De Chinese Wouden, vrijdag 2 mei: China Targets, economie geraakt
Bratislava in de lentezon toonde zich een mooi Habsburgs stadje. Ik had het geluk daar begin deze week te zijn voor het CEEasia Forum 2025. De Verenigde Staten blijven alle gesprekken domineren. Zorgen over wat Trump betekent voor Ruslands effect op Centraal- en Oost-Europa zijn groot. Ontwikkelingen in China zelf zijn dan minder belangrijk.
De economische gevolgen van de handelsoorlog beginnen vorm te krijgen. Chinese maatregelen lijken de pijn daar te bevestigen. Achter de schermen praat Peking namelijk met getroffen Chinese bedrijven over verlichting van strafheffingen op de VS. Naar buiten blijft de retoriek echter krachtig.
Het Politburo sprak vorige week al over ‘internationale handelsstrijd’. Xinhua contrasteert nu de Chinese economie met de Amerikaanse. De Beijing Daily bereidt het publiek voor op ‘langdurige oorlog’. Het ministerie van buitenlandse zaken heeft een campagne gericht op het Mondiale Zuiden over een behulpzaam China vs pestkop VS.
Wat betreft onderhandelingen met de VS blijft het een schimmenspel. Eerder hadden we Trumps leugens over zogenaamde gesprekken met Xi. Nu bericht kanalen van Chinese staatsmedia dat de VS contact zouden zoeken. Vanwege de druk waaronder Trump staat zou Peking niet hoeven te onderhandelen, maar met openstaan voor pogingen om in contact te komen is niks mis. SCMP schrijft daarnaast dat Peking voorlopig zou wachten met onderhandelen tot duidelijk is wie de bovenliggende partij wordt in het Witte Huis.
Ondanks de genoemde signalen is het duidelijk dat de boodschap uit Peking is dat China gelooft in de kracht van het eigen systeem t.o.v. een VS in verval. Bovenal lijkt mij dat voor de CCP het winnen van dit geopolitieke moment meer waard is dan de economische kosten.
Wat dit kan betekenen voor de wereld, blijkt uit de verzameling artikelen die volgen uit het project ‘China Targets’. Samen met een internationaal consortium van onderzoeksjournalisten schrijven verschillende media over de verscheidene manieren waarop Peking repressie exporteert naar het buitenland.
NRC heeft een voorbeeld in de manier waarop in Den Haag de politie en gemeente protest tegen het bezoek van vicepremier Ding Xuexiang op afstand zetten, terwijl de juichgroep georganiseerd door Chinese ambassade wel bij het Catshuis mocht staan.
De verscheidenheid van indirecte middelen waarmee Peking mensen in het buitenland achternazit is indrukwekkend. Het gaat niet alleen om de Chinese studentenvereniging in Nederland, maar ook vriendschapsbanden, Interpol, Jack Ma, lokale politie, organisaties bij de VN en zelfs extreemrechtse trollen, die de persoonlijke gegevens van Hongkongse asielzoekers in het VK in hun replies kregen.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Former aide to German far-right politician Maximilian Krah (AfD) charged with China espionage – Reuters: ‘The man, identified as Jian G., obtained more than 500 documents to transfer to China, including some classified by the European parliament as particularly sensitive, the federal prosecutors office said in a statement.’
‘He also spied on Chinese opposition members and dissidents in Germany, for example posing on social media as a critic of the Chinese government in order to obtain information from actual dissidents, it added.’ 🇩🇪🇪🇺
Watching China in Europe—May 2025 – Noah Barkin: ‘Clauss, who will serve as Merz’s top adviser on Europe, will be the first person in a senior role in the chancellery who—as far as I can recall in my 20 years in Berlin—has extensive experience in China.’
‘I’m told that the Americans are trying (unsuccessfully) to convince countries such as Japan and Australia to drop their support for Ukraine and divert resources away from Europe to China. And yet one diplomat who travelled to Washington recently was told that crushing European liberalism was a higher priority for some members of the administration than going after China.’ 🇩🇪🇪🇺
中国人民银行行长潘功胜会见欧洲高级官员 – 中国驻欧盟使团 🇪🇺
De directeur van de Chinese centrale bank was in Europa.
