De Chinese Wouden, vrijdag 15 september: EU-onderzoek Chinese elektrische auto’s

Korte opmerking: staatssteun in China gaat verder dan slechts direct geld geven. Dat een stuk partijstaat gemobiliseerd kan worden – van inkoopvoorkeuren tot vergunningsmedewerking – om bepaalde bedrijven aan technologische voorsprongen te helpen is lastiger te meten maar ook belangrijk.

Handelsoorlog of niet hangt ook af van hoe veel geduld Peking nog heeft met Europa in de gehele relatie. Uiteindelijk is het tegengaan van de vermeende pogingen om de Chinese opkomt te blokkeren het hoofddoel, en daarbij gaat het meestal om de Verenigde Staten. Zolang men Europa nog als losweekbaar en bespeelbaar ziet…

Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺

European Commission hits China with electric vehicle subsidy probe – POLITICO Europe 🇪🇺
Waarom viseert Europa elektrische auto’s uit China en wat zijn de gevolgen voor kopers? – VRT NWS 🇪🇺
Leidt het EU-onderzoek naar Chinese staatssteun voor elektrische auto’s tot een handelsoorlog? – NRC 🇪🇺
Autoruzie nieuw hoogtepunt in Europese strijd tegen ‘oneerlijk’ China – FD 🇪🇺

Chinese official condemns EU probe into electric vehicle subsidies as ‘sheer protectionism’ – SCMP: ‘Beijing’s top official for European affairs Wang Lutong bit back hours later, posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, that “many EU members subsidise their electric vehicle industries”, citing statistics from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).’ 🇪🇺
China strongly dissatisfied with EU’s anti-subsidy probe into Chinese EVs – Xinhua 🇪🇺
China extends anti-subsidy duties on EU potato starch imports for 5 years, hits back at EV probe – SCMP 🇪🇺

If a surge in government support for strategic industries risks fuelling a global subsidy war, then the European Union may have just sparked one of its biggest battles – Bloomberg: ‘Tackling China’s subsidies — even if proven — will also not change the view that Chinese vehicles are technologically advanced and Europe’s carmakers have been slow to adapt and innovate.’ 🇪🇺

‘When two economies battle over trade, what matters is their relative vulnerability to a contraction in trade. When they are both surplus economies, the economy that relies more heavily on its surplus to externalize weak domestic demand is more likely to be at a disadvantage.’ – Michael Pettis, Twitter

EU moves to cut dependency on China for battery and solar panel materials – The Guardian: ‘The details of the act, which was passed with 515 votes in favour and 34 against, will now be negotiated between the parliament and the council.’ 🇪🇺

China urges EU to ensure new carbon tax complies with WTO rules – Reuters 🇪🇺

‘Very interesting. Xinjiang governor didn’t get his trip to Brussels but has an audience with senior Hungarian government officials.’ – Finbarr Bermingham, Twitter 🇭🇺

Pope envoy had ‘cordial’ talks in China with Lǐ Huī 李辉 on Ukraine, Vatican says – Reuters 🇺🇦

China has tried to recruit UK nationals in key positions, No 10 says – The Guardian: ‘tried to headhunt British nationals from the government, industry and the military’ 🇬🇧
UK Government to bar Chinese surveillance tech from sensitive sites – The Telegraph 🇬🇧

Taiwan and Czechia celebrate launch of representative office’s cultural division launch in Prague, culture minister Shih Che 史哲 attends – Focus Taiwan 🇨🇿

Tech War 💽💥

Berlijn verbiedt overname satellietstart-up door Chinees techbedrijf – FD

China warns over reports of iPhone-related ‘security incidents’ – FT: ‘Beijing said that while foreign phones, including Apple’s, were not banned from China, all producers should “strictly adhere” to data protection and information security laws.’
‘A senior official in a Chinese provincial level government said on Wednesday that while there was no “official document, policy or regulation” banning iPhone use for civil servants or state-owned enterprise workers, and that the rules were oral or informal, they were nevertheless “mandatory”.’
Apple and Huawei’s smartphone rivalry divides China – Reuters

