De Chinese Wouden, maandag 2 december: Duitse jachtvliegers en politieservicestations
Vandaag loont het om een beetje Duits te kunnen lezen. De Zwitserse krant geeft meer details over de zaak van Duitse jachtvliegers die tegen hoge betaling trainingen gaven aan Chinese luchtmacht. De Duitse RTL en ntv hebben onderzoek gedaan na signalen dat de zogenaamde politieservicestations nog altijd actief zouden zijn in Duitsland.
WSJ schrijft dat China na de Westerse sancties op Rusland in 2022 een interdepartementale werkgroep heeft opgericht om ervan te leren. Dat zou Peking van pas komen bij het neutraliseren van mogelijke sancties na een invasie van Taiwan. De groep zou Moskou regelmatig bezoeken.
SCMP bericht over een bijeenkomst in Brussel over Chinese overcapaciteit. Commissievoorzitter Von der Leyen zou een aantal experts hebben ingevlogen om na te denken over de Europese reactie. Er zou zelfs nagedacht worden over een mogelijk nieuw instrument.
Goede week gewenst aan iedereen.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Interview Allard Castelein, adviseur Economische Zaken: Hoe Nederland een lithium-hub kan worden, los van China – Trouw: „Nu heeft minister Dirk Beljaarts van Economische Zaken hem ingehuurd voor een nieuwe klus: gezien zijn enorme netwerk is hij zijn speciaal adviseur op het gebied van grondstoffen geworden.”
„Met [een] inkoopcombinatie op zak kan de Nederlandse overheid potentiële lithiumraffinaderijen een afnamegarantie bieden.” „De eerste gesprekken heeft Castelein al gevoerd.” 🇳🇱
Germany’s foreign minister Annalena Baerbock accused China of providing Russia with weapons for its war against Ukraine ahead of a potentially thorny visit to Beijing – Bloomberg: ‘will also discuss the […] EU tariffs against Chinese electric vehicles 🇩🇪
Marc G. flog den Eurofighter für die deutsche Luftwaffe. Nun bildet er in China Kampfpiloten aus – NZZ: „Ehemalige deutsche Piloten der Bundeswehr verraten in China ihre Flugtechniken. Die NZZ hat einen von ihnen ausfindig gemacht.“
„In den Medienberichten des vergangenen Jahres wurde den deutschen Piloten vorgeworfen, sie würden den Chinesen nicht nur das Fliegen, sondern auch Taktiken, Verfahren und Techniken des Nato-Luftkampfes vermitteln.“
„Alle in China tätigen ehemaligen Soldaten, heisst es in dem Statement von Marc G., hätten «eine Genehmigung des Bundesministeriums der Verteidigung erhalten». Das könne das Ministerium auf Anfrage bestätigen.“
„Seinerzeit war das deutsch-chinesische Verhältnis noch deutlich besser. Vor gut zehn Jahren konnten chinesische Piloten sogar am Bundeswehr-Stützpunkt Laage im Eurofighter mitfliegen und deutsche Piloten in chinesischen Jets.“ 🇩🇪
De Duitse jachtvliegers die tegen hoge betaling de Chinese luchtmacht trainen, hebben daarvoor een ‘geen bezwaar’ gekregen van het Duitse defensieministerie, blijkt nu.
So tarnt China seine Geheim-Polizei in Deutschland – ntv: „Doch schon länger gibt es die Vermutung, dass die Strukturen weiter existieren.“ „Die Recherchen von RTL/ntv lassen ein ganzes Netzwerk von Stationen in Deutschland vermuten.“ 🇩🇪
Het lijkt erop dat de ‘politieservicestations’ die een tijd terug in het nieuws waren, in Duitsland nog altijd bestaan – hoewel uit het stuk niet duidelijk wordt hoe substantieel de activiteiten van de benaderde Chinese restauranteigenaren zijn.
