De Chinese Wouden, maandag 29 juli: ASEAN-top, handel
De belangrijkste gebeurtenis tijdens mijn afwezigheid was de ASEAN-top in Laos met de bijbehorende bijeenkomsten met de partners van de Zuidoost-Aziatische regionale organisatie. China gebruike zijn aanwezigheid voor een duidelijke boodschap: Peking wil dat ASEAN de Verenigde Staten buitensluit.
De Europese Unie was ook aanwezig. Buitenlandchef Josep Borrell sprak met de Chinese minister Wang Yi. In de Chinese weergave gebeurde er iets opmerkelijks. Peking claimt dat Borrell belang hecht aan het ‘vredesinitiatief’ van China en Brazilië waarmee China de laatste tijd de hort op is. Dat komt niet voor in de EU-readout en volgens de SCMP-correspondent Finbarr Bermingham is het ook „patently untrue”.
Veel aandacht in China voor de overeenkomst tussen Fatah en Hamas in Peking om samen een regering te vormen in Palestina. Vooral buiten de westerse wereld zal China dit goed kunnen gebruiken bij de claims dat het een positieve rol in de wereld speelt. Het is niet voor niets dat Borrell terecht opriep bij de ASEAN-top dat uitspraken van de internationale hoven in Den Haag overal geaccepteerd moeten worden – Zuid-Chinese Zee, Oekraïne en Israël/Palestina. Zonder zulke erkenning zou Europese diplomatie in die regio nog veel moeilijker zijn.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
The Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands held a reception to celebrate the 97th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army of China – Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Kingdom of the Netherlands 🇳🇱
Hungary quietly takes €1B loan from Chinese banks – POLITICO Europe: ‘provided by the China Development Bank, the Export-Import Bank of China and the Hungarian branch of the Bank of China’ 🇭🇺
Poland threatened to choke off a key Chinese rail export route to the EU due to the escalating migration crisis on its eastern border – Bloomberg: ‘President Andrzej Duda used his state visit in Beijing in late June to link the issue of migration and freight transit on the Belarusian border, according to people briefed on the talks.’ 🇵🇱
Italiaanse premier Giorgia Meloni wil samenwerking met China „nieuw leven inblazen” met 3-jarig actieplan – VRT NWS 🇮🇹
Chinese premier holds talks with Italian prime minister – Xinhua 🇮🇹
China and Norway to deepen cooperation and exchanges – Xinhua 🇳🇴
IOC mengt zich in dopingschandaal Chinese zwemploeg en zet ongekende druk op kritische Amerikanen – de Volkskrant: „als de organisatoren van de Winterspelen in Salt Lake City het niet voor elkaar krijgen dat de FBI het onderzoek naar de Chinese zwemmers staakt, gaat het feest niet door.” 🇺🇸
Een inhoudelijk stuk, in contrast met de racistische opening in het verhaaltje niveau entertainment van NOS Sport.
China willing to deepen high-level cooperation with IOC, Chinese VP says – Xinhua 🇫🇷
[The Hungarian Solar Physics Foundation,] Research body from EU and Nato nation joins China-led ILRS moon project – SCMP 🇭🇺
Mij valt vooral op dat de koppensneller van SCMP benadrukt dat het gaat om een EU- en NAVO-lid.
Taiwanese legislative delegation and Czech officials discuss relations progress in Prague – Taipei Times: ‘led by Deputy Speaker Johnny Chiang’ 🇭🇺
German legislator Roderich Kiesewetter (CDU) shows his support for Taiwan – Taipei Times 🇩🇪
Departing EU representative receives presidential honour, praises Taiwan’s ‘good fortune’ – Focus Taiwan: ‘The EETO head said he is happy to have seen Taiwan become part of the EU’s overall Indo-Pacific strategy during his tenure.’ 🇪🇺
Beijing pressures lawmakers from 6 countries not to attend IPAC conference in Taiwan – AP: ‘say they are getting texts, calls and urgent requests for meetings that would conflict with their plans to travel to Taiwan’
IPAC condemns PRC interference in Taipei summit – Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China
Ruslands invasie 🇷🇺
Russia and China fly joint air patrols near US for first time – FT: ‘US and Canadian fighter jets detected, tracked and intercepted two Russian TU-95 and two Chinese H-6 aircraft late on Wednesday’ 🇷🇺🇺🇸🇨🇦
US sees new Chinese and Russian military cooperation on eve of visit to region – POLITICO Europe 🇷🇺🇺🇸
China and Russia conduct joint strategic aerial patrol over Bering Sea – Xinhua 🇷🇺
Chinese foreign urges political settlement of Ukraine crisis in talks with Ukrainian counterpart – Xinhua: ‘The Ukrainian side attaches importance to China’s opinions and has carefully studied the six common understandings jointly outlined by China and Brazil for a political resolution of the crisis, [Kuleba] said.’