China leads high-tech research in 80% of ‘critical’ fields, according to ASPI report – Nikkei Asia
China’s hi-tech ambitions under threat with scientific literacy inadequate to support innovation-driven economy – SCMP

TSMC prizes Japan’s chips skills after US stumbles, sources say – Reuters

TSMC to invest up to US$100 million in ARM – Focus Taiwan

Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️

Nieuwe handelscorridor tussen India en het Westen is tegenhanger van Chinese zijderoute – NRC
BRI is wel iets meer dan slechts een route. Maar als deze plannen in samenwerking met India echt uitgevoerd gaan worden, is het een serieuze bijdrage.

China-Middle East aim to lift trade to new heights by 2030 amid strained ties with Western partners – SCMP

Full text: Proposal of the People's Republic of China on the Reform and Development of Global Governance – Xinhua: ‘China firmly supports a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.’ ‘The root cause of the crisis lies in the problem of security governance in Europe. Parties concerned must face the crux of the issue squarely, stop shifting problems, build mutual trust and accommodate each other's legitimate security concerns, so as to gradually create conditions for ceasefire and peace talks. No one gains from conflicts and wars. Imposing sanctions, exerting pressure, or adding fuel to the fire [i.e. donating weapons] will only escalate the situation. It is important to maintain mutual respect, abandon the Cold War mentality, stop ganging up to stoke camp-based confrontation, and work to build a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture.’
Dit stuk is de moeite waard om te lezen. Het bevat een samenvatting van de Chinese visie op de wereldorde en Pekings standpunten m.b.t. de lopende conflicten. Terugkerend thema is dat de Verenigde Staten het probleem zijn/het gedrag moeten veranderen.

Weekend

Longreads en achtergrond

Freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait: Beware information warfare – Mathieu Duchâtel and Marlène Meunier for Institut Montaigne: ‘when states do not communicate clearly about their naval transits, they create opportunities for Chinese information warfare that seek to distort facts and create the impression that China is successfully building a specific navigation regime in those waters.’

In slaap gesust Europa wordt bedreigd van alle kanten: „De EU is vergeten over haar geopolitieke basis te denken”, zegt Mathieu Segers – de Volkskrant

How China became addicted to its tobacco monopoly – The Examination: ‘China Tobacco was involved in the country’s negotiations in Geneva and later claimed credit for making dozens of translation changes to the official Chinese version of the treaty to weaken it, the investigation found.’
‘China Tobacco’s efforts to derail the most significant global tobacco control treaty ever signed began well before it was ratified.’

A law to protect China’s feelings – China Media Project
Xi Jinping builds a 21st-century police state: A draft law gives rank-and-file officers new, arbitrary powers – The Economist’s Chaguan

China’s push to create a single national identity: Inner Mongolia is the latest target – The Economist

Podcasts

Nuclear reaction – The Economist’s Drum Tower on China’s reaction to Japan’s nuclear wastewater release. 🍎 🤖

Party of One – Pekingology talks to Chun Han Wong about his book. 🍎 🤖

Overige

China buitenland en defensie

Beijing says it uncovered US National Security Agency operatives behind cyberattack on Chinese university – SCMP
Weer een geval waarin China expliciet de Verenigde Staten (i.p.v. ‘buitenlandse mogendheid’) beschuldigt van spionage.

Taliban say Chinese envoy appointed to Kabul in first ambassadorial appointment since Afghanistan takeover – Reuters
China and the Taliban are friends in need of each other – Raffaello Pantucci for Nikkei Asia

Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 and Maduro announce elevation of China-Venezuela ties to all-weather strategic partnership – Xinhua
China and Venezuela sign agreements on economy, trade, and tourism – Reuters

New foreign minister Kamikawa Yōko 上川 陽子 says Japan must engage with China – Kyodo News

China’s military top brass called to front lines for ‘field research’ to fix rank-and-file problems – SCMP

100-metre-tall watchtower to survey ocean in East China Sea and help protect Beijing’s ‘maritime rights’, state media says – SCMP
Chinese research vessels reportedly roaming east of the Philippine Sea – GMA News

The UN’s atomic watchdog IAEA may run out of money to monitor nuclear stockpiles because the US and China aren’t paying dues in a political tug of war – Bloomberg: ‘at loggerheads over issues such as Japan’s release of treated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant and Australia’s intention to buy nuclear-powered submarines.’

