De Chinese Wouden, vrijdag 11 augustus: Amerikaanse techbeperkingen
De vakantie van het Chinese leiderschap aan het strand van Beidaihe begint ook deze nieuwsbrief te raken. Er is niet heel veel opvallends te melden.
Het grootste nieuws zijn de nieuwe Amerikaanse beperkingen op investeringen in de Chinese techsector. Wat hier mij vooral aan opvalt, is dat ze erg meevallen. Er is overduidelijk iets omgeslagen in Washington DC sinds de boude beperkingen van afgelopen oktober. Sommige experts zien hier daarom een goede balans in, maar maken zich daarbij gelijk zorgen hoe snel dat als zwakte wordt gezien in het huidige politieke klimaat.
In Hong Kong beargumenteert de overheid dat in het geval van nationale veiligheid de overheid boven de rechter gaat. Dit argument komt in het hoger beroep tegen de uitspraak dat protestlied ‘Glory to Hong Kong’ 《願榮光歸香港》 niet verboden hoeft te worden. Welke rechtstaat?
De Wall Street Journal bevestigt met details een eerder verhaal van Reuters over toezichthouders die zich bemoeien met prospectussen voor aandelenuitgaven. Het benoemen van bepaalde risico’s en het te negatief afschilderen van de economische situatie kan niet meer – ook al klopt het wel. Niet goed voor het vertrouwen van investeerders.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
China lifts bans on group tours to US, Japan and other key markets – Reuters
China expands group tour list, but excludes Taiwan – Taipei Times
‘Complete denial’: Europe largely blind to Chinese influence, says EU adviser Ivana Karásková – POLITICO Europe: ‘a Czech academic and foreign influence specialist who’s advising European Commission Vice President Věra Jourová.’
‘the Commission is set to unveil a draft law that would force organizations across the EU to disclose which outside countries are funding them.’ 🇪🇺
China to pause plans to build London embassy – Reuters: ‘Beijing will miss Thursday's deadline to appeal against the local council's opposition to its plans for a new embassy near the Tower of London after local residents objected, the sources said.’ 🇬🇧
Taiwan pitches deeper Europe engagement after TSMC Germany investment – Reuters: ‘Taiwanese officials, while noting that TSMC’s investments are a company decision, have also said European countries should strengthen ties with Taiwan if they want continued semiconductor cooperation.’
Estonian lawmaker Marko Mihkelson favours opening bilateral offices with Taiwan – Focus Taiwan: ‘serves as chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Estonian Parliament’ 🇪🇪
President Tsai Ing-wen expresses hopes for Taiwan to participate in Baltic countries’ NATO Centres of Excellence – Taipei Times 🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹
Tech War 💽💥
Biden beperkt Amerikaanse investeringen in geavanceerde technologie in China – FD
Biden grijpt in op tech-investeringen in China: „Speldenprikje” – BNR
Biden orders ban on certain US tech investments in China – Reuters: ‘The long-awaited order authorizes the U.S. Treasury secretary to prohibit or restrict U.S. investments in Chinese entities in three sectors: semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum information technologies and certain artificial intelligence systems.’
Explainer: US starts process to restrict some investment in key tech in China – Reuters
US chip industry calls for ‘vital’ access to Chinese market hours after Joe Biden announces curbs – SCMP
Biden’s new outbound investment restrictions with China are a sensible compromise, but further tightening is likely – Martin Chorzempa for PIIE
EU to analyse US tech curbs in China, says issue also key to Europe – Reuters 🇪🇺
EU treads cautious line over US investment bans on Chinese tech – FT: ‘EU trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis told the Financial Times this month that the commission was exploring ways to monitor European investments overseas but wanted to maintain good relations with Beijing and that any measures would be narrowly focused on products with specific national security concerns.’ 🇪🇺
China chipmaking tech execs urge greater supply chain self-sufficiency – Nikkei Asia
US tech investment curbs have China gravely concerned, with already shrinking FDI looking even less attractive – SCMP
China’s internet giants order US$5bn of Nvidia chips to power AI ambitions – FT
China to require all apps to share business details in new oversight push – Reuters: ‘Bishop said that in order to comply with the new rules, app developers now must either have a company in China or work with a local publisher.’