‘The Ukrainian side supports China's position on the Taiwan question and will continue to adhere to the one-China policy.’ 🇺🇦
Dmytro Kuleba: a just peace in Ukraine is in China’s strategic interests – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine: ‘The Minister briefed his colleague on the results of the Peace Summit in Switzerland’ 🇺🇦
Chinese special representative to conduct 4th round of shuttle diplomacy on Ukraine crisis, spokesperson says – Xinhua: ‘will visit Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia from July 28’ 🇺🇦
China aims to step up Russian energy cooperation despite US sanctions calls – SCMP: ‘The vice-premier suggested stronger “integrated cooperation” in upstream, midstream and downstream energy supply chains with upgrades to related cross-border infrastructure.’ 🇷🇺
China and Russia agree to further expand investment and energy cooperation – Xinhua: ‘The two sides should formulate better plans to provide guidance for bilateral investment cooperation, steadily advance cooperation on major projects, deeply tap the potential of sub-national cooperation, and actively create a favorable investment environment, he said.’ 🇷🇺
Defence ministry protests NATO’s accusations against China concerning Ukraine – Xinhua 🇺🇦
Handel 🇪🇺🇨🇳
Interview: „Misschien denken mensen door dit artikel: die Chinese windmolens zijn zo slecht nog niet” – de Volkskrant 🇪🇺
Taiwan to continue EU talks over WTO dispute – Taipei Times: ‘following the bloc’s request for dispute settlement consultations regarding the country’s offshore wind policy.’
‘The European Commission’s Directorate General for Trade issued a statement on Friday announcing that the EU has officially requested dispute settlement consultations at the WTO concerning Taiwan’s requirement that wind power developers use a certain percentage of locally manufactured components in their projects.’ 🇪🇺
Thai subsidies for Chinese EV makers wreak havoc on auto sector – Nikkei Asia: ‘The Thai government touched off a domino effect when it started throwing subsidies at Chinese electric vehicle makers, industry figures say as they watch the resultant massive oversupply of EVs ignite a price war in the combustion engine auto segment, now suffering from production cuts and plant closures.
The unintended consequences have also spread to supply chains, where at least a dozen parts producers have closed because the subsidized Chinese EV makers do not buy from the vast majority of them.’ 🇹🇭
Disclosed CATL state subsidies jump by 35% amid EU squeeze on China EVs – Nikkei Asia: ‘The company’s first-half revenue declined by 12% on the year to 166.76 billion yuan.’
China EV exports fell 13.2% in June amid rising trade tensions – Nikkei Asia: ‘The decline marks the third consecutive monthly fall since March, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.’
Nippon Steel to end 20-year joint venture with China’s Baosteel 宝钢 – Nikkei Asia: ‘Japanese automakers, Nippon Steel’s main customers, are struggling in China due to the rise of local electric vehicle makers.’ 🇯🇵
Chinese steel keeps flooding global market, pushing down prices – Nikkei Asia: ‘Chinese steelmakers’ profitability is also deteriorating.’
Chinese manufacturers are struggling as Beijing boosts industrial capacity without stimulating new demand – WSJ: ‘“An investment-led growth model can only go so far because ultimately there has to be demand somewhere,” said Logan Wright, a partner at Rhodium Group’
Tech War 💽💥
Private equity stort zich op toeleveranciers van ASML – FD 🇳🇱
Exclusive: Nvidia preparing version of new flagship AI chip for Chinese market – Reuters: ‘that would be compatible with current U.S. export controls’ 🇺🇸
Western miners push for higher metals prices to ward off Chinese rivals – Reuters
Indonesia moves to reduce Chinese ownership of nickel projects – FT: ‘to help its industry qualify for tax breaks in the US’ 🇮🇩
As Micron president visits China, chip maker stays silent in US-China balancing act – SCMP 🇺🇸
AMD to set up Taiwan R&D centre – Taipei Times 🇺🇸
TikTok sent sensitive data on U.S. users to parent company ByteDance 字节跳动 in China, DoJ says – Fortune 🇺🇸
Australia’s Wong announces new digital cable centre to limit China’s influence in Indo-Pacific – The Guardian 🇦🇺
Xinhua Commentary: China committed to fuelling high-quality development with sci-tech innovations – Xinhua
Top ASEAN 🏔️🇱🇦
China calls on Asean to resist US and Nato moves in ‘zone of peace, freedom, neutrality’ – SCMP
East Asia Summit should grasp correct direction and safeguard international justice, Wáng Yì 王毅 says – Xinhua: ‘noting that to this end, China has put forward four propositions’
1) ‘Firstly, all parties should maintain an open and inclusive regional architecture.’
