we have noted that the European side also expressed its willingness to properly address the concerns of both sides through dialogue and consultation. We look forward to seeing the EU back to the right track of resolving concerns of both sides through dialogue, exchanges and consultation with the Chinese side as soon as possible.’
Chinese autofabrikanten kunnen met slimmigheden de Europese importheffingen omzeilen – NRC 🇪🇺
EU pork industry faces ‘nightmare’ if China restricts imports – Reuters 🇪🇺
US industry groups seek hearing, more on Biden’s China tariff hike – Reuters 🇺🇸
US manufacturing group calls for stronger protection against Chinese imports – Reuters 🇺🇸
FAA investigating how counterfeit titanium got into Boeing and Airbus jets – The New York Times: ‘it appeared that an employee at the Chinese company that sold the titanium had forged the details on the certificates’
Amerikaans nepnieuws 🇺🇸💉
Pentagon zaaide in Azië met nepaccounts twijfel over Chinese coronavaccins – de Volkskrant 🇺🇸
Pentagon ran secret anti-vax campaign to undermine China during pandemic – Reuters: ‘Social media posts decried the quality of face masks, test kits and the first vaccine that would become available in the Philippines — China’s Sinovac inoculation.’
‘The U.S. military’s anti-vax effort began in the spring of 2020 and expanded beyond Southeast Asia before it was terminated in mid-2021, Reuters determined.’
‘The military program started under former President Donald Trump and continued months into Joe Biden’s presidency, Reuters found’ ‘The Biden White House issued an edict in spring 2021 banning the anti-vax effort’ ‘Reuters could not determine why the campaign didn’t end immediately with the NSC’s order.’ 🇺🇸
‘If I taught my DISINFORMATION class again, and if I wanted to include a session on the most self-defeating, the most unethical, really just the dumbest influence campaigns in history, this one would be close to the top of the list.’ – Thomas Rid, Twitter
Rid is de auteur van het standaardwerk Active Measures: The Secret History of Disinformation and Political Warfare.
Sinovac 科兴 hits back over reported US campaign to discredit China’s Covid-19 vaccine – SCMP 🇺🇸
Tech War 💽💥
Europa kijkt bronstig naar berg lithium in Tsjechië, maar inwoners verzetten zich hevig tegen mijnwinning – de Volkskrant 🇨🇿
Servië wil grote lithiummijn toch gaan openen, met steun van Europa – FD 🇷🇸
Tech war: China’s top memory chip maker YMTC 长江存储 sees rising domestic demand, defying US curbs – SCMP: ‘government-related entities have prioritised YMTC over its foreign rivals such as US-based Micron Technology and South Korean giant Samsung Electronics.’
Huawei 华为’s HarmonyOS unseats Apple’s iOS to become China’s No 2 mobile operating platform – SCMP
Chinese firm sought to use UK university links to access AI for possible military use – The Guardian 🇬🇧
Japan to send 200 engineers to US for AI chip training at Tenstorrent – Nikkei Asia 🇯🇵🇺🇸
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
Chinese Government accused of attempted kidnapping on New Zealand soil – Stuff: ‘of a Chinese man who was left hospitalised with serious injuries after he fought back.’ 🇳🇿
Here’s how China turns our politicians into pawns (hint: they’re letting it happen) – Charles Burton for The Toronto Star 🇨🇦
CSIS and Toronto police believe Canadian politicians exposed to PRC blackmail in underground casino, sources say –
‘I’ve agonised over this’: Suspected foreign interference victims break silence – The Sydney Morning Herald: ‘Activist Drew Pavlou and journalist Vicky Xu told this masthead the Australian Federal Police (AFP) asked them not to speak to anyone about the investigation, but they had decided to go public out of frustration that no arrests had been made, or charges laid, since they were informed about the probe 10 months ago.’ 🇦🇺
China eyes Sea of Japan access via Russia-North Korea border river – Nikkei Asia: ‘the Tumen River, flows east along the border of China and North Korea, and eventually also of Russia, before emptying into the Sea of Japan.’ 🇰🇵🇷🇺
Shein 希音 tries to suppress chair’s claim that fashion retailer is ‘American’ – FT: ‘Beijing has yet to formally greenlight the group’s application to list outside China, despite Shein submitting materials to the China Securities Regulatory Commission last November.’ ‘A person close to the matter said Beijing signing off on Shein’s foreign IPO would equate to unofficially endorsing founder Xu Yangtian’s model of “de-Chinafying” to gain business success. “It raises questions of loyalty to China that some in Beijing find uncomfortable,” the person said.’