Lithuania expels three staff members of Chinese mission – BNS: ‘were declared persona non grata for activities that violate the Vienna Convention and Lithuanian legislation.’ 🇱🇹
China’s top legislator Zhào Lèjì 赵乐际 pledges to promote traditional friendship with Greece during visit – Xinhua: ‘China appreciates Greece’s firm adherence to the one-China principle’ ‘Mitsotakis said that Greece abides by the one-China policy.’ 🇬🇷
Chinese taikonauts engage with Bulgarian youth in space dialogue – Xinhua 🇧🇬
Interview: China’s rise an opportunity for all countries, Hungarian official Balázs Orbán says – Xinhua: ‘Discussing the prospects for EU-China cooperation, Orban noted that China is already leading in areas such as electric vehicles, clean energy and telecommunications. “If European companies want to be competitive, they have to remain open,” said Orban, adding that imposing tariffs on China would severely harm the European economy.
Speaking about Hungary’s assumption of EU rotating presidency since July, he said Hungary will reject Cold War mentality and ideological biases’
‘he said that Hungary appreciates China’s endeavor to establish a “Friends of Peace” group on the Ukraine crisis.’ 🇭🇺
Rusland 🇷🇺
China has been sending officials to Russia to learn how Beijing could blunt Western sanctions in the event of an invasion of Taiwan – WSJ: ‘An interagency group, set up by China in the months following the full-scale invasion, has studied the impact of sanctions and produced reports regularly for the country’s leadership, according to people familiar with the matter.’
‘As part of the effort, Chinese officials periodically visit Moscow to meet with the Russian Central Bank, the Finance Ministry and other agencies involved in countering sanctions, the people said.’
‘The Chinese interagency group on Russian sanctions reports to He Lifeng, China’s vice premier overseeing economic and financial affairs.’ 🇷🇺🇹🇼
„China onderzoekt hoe Rusland sancties ontwijkt in verband met mogelijke invasie Taiwan” – NRC 🇷🇺🇹🇼
China and Russia militaries conduct joint air patrol over Sea of Japan – Reuters: ‘South Korea’s military said it launched fighter jets after 11 Chinese and Russian military aircraft entered the country’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ).’ 🇷🇺🇰🇷
China and Russia conduct joint strategic air patrol – Xinhua: ‘The patrol, the ninth of its kind, was carried out as part of the two militaries’ annual cooperation plan, the ministry said in a statement.’ 🇷🇺
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council condemns China and Russia for undermining peace with military actions – Focus Taiwan 🇷🇺🇹🇼
Handel 🚗⚡️
Is the EU hatching a new weapon for dealing with Chinese overcapacity? – SCMP: ‘The EU’s civil service flew officials and experts in, at von der Leyen’s personal invitation, from around Europe and the United States for a full day devoted to Chinese overcapacity – an issue former trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis described as a “significant threat”.’