TSMC to make cutting-edge 2-nm chips at new plant in southern Taiwan’s Kaohsiung – Nikkei Asia
Weekend
Achtergrond en longreads
Why Chinese women are denied legal land rights: In the interests of order, the Party sides with a reactionary majority – The Economist’s Chaguan
What China’s growing involvement means for Myanmar’s conflict – IISS
New report: China is threatening Uyghurs in Türkiye to spy on diaspora – Safeguard Defenders
Taiwan’s MeToo movement has enmeshed politicians and celebrities—but a culture of silence endures – The Guardian
What cuisine means to Taiwan’s identity and its clash with China – The New York Times
Long-Distance Resistance – The China Media Project dictionary
Mikroelektronik in der DDR : Chip, Chip, Hurra – SZ
Podcasts
Japan’s role in US-China strategic rivalry – FT’s The Rachman Review with Ambassador Rahm Emanuel 🍎 🤖
How loyal is the PLA? – Pekingology 🍎 🤖
Against the grain: food security – The Economist’s Drum Tower 🍎 🤖
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
Canada says China likely targeted lawmaker Michael Chong in disinformation campaign – Reuters
China salutes WWII American general Joe Stilwell in personal push to improve US ties – SCMP
Historici zijn negatiever over Stilwell.
Vivian Balakrishnan and Wáng Yì 王毅 discuss ways to further bilateral ties during China Foreign Minister’s Singapore visit – The Straits Times
China and Singapore promise to keep promoting Belt and Road construction – Xinhua
Chinese Foreign Minister’s visit likely aimed at shoring up Asean ties ahead of South China Sea talks – The Straits Times
China economie
Regulators in China have become uncomfortable with how some companies are describing the country’s risks to investors – WSJ
Verdere bevestiging van en meer details bij een eerder verhaal van Reuters.
China’s economy is struggling but fears of sustained deflation are premature – The Guardian
Konjunktur: China hat immer weniger Optionen – FAZ
China binnenland
‘They disappeared’: China flood victims criticise government response – Reuters: ‘Some of those who stayed behind said a lack of urgency from local officials led them to ignore evacuation notices until it was too late.’
China’s plan to resume cross demolitions worries Christians – Union of Catholic Asian News
China taps thinner coal seams as energy security drives push for fossil fuel – SCMP
Hong Kong
Hong Kong leader should outweigh courts in national security matters, government says after protest song ban rejected – HKFP
Voor mensen met diepere interesse in het mechanisme van wat er nu in Hong Kong gaande is, raad ik het boek Authoritarian Rule of Law: Legislation, Discourse and Legitimacy in Singapore van Jothie Rajah (toevallig ex-vrouw van huidig minister van binnenlandse zaken en van justitie K. Shanmugam (PAP)) aan, over de manier waarop in Singapore er geen rule of law maar rule by law is ontstaan.
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Three people connected with China-funded organisations indicted for ‘united front’ work – Taipei Times: ‘The three are the first people Taipei prosecutors have charged for contravening the Anti-Infiltration Act since it was passed by the legislature in 2020 to counter the influence of foreign hostile forces seeking to meddle in Taiwan’s elections.’
Foreign ministry working to help 2 Taiwan nationals leave Niger after coup – Focus Taiwan
Taiwan-made fighter jet lands safely after mid-air malfunction – Focus Taiwan
Taiwan verkiezingen
Hou Yu-ih 侯友宜 [Hóu Yǒuyí] (KMT)’s nuclear plans criticised by environmental groups – Taipei Times
De milieubeweging is altijd al met het Groene Kamp van de nu regerende DPP geassocieerd geweest, ook omdat zorgen voor het Taiwan waar je woont in plaats van dromen over het China waaruit je bent verdreven een manier was om je af te zetten tegen de dictatuur in een tijd dat politieke oppositie dodelijk kon zijn. Voor de KMT-kern is nucleaire energie een belangrijk thema, hoewel Hou het hier vooral verkoopt als onderdeel van de groene transitie i.p.v. de gebruikelijke nadruk op kernenergie als oplossing voor gebrekkige energiezekerheid dankzij DPP-mismanagement.
Hon Hai (Foxconn) founder Terry Gou 郭台銘 [Guō Táimíng] discusses ‘Kinmen peace declaration’ proposal meeting LDP vice chair Aso Taro – Taipei Times: ‘Gou also said that on Aug. 23, he would start advocating for his “declaration” to become a real policy.’
Taiwan’s gloomy economy adds uncertainty to prospects for the 2024 presidential election – Chiang Min-hua for GTI
國民黨前縣長徐耀昌赴郭台銘造勢晚會脫口「下架國民黨」 會後澄清口誤 – 聯合報
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Environmental Protection Administration chief accused of covering up sexual harassment – Focus Taiwan
Floods seen across northern, southern Taiwan after heavy afternoon rainfall – Focus Taiwan
Premier directs joint dengue fever efforts amid widespread outbreak – Focus Taiwan
行政法院判救總是國民黨黨產 9億資產面臨收歸國有 – Mirror Media