China economie

Chinese banks shun Beijing’s flagship property bailout fund – FT: ‘a Rmb200bn ($27bn) facility to provide interest-free loans to six state-owned commercial banks to finance thousands of stalled property projects across the country.’ ‘almost a year after the programme was launched, less than 1 per cent of the funds have been disbursed to banks’

China’s boom is over, but it’s not a bust – Tom Orlik for Bloomberg Businessweek: ‘In the long term, though, a China that’s ended an unsustainable real estate boom and amped up advanced manufacturing will be better positioned to grow.’
DBS chief says China pessimism not ‘overdone’ but upbeat about India prospects – Reuters

China’s central bank cuts the amount of cash lenders must hold in reserve for the second time this year to bolster an economic recovery – Bloomberg
China asks big banks to stagger and adjust dollar purchases, sources say – Reuters

Moody’s cuts China property sector's outlook to negative – Reuters

China rule changes may help property market, not wider economy – Nikkei Asia

China’s public debt could stymie Asian economies while US’s debt could ‘tear apart’ society, according to analysts at IMF event – SCMP

China binnenland

China’s defence minister Lǐ Shàngfú 李尚福, not seen in weeks, abruptly skipped Vietnam meeting last week over ‘health condition’ – Reuters

China’s corruption crackdown puts 5 SOEs and Shanghai state assets supervisor in investigation cross hairs – SCMP

New campaign for ‘sinicisation of Buddhism’ starts in China – Bitter Winter

Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 stresses building general offices of Party committees and governments into model organs – Xinhua

China-experts: Ài Wèiwèi 艾未未 neemt risico met plan familiebezoek – de Volkskrant
Kunstenaar en dissident Ài Wèiwèi 艾未未 wil zijn moeder opzoeken in China: „Ik ben niet bang, ik heb niks verkeerds gedaan” – de Volkskrant

Hong Kong

China’s Dīng Xuēxiáng 丁薛祥 signals leading role in Communist Party’s revamped Hong Kong affairs body – SCMP

Hong Kong urban planning NGO finds 173 alleged illegal structures at luxury houses – HKFP

Hongkong wordt nooit meer zoals het was – maar een mindere variant is ook werkbaar – FD

Taiwan buitenland en defensie

US Senate committee passes bill that would cut taxes on Taiwanese firms operating in US – SCMP

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer visits Taiwan – Focus Taiwan

First Austrian parliamentarian delegation since Covid-19 arrives in Taiwan – Focus Taiwan

DPP loses ‘reasoning’ in pursing ‘Taiwan independence’; behaviours hinder ECFA implementation, says Taiwan Affairs Office – The Global Times: ‘“We support relevant authorities to study and take corresponding measures in accordance with relevant regulations in light of the investigation of trade barriers,” Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said at a press briefing on Wednesday.’

Canadian official ‘very confident’ of Taiwan trade deal before 2024 – Focus Taiwan

China economic integration plan ‘cash grab,’ Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council says – Taipei Times
Beijing’s economic integration plan is a trap, says DPP caucus – Taipei Times
Beijing says it now has capacity to build Taiwan high-speed rail link from Chinese mainland – SCMP: ‘Any tunnel across the strait would be more than 125km in length’
[China] able to deliver green electricity to Taiwan on large scale, official says – Xinhua

China derides Taiwan for its efforts to take part in UN General Assembly – SCMP
Ambassador Zhang Jun: One-China Principle Not to Be Infringed Upon – Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations
Ik linkte eerder deze week ook al naar een stuk over de Chinese leugens over dit onderwerk.