‘Several officials and diplomats confirmed there had been internal discussions on developing a new instrument to deal with China’s spillover, but noted that these were at an early stage.’ 🇪🇺
Invest in China: German engineering giant Bosch eyes stronger China partnership for global success – Xinhua 🇩🇪
Mercedes to use China’s Momenta’s software in 4 models and accelerate China comeback, sources say – Reuters 🇩🇪
In Depth: EU’s strict carbon rules sap the energy of Chinese battery giants – Caixin Global: ‘the European Union’s new battery regulations impose stringent carbon footprint restrictions, overshadowing what was once a more lenient market for China’s electric-vehicle (EV) power cells.’ 🇪🇺
What Xi’s flying visit to Morocco means for China’s EV industry – SCMP: ‘sourcing critical materials needed in electric vehicle (EV) manufacture and bypassing import restrictions imposed by the United States and Europe.’ 🇲🇦
Thailand consumer watchdog investigation clears BYD over discount practices, sources say – Reuters 🇹🇭
Elon Musk: the ‘wild card’ in Trump’s dealings with China – FT: ‘One Beijing-based government policy adviser described Tesla to the Financial Times as probably still one of the “most subsidised EV makers in China”.’ 🇺🇸
Canada says North American free trade partners should be fully aligned on China – Reuters 🇨🇦
Mexico launches action to end illegal Chinese goods – Bloomberg 🇲🇽
Chinese investors still moving to Vietnam, free of US tariffs for now, as Trump 2.0 looms – SCMP: ‘China ranked No 1 in direct foreign investment in new projects in Vietnam in the first seven months of this year, contributing 29.7 per cent of the total’ 🇻🇳
Tech War 💽💥
Remco de Boer: „Discussie Servische lithiumvoorraad toont pijnlijke houding EU” – BNR 🇷🇸
Northvolt in talks with Chinese battery makers including CATL on partnership, Dagens Nyheter reports – Bloomberg 🇸🇪🇪🇺
TSMC 台積電 to launch 2nm process in US in ‘more or less’ 2028, NSTC head says – Focus Taiwan: ‘the NSTC and the Ministry of Economic Affairs have agreed that TSMC be only allowed to invest in an advanced technology in a foreign country three years after mass production of the same process has begun in Taiwan.’ 🇺🇸
China-made modules depart for ‘artificial sun’ in France – Xinhua: ‘the components are the first of their kind destined for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project in southern France.’ ‘built by China, the European Union, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and the United States to test the feasibility of fusion as a large-scale and clean source of energy.’
Chinese tech workers report US visa issues despite CES Las Vegas invitations – SCMP: ‘Analysts said that such CES visa denials were unprecedented and signalled a further deterioration in bilateral relations.’ 🇺🇸
China’s next-gen BeiDou 北斗 satellite system to ramp up rivalry with US-based GPS – SCMP
Why are top scientists leaving the West for China? – SCMP
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
‘Tariffers’ v ‘traders’: the new contest for Donald Trump’s ear – The Economist’s The Telegram: ‘Your columnist is in Washington, where he attended a closed-door gathering of serving and former government officials from America and Europe, joined by business bosses and experts on trade and security, as well as scholars from China. This writer has attended these biannual gatherings—known as the Stockholm China Forum, and co-hosted by the Swedish foreign ministry and the German Marshall Fund, a think-tank—since 2008. The latest forum stood out for its hard-boiled, grimly serious mood.’ 🇺🇸
What Biden’s visit to Angola says about Lobito Corridor and US-China rivalry – SCMP 🇺🇸🇦🇴
Biden’s long-awaited Africa trip to tout a win against China – Reuters: ‘links the resource-rich Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to the Angolan port of Lobito on the Atlantic Ocean’ 🇺🇸🇦🇴
Why China faces a ‘dilemma’ as North Korea’s Kim vows steadfast support for Russia – SCMP: ‘North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to “invariably support” Russia’s war in Ukraine, weeks after reportedly sending thousands of troops to fight for Russia.’ 🇰🇵🇷🇺
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
Is Hanoi quietly building Asean alliances on a South China Sea code of conduct? – SCMP: ‘Vietnam and Malaysia have upgraded diplomatic ties and pledged to deepen their cooperation on the South China Sea dispute’ 🇻🇳🇲🇾
As dispute continues over Malaysia’s territorial waters, Sarawak Minister Abd Karim suggests renaming area Sunda Sea or Lautan Sarawak – Borneo Post: ‘if the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching continues to express unhappiness’ 🇲🇾
After PLA, Chinese coastguard patrols Scarborough Shoal contested by Beijing in South China Sea – SCMP 🇵🇭
China’s foreign ministry says ICC has no right to arrest Myanmar junta boss – The Irrawaddy: ‘Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told AFP in a press conference Thursday that the Rohingya issue is “complex”’ 🇲🇲
Chinese police make arrest in fatal stabbing of Japan boy in Shenzhen – Kyodo News: ‘Chinese authorities have yet to disclose the motive or any background to the case.’ 🇯🇵
US zoos gave a fortune to protect pandas. That’s not how China spent it. – The New York Times: ‘Zoos, too, have known that the money was not always going toward conservation. But they worried that if Fish and Wildlife cut off the money altogether, China could demand the return of its bears.’ 🇺🇸
China economie
An attempt by Beijing to address the problem of local governments’ enormous debt has only scratched the surface, as authorities grasp for ways to plug holes in their budgets – WSJ: ‘The cash crunch threatens China’s economic growth, since local governments carry out much of China’s investments and indirectly impact household finances as employers of civil servants and contractors of private businesses.’