World Insights: China-initiated UN resolution boosts global civilisation dialogue – Xinhua: ‘June 10 was designated as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations.’
‘The resolution, which centers around core principles of the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), is in line with the trend of the times and supported by the international community.’ 🇺🇳
Vietnam’s new president tells ambassador country is looking to gradually expand security and defence ties with the US – Bloomberg 🇻🇳🇺🇸
Caspar Veldkamp (NSC), aankomend minister van Buitenlandse Zaken, komt te regeren op een vulkaan – de Volkskrant 🇳🇱
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
Philippines increases South China Sea patrols as Beijing set to roll out new trespass laws – The Guardian 🇵🇭
Philippines builds first BrahMos anti-ship missile base facing South China Sea – Naval News: ‘Manila’s order of the Indian supersonic cruise missiles in 2022 marked a significant milestone in its defense modernization program that aimed to modernize the country’s outdated military amid regional disputes with China.’ 🇵🇭🇮🇳
South China Sea: why Beijing may not rush to act on new rules for Chinese coastguard – SCMP 🇵🇭
China vows to take resolute countermeasures against dangerous acts by the Philippines – Xinhua 🇵🇭
Philippines files UN claim to extended continental shelf in South China Sea – Reuters 🇵🇭
China’s support for Russia is ‘long-term threat’ to European security, warns G7 – FT: ‘“The China approach is tougher than before; the Europeans are definitely moving in that direction,” one G7 diplomat involved in the talks said, adding that the group’s communiqué from the summit would reflect that shifted assessment. “The era of naivety towards Beijing is definitely gone now and China is to blame for that, honestly.”’
‘The G7 leaders will also discuss ways to counteract what they say is China’s industrial overcapacity’
G7 leaders discuss more steps to level China playing field, US official says – Reuters 🇺🇸
Malaysia to build new container port near Kuala Lumpur at Port Dickson amid supply chain shift – Nikkei Asia: ‘Local property developer Tanco Holdings, through its subsidiary Midports Holdings, will lead the development in collaboration with China-based marine engineering company CCCC Dredging Co., a group company of state-owned China Communications Construction Co.’ 🇲🇾
As China ties deepen, Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim says geopolitics is no zero-sum game – SCMP: ‘Anwar said it made sense for Malaysia to ramp up ties with China, a country “willing to accommodate and listen” to his nation’s suggestions and concerns.’ 🇲🇾
De manier waarop hij de schuld geeft aan de VS van overdrijving en opvoeren van spanning m.b.t. Hong Kong, Zuid-Chinese Zee, Taiwan, enz. laat de effectiviteit van de Chinese spreekpunten zien. Dit soort vage algemene anti-westerse sentimenten en verklaringen dat het ‘Westen’ overdrijft is hoe veel landen in het Mondiale Zuiden kijken naar China-VS.
‘Twists and turns’ in Australia-China ties are over, Lǐ Qiáng 李强 says — but Penny Wong highlights tensions – The Guardian 🇦🇺
Australian writer Yáng Héngjūn 杨恒均’s sentence upheld ahead of China Premier’s visit, say supporters – Reuters
China’s Lǐ Qiáng 李强 pays ‘very positive’ visit to Fonterra, New Zealand minister says – Reuters 🇳🇿
China ‘not in the business of haircuts’ as Zimbabwe asks for debt reduction from creditors – SCMP: ‘is unlikely to accept any reduction of the debt it is owed.’ 🇿🇼
Mediadelegatie uit Suriname voor Views Exchange programma in China – Suriname Herald 🇸🇷
SM Lee Hsien Loong at the SFCCA-SCCCI Appreciation Dinner – Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore: ‘In Singapore, all citizens should put Singapore and its interests first. While the Singapore Chinese share their ethnic roots with other Chinese around the world, and some Chinese feel that we are all “descendants of the Dragon”, it is important that we remember we are first and foremost Singaporeans. […] As Singaporeans, we have our own interests to protect and our own positions to uphold.’ 🇸🇬
Een waarschuwing.