Wáng Yì 王毅 meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China: ‘Change is the norm of this era, but what remains unchanged is the mutual trust and support between China and Russia.’
‘the current rivalry between unilateralism and multilateralism is intensifying, and the contest between maintaining hegemony and opposing hegemony is unfolding around the world. […] As founding members of BRICS, China and Russia should strengthen coordination and cooperation within the BRICS framework’ 🇷🇺
Recruited for the war in Ukraine: Meet the Chinese soldiers fighting in Russia’s army – Der Spiegel 🇷🇺🇺🇦
Trotz Sedisvakanz: Peking lässt zwei Bischöfe ernennen – FAZ: „Kurz vor dem Konklave hat China eigenmächtig zwei Bischöfe ernannt. Das ist ein Affront gegen den Vatikan und ein mögliches Hindernis für Kardinal Parolins Papstchancen.“ 🇻🇦
Met police ‘maintain concerns’ about China super-embassy plan – The Guardian 🇬🇧
China Targets
Inside China’s machinery of repression — and how it crushes dissent around the world – International Consortium of Investigative Journalists
Frequently asked questions about the China Targets investigation – International Consortium of Investigative Journalists
Hoe kritische demonstranten tijdens Chinees bezoek aan Den Haag uit het zicht verdwenen – NRC: „Bij een bezoek aan het Catshuis werd de Chinese vicepremier Ding Xuexiang in januari warm onthaald door een groep Chinese studenten. Kritische demonstranten werden buiten het zicht geposteerd door de gemeente Den Haag. Hoe kwam dit tot stand?” 🇳🇱
As President Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 traveled the world, police swept peaceful protesters off the streets: In country after country, local authorities detained and silenced activists to shield the Chinese leader from dissent – ICIJ: ‘Across the seven visits, these activists were silenced for reasons including requesting permission to protest, practicing a spiritual movement banned in China or, like Wu, peacefully holding a sign on a city street.’
Beijing wooed Belgian socialist to spy on China-hawkish MP Samuel Cogolati, local media reports – POLITICO Europe: ‘Chinese intelligence services in 2020 approached Eric Dosogne, the then mayor of the Wallonian town Huy [nl: Hoei] and a political rival of Cogolati’
‘Dosogne had a close relationship with the Chinese state due to a city friendship agreement.’ 🇧🇪
« China Targets » : un élu PS rabroué par la Sûreté de l’Etat pour ses liens avec la Chine – Le Soir 🇧🇪
Staatsveiligheid bezorgd over contacten tussen China en PS-politicus – Knack 🇧🇪
China benaderde PS'er voor info over covoorzitter Ecolo – De Tijd: „Tijdens de coronacrisis kreeg Hoei 2.000 chirurgische mondmaskers via de Chinese ambassade.” 🇧🇪
Alibaba 阿里巴巴 co-founder Jack Ma 马云 implicated in intimidation campaign by Chinese regime – The Guardian: ‘faced a series of threats from the Chinese state, in an attempt to get him to return home from France, where he was living. They included a barrage of phone calls, the arrest of his sister, and the issuing of a red notice, an international alert, through Interpol. The climax, in April 2021, was the call from Ma.’
‘The transcripts show that on the call, Ma suggested all of H’s problems would go away if he would help in the prosecution of Sun Lijun, a Chinese politician who had fallen out of favour with the ruling Chinese Communist party (CCP).’ 🇫🇷
Interpol, un outil dans l’arsenal répressif international chinois – Le Monde 🇫🇷
Chinese authorities exploited Interpol and strong-armed one of the world’s richest men to pursue a target – ICIJ 🇫🇷
Revealed: online campaign urged far right to attack China’s opponents in UK – The Guardian: ‘Cybersecurity experts who have reviewed the posts say they exhibited some similarities to a major online influence operation that a Chinese security agency is suspected of orchestrating.’