Japan names pro-Taiwan Kihara Minoru 木原 稔 defence minister – Reuters

Taiwan defence expo returns after 4-year hiatus; US joins for first time – Focus Taiwan
Northrop Grumman pledges US$100 million for Taiwan projects in 2024 – Taipei Times

Taiwan has detected at least 68 Chinese warplanes, 10 vessels near its borders – AFP

Interessante nieuwe soort bewegingen in het zuiden.

Taiwan seeks US, Japan, and Philippine joint reporting mechanism to deter Chinese navy – Nikkei Asia: ‘Adm. Huang Shu-kuang 黃曙光 told Nikkei Asia in a rare interview with foreign media that Taiwan could be “doomed” if China is able to surround the island.’

Taiwan tells Elon Musk it is ‘not for sale’ after latest China comments – The Guardian

Taiwan verkiezingen

Six local prosecutorial offices to be established to deal with cyberthreats against elections – Taipei Times

KMT’s presidential candidate Mayor Hou Yu-ih 侯友宜 to visit US for eight days – Focus Taiwan: ‘During his visit from Sep. 14-22, Hou will visit New York, New Jersey, Washington and San Francisco, said the office.’

Hon Hai (Foxconn) founder Terry Gou 郭台銘 picks Netflix hit show Wave Makers actress Tammy Lai Pei-hsia 賴佩霞 as presidential running mate – Reuters
Life continues to imitate art imitating life with Gou’s choice of running mate – New Bloom
When drama becomes reality: TV star Tammy Lai 賴佩霞’s unexpected entry into politics – Focus Taiwan: ‘pursued a master’s degree in international relations, followed by a Ph.D. in law, both from Jinan University in China’
Tammy Lai speelde presidentskandidaat in de leuke serie van Netflix die een goed idee geeft van hoe politiek werkt in Taiwan. De vicepresident doet er niet echt toe in Taiwan, dus haar gebrek aan ervaring is minder belangrijk dat in bijvoorbeeld de Verenigde Staten. Tegelijkertijd is het Gou gelukt om hiermee weer de aandacht te krijgen.
Lai heeft een Amerikaans paspoort dat ze op moet geven. Dat zou de DPP moeten helpen als Lai Ching-te toch voormalige Amerikaan Hsiao Bi-khim kiest.

Terry Gou 郭台銘 stresses need for cross-Strait dialogue to promote peace – Focus Taiwan: ‘“Taiwan will not, does not have to, and does not need to become Ukraine,” the businessman-turned-politician said’
Terry Gou 郭台銘’s notion of a peace treaty between Taiwan and China revives longstanding KMT proposal – New Bloom
Zal het Gou lukken om de ‘diepblauwe’ conservatieve KMT-kiezers over te halen om KMT-kandidaat Hou Yi-ih te laten vallen?

Meet Ko Wen-je 柯文哲 (TPP), the 64-year-old former trauma surgeon who is running as a third-party candidate in Taiwan’s presidential election – Bloomberg: ‘Ko has few aides, little money and admits he doesn’t enjoy meeting people.’
‘While Ko agrees that the 92 consensus is “stigmatized,” he wouldn’t reject it outright. When asked what he’d say to Beijing about it, Ko says he’d answer: “There doesn’t seem to be a market for this in Taiwan. Shall we change the name?”’
‘During Ko’s eight years as Taipei’s mayor — the only public office he has held — he created plenty of controversy, most notably for comments about women that prompted accusations of misogyny.’
DPP’s Fan Yun 范雲 criticises Ko Wen-je 柯文哲 (TPP)’s ‘bizarre’ diabetes analogy for cross-Strait relations – Taipei Times

Deloitte denies TPP whistleblowing platform project scrapped over ‘political pressure’ – Focus Taiwan

Taiwan binnenland en economie

Taiwan to raise social welfare allowances, pension payouts for farmers – Focus Taiwan