China economie
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平’s article on high-quality development to be published – Xinhua: ‘Noting that China’s economy has been transitioning from a phase of rapid growth to a stage of high-quality development’
Chinese Communist Party warns members not to criticise policy ahead of major economic policy meeting – SCMP: ‘The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection published a special report via state news agency Xinhua on Wednesday that warned against “openly speaking ill of the party on major issues” as part of the watchdog’s latest internal disciplinary drive.’
China’s ‘hidden debt’ seen shrinking, but scaling that mountain remains a daunting challenge – SCMP: ‘Japanese investment bank Nomura estimated that China’s local government hidden debts — comprising mainly LGFV debts, including loans and bonds — had reached 45 trillion yuan by the end of 2020.’
In Depth: Local governments ditch financing vehicles to offload hidden debt – Caixin Global
China’s credit returned to expansion in May following a rare contraction the previous month, as the government ramped up bond sales – Bloomberg
Chinese government rushes to shore up struggling property sector with new policies – SCMP: ‘on Thursday, the Ministry of Natural Resources issued an official notice on renewing old communities by referencing the experiences of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Nanjing.’
China’s economy is stabilising, not slowing, Shanghai-based Roland Berger chief says – Nikkei Asia: ‘growth will be sustained by trade with the Global South’
Some luxury labels are discounting their products to an unprecedented degree in China, reflecting a growing panic over unsold inventory as local consumers pull back on spending – Bloomberg
China new bank loans rise far less than expected in May as demand wobbles – Reuters
China unveils new fair-competition regulations in ongoing push to unify domestic market – SCMP
Chinese companies rush to tap US convertible bond market – FT
China set to massively surpass its 2030 wind and solar goal – Caixin Global: ‘China set a target of installing at least 1,200 gigawatts (GW) by the end of the decade, but it is set to surpass that amount in the next couple of months, said Heymi Bahar, a senior analyst at the International Energy Agency (IEA) in an interview with Caixin Thursday.’
China binnenland
China #MeToo journalist sentenced to five years in jail, supporters say – The Guardian: ‘Chinese court has sentenced the prominent #MeToo journalist Sophia Huang Xueqin to five years in jail and the labour activist Wang Jianbing to three and a half years’
‘Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression (article 19 Universal Declaration of #HumanRights). Sad to hear about today’s sentencing of journalist Sophia Huang and labour activist Wang Jianbing. @DutchMFA @NLinChina 🇨🇳’ – Wim Geerts, Twitter 🇳🇱
China wants to fine-tune personal data protection, but doors to government access remain open – SCMP
Senior political advisor Wu Yingjie under probe – Xinhua
Tienduizenden mensen geëvacueerd na zware overstromingen in China – VRT NWS
Flooding hits China’s south, temperatures sizzle elsewhere – Reuters
Hong Kong
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 claimed US wants China to attack Taiwan – FT: Xi issued the warning in a meeting with von der Leyen in April 2023 that was described to the Financial Times by several people. He said the US was trying to trick China into invading Taiwan, but that he would not take the bait. Another person said he had issued similar warnings to his officials.’
‘Some Chinese academics and retired military officers have claimed that Washington is trying to provoke Beijing by providing weapons to Taiwan and pushing other measures to lure [sic] China into military confrontation.’
‘Xi’s remark to von der Leyen is the first known case of him making the claim to a foreign leader. Xi also said that a conflict with the US would destroy many of China’s achievements and undermine his goal of achieving a “great rejuvenation” by 2049.