‘Posts on X inciting attacks on Lau and others were directed at far-right figures, including Tommy Robinson.’ 🇬🇧
China deploys NGOs to quash criticism at UN organisations in Geneva – The Washington Post: ‘Their delegates seek to disrupt or drown out the testimony of legitimate NGOs on their findings’
‘Increasingly, the Beijing-controlled organizations are being used to monitor and intimidate those planning to testify about alleged abuses’ 🇺🇳
At the UN, China is deploying a growing army of puppet organisations to monitor and intimidate human rights activists – ICIJ 🇺🇳
Wereldhandelsoorlog 📉💥
Europe ready to make Trump a €50bn trade offer, says EU negotiator Maroš Šefčovič – FT: ‘said the EU was also willing to collaborate with the US to help address the impact of China’s export surge as a sweetener for a trade deal.’ 🇪🇺
EU plans to share paper with the US next week that will set out a package of proposals to kick-start trade negotiations – Bloomberg 🇪🇺
Global trade war: tensions spill into WTO session over China overcapacity and Trump tariffs – SCMP: ‘The [US] intervention was co-sponsored by Britain, the EU, Japan, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Brazil, each of which took the floor to express their concerns about China’s industrial excesses.’
‘In separate agenda items, China slammed the US for “providing discriminatory subsidies” to its semiconductor industry under the Chips and Science Act’
‘Beijing’s representatives clashed with the EU over Brussels’ tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicle imports and over China’s probes into subsidies in the EU’s dairy sector’ 🇺🇸🇪🇺
France is pushing to slap fees on small packages from discount Chinese retailers including Temu and Shein 希音 – Bloomberg: ‘in an effort to stem a flow that risks accelerating as the US implements sweeping tariffs.’ 🇫🇷
Chinese carmakers reset European ambitions as EU tariffs bite – FT: ‘the market share of Chinese brands in Europe and the UK is still small at 4.3 per cent in the first two months of this year’ 🇪🇺
Chinese carmakers are welcome to invest in Germany, visiting German Automotive Industry Association (VDA) chief tells China’s commerce minister – Yicai Global: ‘The VDA firmly opposes trade protectionism, she said.’ 🇩🇪
Volkswagen’s earnings dropped by 40% in the first quarter as higher manufacturing costs cut into margins and US tariffs clouded the German carmaker’s outlook – Bloomberg 🇩🇪
Recordaantal containerschepen schrapt of wijzigt route door heffingen VS – NOS 🇺🇸
De eerste effecten van Trumps handelsoorlog zijn al zichtbaar – NRC
VS-China 🇨🇳
Trump kondigt sancties aan tegen landen die olie afnemen van Iran, mogelijk grote gevolgen voor China – de Volkskrant 🇺🇸
Exclusive: A stronger China waits to see which Trump adviser will come out on top on tariffs, sources say – Alibaba’s HK-based SCMP: ‘China will hold off on entering serious trade talks with the US while it waits to see which of Donald Trump’s advisers will have his ear and how other countries will respond to the 90-day pause on tariffs, according to sources.’ 🇺🇸
China reiterates not engaged in consultations or negotiations with US on tariffs, foreign ministry spokesperson says – Xinhua 🇺🇸
US President Donald Trump’s administration has been seeking contact with Beijing to initiate talks on the massive tariffs Washington has imposed on China, according to a state media CCTV outlet Yuyuan Tan Tian – Bloomberg: ‘“China doesn’t need to talk to the US until it takes meaningful measures,” Yuyuantantian said in the post.’ 🇺🇸
【前哨】美方通过多渠道主动与中方接触，希望就关税问题进行谈判 – 玉渊谭天：“从谈判的角度来讲，目前，美国一定是更着急的那一方。”
“在美国没有实质性举动前，中方没必要和美方谈。但是美国如果希望同中国接触，现阶段对中国来说也没有坏处，中方需要观察甚至逼出美方的真实意图，掌握谈和打的主动权。” 🇺🇸
Op Bluesky, achtergrond bij Yuyuan Tan Tian in een draadje van Finbarr Bermingham: YYTT werd eerder al gebruikt voor het geven signalen bij gesprekken EU-China over EV-heffingen (waarbij het niet áltijd 100% inhoudelijk betrouwbaar was).