2) ‘Secondly, all parties should abide by the regional rules recognized by themselves.’
3) ‘Thirdly, all parties should work together to strengthen the new momentum of connectivity.’
4) ‘Fourthly, all parties should jointly energize the effectiveness of the EAS.’
Chinese foreign minister calls for ASEAN’s commitment to vision of peace and ASEAN Way for regional peace and stability – Xinhua: ‘ASEAN’s status as a zone of peace, freedom and neutrality should be respected, the regional rules recognized by all parties be followed, and an ASEAN-centered, open and inclusive regional architecture be supported, he said.’
Minister Wang beschuldigt hierboven indirect de Filipijnen ervan zich niet te houden aan de ASEAN-regels en -gewoontes. Ik krijg flashbacks naar de Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
China stands ready to move toward establishing East Asian community, Chinese foreign minister – Xinhua: ‘China is ready to work with all parties to continue to support ASEAN centrality in regional architecture’ ‘China has put forward a four-point proposal for East Asia cooperation in the next stage.’
Toen ik nog in Peking studeerde, waren er al Chinese academic met fantasieën over een ‘East Asian Community’ als vervangende volgende stap van ASEAN. ASEAN is een regionaal samenwerkingsverband gebaseerd op consensus en het tegengaan van inmenging van buiten. Als dat vervangen wordt door een organisatie waarin China ook zit, dan zou (i) Peking dat domineren en (ii) Peking een goed excuus hebben om de Verenigde Staten helemaal buiten de regio te houden.
Het verbaast me, dat dit voorstel nu weer prominent terug komt na al die jaren.
China: High Representative Borrell met with Foreign Minister Wáng Yì 王毅 – EU EEAS: ‘The HR/VP said that the EU and China needs to acknowledge their respective concerns. Those are first of all China’s support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which impacts negatively EU-China relations.’
‘The second EU concern on EU relations with China is the impact of economic policies and production subsidies’ 🇪🇺
China’s development and opening up to bring new opportunities for China-EU cooperation, Wang Yi says – Xinhua:
‘The EU has always maintained that Taiwan is not a country [sic] and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China, said Borrell, adding that the EU will continue to pursue the one-China policy.
The EU attaches importance to the peace initiative of China and Brazil on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis [sic], congratulates China for promoting the reconciliation of Palestinian factions, and is willing to work with China to promote peace, said the EU official.’ 🇪🇺
‘The Chinese mission to the EU repeats its ministry’s claims that Borrell told Wang “the EU attaches importance to the peace initiative of China and Brazil on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis” I’ve been told that this is patently untrue’ – Finbarr Bermingham, Twitter 🇪🇺
Volgens mij niet de eerste keer dat de Chinese kant liegt in hun weergave van onze woorden.
EU-ASEAN: Speech by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell at the 31th ASEAN Regional Forum – EU EEAS: ‘We should all ask for the fulfilment of International law. Everywhere. This is equally true in the South China Sea, in Ukraine and the Middle East.’ 🇪🇺
South China Sea and Taiwan figure in ‘open’ talks as Wáng Yì 王毅 and Antony Blinken meet in Laos – SCMP: ‘“They had an extended conversation about Taiwan,” the [US] official said.’ 🇺🇸
China and US agree to maintain communication at all levels – Xinhua: ‘During his meeting with Blinken, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that in the past three months, the diplomatic, financial, law enforcement and climate teams of the two sides as well as the two militaries have maintained communication, along with increased people-to-people exchanges. However, it must be pointed out that the U.S. side did not refrain from moving to contain and suppress China, but to went even further.