‘Local governments are seeking revenue by asking companies to check for unpaid taxes that sometimes date back years.’
‘Law enforcement has also ramped up fines, fees and asset seizures in a bid for cash, a practice Beijing has denounced.’
How constant stress tests on China’s village cadres are raising risks for rural stability – SCMP: ‘The stress on China’s rural cadres to meet Beijing’s targets has multiplied in the past decade, raising a serious risk to stability in the countryside, a researcher specialising in rural governance has warned.’
China’s logistical dream: Beijing has a new plan to counter supply-chain threats – SCMP
China issues white paper on rural road development – Xinhua
HSBC 滙豐 pulling back from China credit card business after struggling to expand – Reuters
China property market faces long recovery road despite restructuring progress – SCMP
China’s Kaisa 佳兆业 to hold shareholder meeting in December to discuss restructuring – Reuters
China has room to further ease monetary policy, former PBOC former official Sheng Songcheng says – Yicai Global
China binnenland
Xi Jinping stresses adapting Marxism to Chinese context and needs of the times – Xinhua: ‘in an instruction on the project of studying and developing Marxist theory in the new era. A conference on the project was held in Beijing on Friday.’
习近平对新时代马克思主义理论研究和建设工程作出重要指示 – 新华网：“要坚持‘两个结合’，扎根中国大地、赓续中华文脉、厚植学术根基，深入研究以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业实践中的重大问题，加快构建中国哲学社会科学自主知识体系，培养高素质理论人才，为推进马克思主义中国化时代化作出更大贡献。”
De nadruk ligt duidelijk op de ‘Twee Integraties’ (两个结合). In het laatste hoofdstuk van zijn boek On Xi Jinping legt Kevin Rudd uit, dat deze slaan op de twee golven van ‘sinificatie’ van de theorie van het marxisme-leninisme. De eerste Integratie was de integratie door Mao Zedong van de theorie met het Chinese heden – d.w.z. geschikt maken voor de Chinese Burgeroorlog en de strijd tegen de Westerse en Japanse imperialisten. De tweede Integratie is die van Xi Jinping: het integreren van het marxisme-leninisme met het Chinese verleden – d.w.z. de relevante lessen van de Chinese filosofische (en nationalistische) tradities.
China’s narrative war with West goes beyond Confucius with focus on other ancient schools – SCMP: ‘The “Chinese Zhuzi Research Institute”, or “institute of early Chinese philosophies” opened earlier this month at the East China Normal University (ECNU) in Shanghai.’
Ook te lezen in de context van het bovenstaande.
CMSI Note 11: Admiral Miáo Huá 苗华’s fall: Further navy fallout? – Andrew S. Erickson and Christopher H. Sharman: ‘In August 2024, PLARF leadership was almost entirely removed—a shocking decapitation of the force that controls most of China’s most advanced missiles and nuclear weapons. Admiral Miao’s suspension may suggest that Xi has shifted his focus to purging the Navy.’
China jails journalist Dǒng Yùyù 董郁玉 for 7 years on spy charges, family says – AFP: ‘Dong Yuyu, a senior columnist at the Communist Party newspaper Guangming Daily, was detained in February 2022 along with a Japanese diplomat at a Beijing restaurant.’