Nu schrijft YYTT dat China geen noodzaak heeft om met de VS te onderhandelen voordat Washington met concrete stappen komt, maar dat het voor China in eerste instantie geen nadelen heeft, als de VS hopen om met China in contact te treden. Met de toenemende druk op Trump, zouden het de VS zijn, die belang hebben om snel tot een overeenkomst met China te komen.
Het gaat inderdaad niet goed in de VS, maar kijk ook bij ‘China economie’ over de moeilijke economische cijfers in China én hieronder voor de manieren waarop Peking ook onder druk staat:
China has signalled it can weather a tariff war better than the US, so Beijing doesn’t want to acknowledge how deeply pain is already setting in – WSJ: ‘because it has increased, rather than decreased, its focus on exports as a cornerstone of the economy.’ 🇺🇸
Chinese authorities create list of US-made goods exempt from 125% tariffs, sources say – Reuters: ‘The quiet approach allows Beijing, which has repeatedly said it is willing to fight till the end unless the U.S. lifts its 145% tariffs, to maintain its public messaging while privately taking practical steps to provide concessions.’ 🇺🇸
China’s copper supplies set to run out as US tariffs bite, says Mercuria – FT: ‘as the market suffers “one of the greatest tightening shocks” in its history on fears of US tariffs’ 🇺🇸
Een maand na ‘Liberation Day’ is de Chinese export naar Amerika ingestort – FD
Niet dat de positie van de VS onaantastbaar is:
Donald Trump picks the wrong trade fight with China – The Economist’s The Telegram: ‘Since China first joined the World Trade Organisation a quarter century ago, it has developed a particularly Darwinian version of capitalism’ 🇺🇸
Why the US will lose against China – Martin Wolf in FT: ‘because the US is throwing away all the assets it needs if it is to maintain its status in the world against a power as huge, able and determined as China.’ 🇺🇸
Trump grants carmakers some relief from his punishing tariffs – The New York Times 🇺🇸
Small US businesses seek immediate relief from Trump tariffs, calling them crippling – SCMP 🇺🇸
US-China trade war putting thousands of American jobs at risk, business lobby group warns – SCMP 🇺🇸
Consument in VS en fabrikant in China weten elkaar te vinden nu handelsconflict prijzen opdrijft – de Volkskrant: „via rechtstreekse deals proberen ze de torenhoge prijzen te ontwijken.” 🇺🇸
Xinhua Commentary: It’s America’s mindset, not China’s economy, that needs ‘rebalancing’ – Xinhua: ‘While China has been modernizing its economic engine, Washington is stuck in a doom loop of its own making’
Beijing Daily writes that Mao’s protracted war insights offered as inspiration in US-China trade conflict – SCMP
Today, it is necessary to revisit On Protracted War – Beijing Daily
Xi Story: From grit to greatness, hard work builds a nation – Xinhua
Opinie: De misplaatste superioriteit van de Amerikanen raakt de Chinezen in het hart – Jan van der Putten in NRC
VS-wereld 🌏
China steps up propaganda campaign against US trade war – FT: ‘unleashing a series of slick videos portraying itself as standing up against American “bullying” on behalf of the rest of the world, especially the “weak” in developing countries.’