China-U.S. relations are still faced with accumulating risks and challenges and remain at a critical juncture of deescalation and stabilization, demanding efforts to recalibrate the direction, manage risks, properly address differences, remove disturbances and advance cooperation, Wang said.’ 🇺🇸
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang pledges to work with Russia on East Asian peace – Reuters: ‘“Russia will work with China to support ASEAN centrality and prevent sabotage and interference by foreign forces,” Lavrov said, according to the statement.’ 🇷🇺
China to work with Russia to support each other in safeguarding respective core interests, Wáng Yì 王毅 says – Xinhua 🇷🇺
UK urges China to prevent its companies supporting Russia’s military – Reuters 🇬🇧
China and Britain agree to work for closer communication and stable ties – Xinhua 🇬🇧
China-Japan relations at critical juncture, Chinese foreign minister says – Xinhua 🇯🇵
China-ROK relations cannot be damaged, Chinese foreign minister says – Xinhua 🇰🇷
China and Indonesia to jointly safeguard regional stability and prosperity – Xinhua 🇮🇩
China’s Wáng Yì 王毅 warns Philippines that deploying US missiles could trigger ‘arms race’ – SCMP 🇵🇭
China and India to strengthen communication in international frameworks, foreign ministers say – Xinhua 🇮🇳
Singapore does not pitch itself as a model for other nations, foreign minister Balakrishnan says – The Straits Times: ‘[Wang Yi] said that Western media and analysts were studying the Singapore political model to find ways to deal with their own countries’ shortcomings.’ 🇸🇬
China and Singapore should upgrade bilateral cooperation, Wáng Yì 王毅 says – Xinhua: ‘abides by the [sic] One-China policy and firmly opposes “Taiwan independence,” said Balakrishnan’ 🇸🇬
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
Opinion: Europe must prepare militarily and economically for a Taiwan war – Philippe Le Corre for Nikkei Asia 🇪🇺
Gezien het onderstaande is het inderdaad de zaak dat Europa begint de realiteit in te zien i.p.v. te soebatten of het allemaal wel wenselijk is.
US and Japan overhaul security alliance amid China’s strategic challenge – The Straits Times: ‘The US will revamp its military command in Japan with a new “joint force headquarters” that will facilitate deeper interoperability with Japan’s Self-Defence Forces.’ 🇯🇵
Japan to deploy ‘ship killer’ missiles a year early, cites China among security threats – SCMP 🇯🇵
Why is Xi Jinping building secret commodity stockpiles? – The Economist
The Philippines’ eyes defence pacts with France, Canada, and New Zealand, defence minister says – Reuters 🇵🇭🇫🇷🇨🇦🇳🇿
Chinese military to participate in joint exercises in Africa and Mongolia – Xinhua 🇹🇿🇲🇿🇲🇳
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
Zuid-Chinese Zee
South China Sea: ‘bullied by China’? Philippine-Vietnam joint drills mark peace bid – SCMP 🇵🇭🇻🇳
Philippines says ‘no incidents’ as it resupplies hotspot Ayungin Shoal – AFP 🇵🇭
Foreign ministry spokesperson’s remarks on China’s handling of Philippine resupply to Ren'ai Jiao – Xinhua: ‘China had been notified of the resupply before it was carried out, the spokesperson said, adding that after confirming on-site that the Philippine vessel carried only humanitarian living necessities, the Chinese side let the vessel through.’ 🇵🇭
Philippines says China ‘mischaracterised’ South China Sea resupply mission deal – Reuters 🇵🇭
De-escalatie tussen China en Filipijnen in Zuid-Chinese Zee is van korte duur – FD 🇵🇭
Philippines ‘to assert our rights’ after China sea deal – AFP: ‘“The (Chinese foreign ministry) spokesperson’s statement therefore regarding prior notification and on-site confirmation is inaccurate,” Ms Daza said.’ 🇵🇭
Austin heads to Asia with US$500M for the Philippines – Defense One 🇺🇸🇵🇭
overige
Is deze Filipijnse burgemeester een buitenechtelijke liefdesbaby of Chinese spion? – de Volkskrant: „in opspraak geraakt door mogelijke banden met Chinese criminelen, die aan het licht waren gekomen bij het oprollen van een Chinese criminele organisatie achter een casino in Bamban.” 🇵🇭
Gezien de realiteit van Chinese maffianetwerken in Zuidoost-Azië klinkt georganiseerde misdaad als de meest waarschijnlijke verklaring. Het is niet dat de Chinese diensten geen gebruik maken van criminele netwerken, maar deze situatie klinkt niet als een professionele spionageoperatie.