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平’s speech on ethnic unity and progress published in ethnic minority languages – Xinhua
Divorces in China on the rise again despite mandatory cooling-off period – The Straits Times
Feminist hit movie Her Story touted as China’s answer to Barbie – The Guardian
Hong Kong
Hong Kong construction workers and subcontractors owed HK$300 million [€36m] in 2024, union says – HKFP
China resumes multiple-entry visas for Shenzhen travellers to Hong Kong – Reuters
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
President Lai Ching-te 賴清德 (DPP) thanks US for transit stop in Hawaii; reiterates commitment to peace – Focus Taiwan: ‘Lai visited the USS Arizona Memorial earlier and laid a wreath in memory of those who died in the 1941 Japanese attack. The wreath came with a line saying: “In Honor of the Fallen Heroes: President Lai Ching-te, Republic of China (Taiwan).”
“Our visit to the (USS Arizona) memorial today in particular reminds us of the importance of ensuring peace. Peace is priceless and war has no winner. We have to fight — fight together — to prevent war,” Lai said in English.’
‘On the significance of visiting Hawaii, the president highlighted the Austronesian heritage shared by Taiwan and Hawaii.’
‘Hawaii Governor Josh Green, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, and Honolulu Police Department chief Arthur J. Logan were also present to greet Lai.’ 🇺🇸
Taiwan is a force for global peace, president Lai Ching-te 賴清德 (DPP) says as he leaves for Hawaii – Reuters: ‘This is Lai’s first foreign trip since taking office in May.’ 🇺🇸
Colombia to purchase Taiwan’s old F-5 fighter jets, according to report – Taipei Times: ‘Five US companies are currently negotiating the purchase, and the sales process is to comply with US regulations on third-party transfers, the air force announced earlier this month.’ 🇨🇴🇺🇸
US approves US$387 million arms sales to Taiwan – Focus Taiwan: ‘involving spare parts and support for F-16 fighter aircraft and follow-up support for Improved Mobile Subscriber Equipment (IMSE)’ 🇺🇸
China zint op tegenmaatregelen Taiwan na wapenverkoop VS en bezoek president aan Hawaii – de Volkskrant 🇨🇳
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council shoots down China’s Taiwan Affairs Office tourism block accusations – Taipei Times: ‘The MAC said it never banned Taiwanese from visiting China and that 2.52 million people have done just that from January to September’ 🇨🇳
Taiwanese pork approved for export to Singapore – Taipei Times 🇸🇬
Taiwan and Paraguay sign bilateral visa-exemption entry agreement – Focus Taiwan 🇵🇾
Taiwan’s military begins using target-acquisition drones – Taipei Times
Taiwan’s navy resumes guided missile frigate project – Taipei Times
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Taiwan raises its forecast for economic growth next year even though the return of President-elect Donald Trump threatens to disrupt trade – Bloomberg
Taiwan’s DGBAS raises annual GDP forecast – Taipei Times
KMT tries to undercut White Terror proposal – New Bloom: ‘Ironically, the KMT’s proposal to also include sites of injustice from the Qing dynasty and Japanese colonial rule would not actually be a bad one, if it were not aimed at avoiding accountability and downplaying the White Terror.’
‘The KMT has veered into outright denialism of the White Terror in past years’
KMT legislators propose draft to add age restriction for civil defence teams – Taipei Times
Kaohsiung Councillor Huang Shao-ting 黃紹庭 (KMT) barred from leaving country amid corruption investigation – Taipei Times: ‘accused of embezzling about NT$14.55 million (US$448,285) over three terms as a Kaohsiung City councilor.’
Government to mull mental health leave for public servants – Focus Taiwan
‘Local emperor’ CDC official demoted following bullying complaints – Focus Taiwan
6 health ministry officials investigated for workplace bullying – Focus Taiwan
National Development Council official removed for workplace bullying – Focus Taiwan
‘No tolerance for violence,’ Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an 蔣萬安 (KMT) says after threats against documentary screening – Taipei Times