‘The latest video, titled “Never Kneel Down”, was released on Tuesday and warns countries not to make deals with the US’ 🇺🇸
President Xi’s diplomats are fanning out across the world with a clear message for countries cutting deals with Donald Trump: The US is a bully that can’t be trusted – Bloomberg 🇺🇸
China willing to work with Brazil to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and jointly address common challenges, foreign minister Wáng Yì 王毅 says – Xinhua 🇧🇷
Chinese foreign minister Wáng Yì 王毅 urges BRICS countries to serve as main force in safeguarding fairness and justice in the face of hegemonism – Xinhua
Japanese PM Ishiba champions free trade in Southeast Asia visit – Nikkei Asia 🇯🇵
Techoorlog 💽💥
Trump officials eye changes to Biden’s AI chip export rule, sources say – Reuters: ‘Trump administration officials are weighing discarding the tiered approach to access in the rule and replacing it with a global licensing regime with government-to-government agreements, the sources said.’ 🇺🇸
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 inspects AI industry in Shanghai, calling for its development – Xinhua: ‘The inspection trip came four days after China's leadership convened a dedicated AI study session, where Xi called for gaining a head start in this strategic sector.’
Nvidia raised concerns about Huawei’s growing AI capabilities with US lawmakers – Reuters 🇺🇸
Dit zal niet zo goed overkomen in Peking, waar Jensen Huang nog maar kortgeleden langsging. Marktaandeel voor Nvidia beschermen tegen Chinese pogingen om onafhankelijk te worden wordt zo lastiger.
ByteDance 字节跳动’s TikTok plans to build 1 bln euro data centre in Finland, spokesman confirms – Reuters: ‘as it moves data storage for European users to the continent’ 🇪🇺
Europe has risky reliance on China for low-tech chips, auditors warn – POLITICO Europe: ‘It warned the EU is “nowhere close” to meeting its own goal of making up 20 percent of the global value chain for microchips by 2030’ 🇪🇺
Onderzoek in Natlab 2.0: ASML kiest onderwerp, wetenschap de aanpak – FD: „Het publiek-private onderzoeksinstituut Advanced Research Center for Nanolithography (ARCNL)” 🇳🇱
Former ASML head scientist Lin Nan drives China’s latest EUV breakthrough, according to a research paper – SCMP
Nieuwe technologie helpt ASM door problemen chipmarkt te laveren – FD 🇳🇱
Faillissement dreigt voor busfabrikant Ebusco – NOS 🇳🇱
Chinese EV-bouwers vallen om nu subsidies opdrogen en een prijzenoorlog woedt – FD
China’s clean tech exports to emerging markets surged in 2024, data shows – FT: ‘Emerging markets accounted for 43 per cent of Chinese clean tech exports in 2024, up from 24 per cent in 2022’
Het slagen of falen hiervan is deel van de test van mijn argument in het FD vandaag over de machtspositie van de EU in onderhandelingen met China.
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
Most mainland Chinese citizens oppose use of force to unify with Taiwan, according to US survey – SCMP: ‘66.1 per cent said it was in China’s national interest to support Russia’s actions in Ukraine’
Trump security adviser Waltz’s exit may signal new China line – Nikkei Asia: ‘The de facto demotion and the reported resignation of Waltz’s deputy, Alex Wong, are likely to have implications for Asia policy because both are known as China hawks.’ 🇺🇸
Zullen veel zorgen zijn in o.a. Taiwan-kringen dat MAGA aan kracht wint op buitenlandgebied.
Japan zet in op diplomatiek offensief in Azië: „De situatie rond Taiwan is ernstig” – NOS: „Premier Shigeru Ishiba bezocht deze week achtereenvolgens Vietnam en de Filippijnen, waar hij defensieafspraken maakte” 🇯🇵
Japan’s role for ASEAN increasingly crucial amid US tariff standoff – Kyodo News 🇯🇵
Japan, China, South Korea, and ASEAN to widen currency safety net – Nikkei Asia: ‘Expanded Chiang Mai Initiative to cover pandemics and disasters’
The group chats that changed America – Semafor 🇺🇸
Weekend 🏖️📚
Longreads en achtergrond
Opinie: Chinees zelfvertrouwen bouwt op Europese markt – Sense Hofstede in FD
Begin april had ik mijn eerdere nieuwsbriefcommentaar uitgeschreven en ingediend bij het FD. Nu staat het online.