Rivals Hamas and Fatah sign a declaration in Beijing to form a future government as war rages in Gaza – AP 🇵🇸
Palestinian factions sign Beijing Declaration on Ending Division and Strengthening Palestinian National Unity – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China: ‘Wang Yi pointed out that only when Palestinian factions speak as one can the voice of justice be loud and clear, and only when they join hands and march forward shoulder to shoulder can they succeed in their national liberation cause.’ 🇵🇸
Chinese foreign minister meets head of Fatah delegation – Xinhua 🇵🇸
US special agents raid Chinese firm Fuyao Glass 福耀玻璃 over ‘financial crimes and labour abuse’ – SCMP 🇺🇸
Exclusive: China’s Iranian crude imports find new market in northeast’s Dalian – Reuters 🇮🇷
Pacific Island nations owe ‘astronomical’ debts to China. Can they repay? – ABC News
China economie
China’s crippling debt levels seen worsening as government measures focus on ‘buying time’ – SCMP: ‘Government finances also have not improved.’
China’s Guangdong, once a major economic driver, lags national growth average – SCMP
China binnenland
Ongemak op een georganiseerde persreis in Xinjiang – Trouw: „Ik werd door de Chinese ambassade in Den Haag uitgenodigd voor deze mediareis naar Xinjiang”
Typhoon Gaemi forces evacuation, factory suspension in northeast China – Reuters
China’s former Hainan party chief Luō Bǎomíng 罗保铭 faces corruption investigation – SCMP
Professor sacked over abuse claims in rare win for China’s #MeToo movement – The Observer
Wind and solar to surpass 40% of China’s power capacity by year-end – SCMP
Hong Kong
New CCTV cameras in Hong Kong to be equipped with facial recognition technology, security chief says – HKFP
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Taiwan and China officials to discuss February speedboat incident Wednesday – Focus Taiwan: ‘Representatives from the MAC and the Chinese authorities will meet in Kinmen on Wednesday to sign a consensus agreement in which Taiwan’s authorities will return the bodies of the two Chinese nationals who died in the incident, as well as the speedboat, to the Chinese side, local media reported.’ 🇨🇳
CCP may upgrade Taiwan policy body Central Leading Group for Taiwan Affairs, Taiwan MAC report says – Taipei Times 🇨🇳
Taiwan to fully lift decade-long ban on Japanese food imports – Focus Taiwan: ‘Taiwan is planning to allow all imports of Japanese food and agricultural products from areas affected by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster’ 🇯🇵
Taichung mayor Lu Shiow-yen 盧秀燕 (KMT) to resume US trip after typhoon – Focus Taiwan 🇺🇸
Han Kuang drills cut short as troops help relief effort – Taipei Times
Taiwan corruptie
Hsinchu mayor Ann Kao Hung-an 高虹安 (TPP) receives over 7-year jail sentence for corruption – Focus Taiwan: ‘announcing her immediate resignation from the opposition Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). Having been found guilty, Kao was automatically suspended as Hsinchu mayor in accordance with related legal provisions.’
TPP says ruling against Kao not proportionate – Taipei Times
KMT lawmaker Yen Kuan-heng 顏寬恒 sentenced to seven years and 10 months in jail for corruption – Focus Taiwan: ‘Yen was first elected to the Legislative Yuan in 2013 in a by-election in Taichung’s Shalu District, replacing his father Yen Ching-piao (顏清標) of the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union, who was expelled from office after being sentenced to prison in November 2012 on corruption charges.’
Hsinchu County commissioner Yang Wen-ke 楊文科 (KMT) indicted on collusion charges – New Bloom: ‘Yang is accused of allowing construction to continue on the Wonder World 520 project in Jhubei in spite of eight incidents of wall collapses and sinkholes by the Fong Yi Construction Company.’
Donovan’s Deep Dives: Cheng Wen-tsan 鄭文燦 (DPP) ‘fallen off the horse’ – Taipei Times
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Donovan’s Deep Dives: Lai and New Tide faction dominate DPP congress amid controversy – Courtney Donovan Smith for Taipei Times: ‘A lot has happened since Lai abandoned Tsai’s power-sharing formula, but this is just the beginning.’
Taiwan shuts down its second-to-last nuclear plant on Saturday – Bloomberg