“If Xi genuinely believes that the US actively seeks conflict with China over Taiwan, then concerns that Xi has created an information vacuum or is otherwise getting poor council from subordinates are, worryingly, true,” said Jude Blanchette, a China expert at CSIS, a think-tank.’ 🇨🇳🇪🇺
China views Taiwan’s ‘elimination’ as national cause, Taiwan president says – Reuters: ‘telling cadets at the military’s premier academy they must know their enemy and not give in to defeatism.’ 🇨🇳
Taiwan’s Lai Ching-te 賴清德 calls on army to shed nationalist legacy to meet China threat – FT: ‘“Without Taiwan, there is no Republic of China,” he added, warning that Taiwan’s military “must not fail to distinguish friend from foe”.’ 🇨🇳
KMT tells PRC state media it keeps ‘putting out fires’ started by the DPP – Taipei Times: ‘Lien was in China to attend the 16th Straits Forum as the head of a KMT delegation.’
‘Lien also said that people on both sides of the Strait are a part of the Zhonghua minzu (中華民族, Chinese ethnic group) and are all heirs to its history.
“Since ancient times, Taiwan has belonged to China. Taiwanese compatriots are naturally a part of the Zhonghua minzu. History brooks no distortion, and one’s ancestry cannot be changed,” Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Chairman Wang Huning (王滬寧) said.’ 🇨🇳
De focus op raciale eenheid van de zhōnghuá mínzú 中华民族 is nieuw maar dus een blijvertje.
Senior official Wáng Hùníng 王沪宁 stresses China’s resolve to shatter ‘Taiwan independence’ attempts – Xinhua 🇨🇳
Top political advisor Wáng Hùníng 王沪宁 calls for boosting cross-Strait integrated development – Xinhua: ‘Greater support should be provided to Fujian so that the province can better explore new methods of cross-Strait integration, Wang said.’ 🇨🇳
Explainer: Understand the value of Straits Forum in promoting exchanges – Xinhua: ‘Fujian, the host province of the Straits Forum, is the ancestral home of many people in Taiwan and is at the forefront of cross-Strait exchanges and integration.’ 🇨🇳
Natuurlijk is Taipei wantrouwend als economische integratie expliciet wordt opgevoerd als manier om de Chinese overname van Taiwan te bewerkstelligen.
Wat opvalt is dat de laatste tijd de provincie Fujian weer wat prominenter als tegenhanger van ‘provincie’ Taiwan wordt voorgesteld.
Chinese artists welcome, but must abide by regulations, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council says – Focus Taiwan: ‘they must not make statements harming Taiwan’s autonomous status during their visits’ 🇨🇳
Bij mijn weten is er geen regelgeving in Taiwan die zulke uitingen verbiedt…
‘Taiwan independence’ separatists destined for destruction, warns defence ministry – Xinhua 🇨🇳
Air force veteran’s spy sentence upheld – Taipei Times: ‘The 20-year sentence is the heaviest punishment in recent years for military officers found guilty of spying for China.’
Taiwan’s worrying rise in military suicides – Focus Taiwan
Taiwan is one-upping Ukraine’s navy to defeat a Chinese invasion – Business Insider: ‘Taking a cue from Ukraine’s use of naval drones to offset a superior Russian fleet, Taiwan has unveiled a much larger unmanned kamikaze boat’
Taiwan binnenland en economie
How China gained a foothold in eastern Taiwan: Led by ‘King’ Fu Kun-chi 傅崐萁 (KMT), Hualien County has become a nexus for political and economic connections with the PRC – Nien-Ju Tsai and Tara Lee for The Diplomat
KMT advances proposal to ease assets restrictions – Taipei Times: ‘to exempt party-affiliated organizations from being implicated for holding ill-gotten assets’
‘Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers criticized Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) legislators for not voting.’
KMT aims to roll back ill-gotten party assets legislation on China Youth Corps – New Bloom: ‘In past decades, a number of party assets passed into the hands of individuals or organizations associated with the KMT.’
President Lai (DPP) accused of misrepresenting ex-President Ma (KMT)’s China stance – Focus Taiwan
Empty classrooms, silent halls: Taiwan’s declining birthrate forces schools to close – The Guardian: ‘The parts of Taiwan with higher birthrates tend to be areas with lower costs of living that are still close to the capital, regions with generous local subsidies like the outlying islands, or places that have better employment opportunities and community services, like Hsinchu County.’
Letters allegedly seeking celebrities for China party – Taipei Times