Facing CCP threat, rival camps find common ground on a Taiwan-centred identity – Wei-Ting Yen and Lev Nachman for The Diplomat: ‘The unintended consequence of China’s growing aggression is the deepening of internal cohesion on the island.’
The Dream of Han Innocence: Guldana Salimjan reviews “To the Wonder,” the Chinese TV drama that has taken audiences by storm. – LA Review of Books
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
China-Egypt ties reach new heights with joint air exercises – Nikkei Asia 🇪🇬
China’s SCIO releases white paper on Covid-19 prevention and control and origins tracing – Xinhua: ‘Substantial evidence suggested the Covid-19 might have emerged in the United States earlier than its officially-claimed timeline, and earlier than the outbreak in China.’ 🇺🇸
国际社会应共同维护科学溯源的正确方向（钟声） – 《人民日报》（2025年05月01日 第08版）：“大量研究表明，新冠病毒起源于中国境外。美国疾控中心和国立卫生研究院等机构的研究分析均提示美国多个地区存在早于武汉的多个新冠病毒阳性检测结果和线索，应该对美国开展全面深入的新冠病毒溯源调查。”
NB: deze ongefundeerde claim, herhaald door ‘Zhong Sheng’ in het Volksdagblad, is niet geloofwaardig. Veelzeggende escalatie in propagandastrijd met de VS.
New CIA videos aim to lure Chinese officials – Reuters: ‘The move comes after the CIA in October launched a drive to recruit new informants in China, Iran and North Korea by posting instructions online’ 🇺🇸
De VS gaat er ook scherper in.
US conducts cyberattacks against major Chinese commercial encryption provider, according to report – The Global Times 🇺🇸
Trump’s ‘loyal supporter’ confirmed as US ambassador to China – Caixin Global: ‘David Perdue, a former Republican senator from Georgia and longtime business executive in Asia’ 🇺🇸
Chinese national arrested with surveillance device near Philippine election commission – AFP 🇵🇭
Chinese navy patrols South China Sea, says Philippines creating ‘disturbances’ – Reuters 🇵🇭
China’s Shandong carrier makes rare show of force as US and Philippines hold joint drills – SCMP 🇵🇭🇺🇸
Chinese PLA Guard of Honor attends Vietnam’s 50th anniversary of south liberation parade – Xinhua: ‘As the Chinese formation entered the parade ground, the Vietnamese audience rose to their feet and greeted them with enthusiastic applause.’ 🇻🇳
China’s top diplomat Wáng Yì 王毅 backs Iran’s nuclear diplomacy ahead of US talks – Reuters 🇮🇷
Syria foreign minister says wants to ‘strengthen relations’ with China – AFP: ‘Shaibani met with the Chinese ambassador to the United Nations, Fu Cong, at UN headquarters in New York’ 🇸🇾
China’s military rapidly expands use of low-cost AI-powered drones in ‘phased leap’ – SCMP
China’s central bank president renews calls for IMF quota reform to boost the voice of emerging markets – Caixin Global
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 visits New Development Bank in Shanghai – Xinhua: ‘China has achieved its development through self-reliance and hard work. It will firmly safeguard its own legitimate rights and interests, as well as the common interests of the international community, Xi noted.’
China economie
China manufacturing activity plummets amid Trump tariff war – The Guardian: ‘Goldman Sachs has estimated that 16m jobs in China could be at risk if the high tariffs persist, mainly in the export, wholesale and retail industries.’
Trump’s tariffs are starting to hammer Chinese exporters – The Economist: ‘many exporters think Mr Trump will back down on his tariffs, as American consumers start to suffer from the lack of their products.’
Corporate China posts second straight year of falling profits – Nikkei Asia
China state airlines stuck in red as trade war darkens skies ahead – Nikkei Asia
China’s CSSC 中国船舶 shipbuilders ride wave of orders to profit – Nikkei Asia
China’s new private sector law takes aim at ‘profit-driven’ enforcement – SCMP: ‘underscoring Beijing’s determination to rein in local authorities and allay private entrepreneurs’ concerns as the country faces increasing economic pressure at home and abroad.’
China binnenland
Stay alert to external forces, Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 says as China embarks on 5-year planning – SCMP: ‘In Shanghai on Wednesday for discussions on shaping the next national five-year plan, Xi told [provincial] officials’
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 stresses sound planning for economic and social development in 2026-2030 – Xinhua: ‘targets and tasks should be set in a reasonable manner with approaches and measures to be proposed for each specific field, said Xi’
China mulls law on standards for national 5-year plans – SCMP
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 encourages youth to actively shoulder responsibilities in advancing Chinese modernisation – Xinhua: ‘The article highlights the role of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) in rallying young people as broadly as possible to contribute to building a strong nation and achieving national rejuvenation.’
习近平：激励新时代青年在中国式现代化建设中挺膺担当 – 《求是》2025/09：“党的青年工作也取得了重大成就、发生了深刻变革，党对共青团和青年工作的领导全面加强，团的立身之本和政治之魂更加牢固，共青团工作的方向任务更加明确，团组织的政治性、先进性、群众性更加鲜明，团干部的思想作风、工作作风、生活作风更加积极健康向上，在广大青年群体中的形象焕然一新。”
Toen men vroeger nog meer over facties sprak, plaatste men de ‘CYLC-factie’ van Hu Jintao en Li Keqiang vaak tegenover de ‘Princelings’ van o.a. Xi Jinping. Ik heb nooit geloofd dat een leninistisch systeem vastomlijnde groepen heeft – ik zie veel meer logica in op personen gerichte netwerken. Dit is een verder bewijs van de geleidelijke terugkeer van de CYLC de afgelopen jaren.
Senior PLA ideology official Miáo Huá 苗华 removed from China’s top legislature – SCMP: ‘The development could suggest progress in the ongoing investigation into Miao.’
Absence of Chinese general Hé Wèidōng 和卫东 from Politburo study session fuels speculation – SCMP
China’s ex-trade negotiator Wáng Shòuwén 王受文 takes lesser role as Trump tariff war heats up – SCMP: ‘at the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC)’
Star deputy at China’s top securities regulator Wang Jianjun in corruption probe – SCMP: ‘Architect of ChiNext hi-tech stock exchange’s 2020 boom’
Hong Kong
4 former Hong Kong lawmakers freed after years in prison under a Beijing-imposed security law – AP: ‘Claudia Mo, Jeremy Tam, Kwok Ka-ki and Gary Fan were among 47 activists arrested in 2021 for their roles in an unofficial primary election.’
Hong Kong legislature passes HK$822.3 billion [€94bn] budget bill for 2025-26 – HKFP
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Foreign ministry denounces Somalia for no longer accepting Taiwan passport – Focus Taiwan: ‘Somalia’s government said it was making the decision to honor the “one-China principle” upheld by Beijing’ 🇸🇴
Foreign ministry welcomes group from LDP Youth Division – Taipei Times 🇯🇵
Taiwan to send team to Geneva despite no invitation to WHA event – Focus Taiwan 🇺🇳
Artillery shell automated production planned – Taipei Times
Taiwanese authorities set up platform for coordinated response to undersea cable disruptions – SCMP
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Campaigners secure signed petitions to recall 2 KMT lawmakers – Focus Taiwan
Three officials’ detention requested in Keelung recall signature forgery probe – Taipei Times: ‘Chang is suspected of accessing the household registration system to assist with recall campaigns targeting Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) city councilors’
Keelung official resigns amid recall vote scandal – Taipei Times
KMT New Taipei trio questioned over alleged forgery – Taipei Times
China Unification Promotion Party official sentenced in vote case – Taipei Times: ‘a suspended two-year sentence for breaching election laws by paying for signatures to support the presidential bid of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co founder Terry Gou’
Donovan’s Deep Dives: The pundits were wrong on Taipei Mayor Chiang’s big move – Courtney Donovan Smith for Taipei Times
Taiwan’s GDP grows 5.37% in Q1 advance estimate – Focus Taiwan