De Chinese Wouden, vrijdag 26 januari: EU, Jemen, Taiwan
Nieuws uit Brussel over plannen hoe om te gaan met de Chinese economische dreiging wijzen op terugduwende lidstaten. Hongarije krijgt veel Chinese investeringen en stelt nu dat landen die klagen over oneerlijke concurrentie misschien gewoon niet concurrerend genoeg zijn (in tegenstelling tot Hongarije, dat natuurlijk zoveel Chinese aandacht krijg omdat het zo’n geweldig goed bestuurd land is).
In videoboodschappen ter gelegenheid van zestig jaar diplomatieke betrekkingen tussen Frankrijk en China brengen Xi en Macron beide in herinnering dat De Gaule deze stap in 1964 zag als een manier om de binaire logica van de Koude Oorlog te omzeilen.
Terwijl Chinese rederijen profiteren van hun vermeende immuniteit voor Houthi-aanvallen, zegt het Chinese ministerie van buitenlandse zaken van mening te zijn dat de veiligheidsraad van de VN geen toestemming heeft gegeven voor gewapende aanvallen op Jemen.
Prettig weekend.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
EU slows down de-risking plans for China in face of member state resistance – SCMP
EU moves to shield researchers from Chinese interference – POLITICO Europe: ‘The executive recommends that members create a support structure “to help research and innovators deal with risks related to international cooperation in research and innovation.”’ 🇪🇺
Dit klinkt erg als het in Nederland al bestaande Loket Kennisveiligheid.
EU’s trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis says any retaliatory trade probe by China must be ‘based on facts’ – SCMP: ‘envoy to the EU, Fu Cong, told Bloomberg on Wednesday that “there are many things that could be subject to investigation” if China chose to follow the EU approach’ 🇪🇺
EU Socialists [PES, known as S&D in EP] eye boosted ties with US and China—reject Green Deal ‘pause’ – Euractiv 🇪🇺
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 and Emmanuel Macron hail 60 years of China-France diplomatic relations – SCMP: ‘Media reports claim that Xi will make his first European trip since the pandemic to France this spring’ 🇫🇷
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 delivers video speech to reception celebrating 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic relations – Xinhua: 🇫🇷
With extraordinary wisdom and courage, Chairman Mao Zedong and General Charles de Gaulle opened the door for exchanges and cooperation between China and the West, bringing hope to the world amid the Cold War, Xi noted.
[…]
Macron said that 60 years ago, General Charles de Gaulle went beyond the logic of camp confrontation
German firms plan to increase China investment in next 2 years despite ‘reality check’ in 2023 – SCMP 🇩🇪
More German firms leave China or consider exit, according to survey – Reuters 🇩🇪
Let op het verschil in framing tussen Reuters en SCMP.
Italië legt Chinees netwerk schaduwbanken bloot – BNR 🇮🇹
UK police to counter hostile state threats with new unit – Reuters: ‘“I don’t want to be coy. We are talking about parts of the state apparatus of Iran, China and Russia,” he told reporters.’ 🇬🇧
揭開土耳其轉運網絡:出口管制下,台灣高階工具機如何持續流入俄羅斯? – 報導者 🇷🇺🇺🇦
Gedetailleerd artikel van het Taiwanese onafhankelijke journalistieke platform The Reporter over hoe Taiwanese werktuigmachines alsnog Rusland bereikten, ook nadat begin 2023 na Amerikaanse druk de exportbeperkingen werden verstevigd, met hulp van Turkije. Zie ook het Engelstalige twitterdraadje van de verslaggever.
Jemen 🇾🇪
US urges China to help curb Red Sea attacks by Iran-backed Houthis – FT: ‘asking them to convey a warning to Iran not to inflame tensions in the Middle East.’ 🇺🇸🇮🇷🇾🇪
‘Opportunistic’ Chinese lines send ships to serve Red Sea ports – FT: ‘an effort to exploit China’s perceived immunity from the Houthi attacks that have driven most other operators out of the area.’
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s Regular Press Conference on January 24, 2024 – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China:
Reuters: The Financial Times reported that the United States has asked China to urge Tehran to rein in the Iranian-aligned Houthis rebels attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea, but has seen little sign of help from Beijing. […]
Wang Wenbin: We are deeply concerned over the recent rapid escalation of tensions in the Red Sea. The Red Sea is an important international trade route for goods and energy. China has been in close communication with various parties and worked actively to alleviate the tension in the Red Sea. China calls for a stop of causing disturbance to civilian ships, and urges relevant parties to avoid adding fuel to the fire in the Red Sea and jointly safeguard the safety of the Red Sea shipping route in accordance with the law. It must be stressed that the tension in the Red Sea is a manifestation of the spillover of the Gaza conflict. The priority now is to end the fighting in Gaza as soon as possible to avoid further escalation and prevent the situation from getting out of control. In the meanwhile, we believe that the Security Council has never authorized the use of force by any country on Yemen and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen and other coastal countries of the Red Sea need to be earnestly respected. China stands ready to work with all parties to help cool down the situation and safeguard the security and stability of the Red Sea region.
Tech War 💽💥
Europe will miss 2030 chip market goal, says ASML CEO – Reuters: ‘Wennink said that worries China is overinvesting in chip-making capacity are misplaced.’ 🇪🇺🇳🇱
ASML ziet omzet met bijna eenderde stijgen, ondanks chipoverschotten en exportbeperkingen naar China – de Volkskrant 🇳🇱
Security recall: The risk of Chinese electric vehicles in Europe – Janka Oertel for ECFR: ‘these are among the most deeply integrated forms of consumer electronics that exist.’
Tesla cars face more entry bans in China as ‘security concerns’ accelerate – Nikkei Asia: ‘a growing number of government affiliates, local authority agencies, highway operators and even cultural and exhibition centers have restricted Tesla cars from entering their premises since last year.’
Tesla’s Elon Musk: China automakers would ‘demolish’ rivals without trade barriers – Nikkei Aisa
Intel partners with Taiwan’s No. 2 chipmaker UMC 聯華電子 in Arizona – Nikkei Asia
India awards one of its highest civilian honours to Taiwanese Foxconn CEO Liu Young-way 劉揚偉 – SCMP
Chinese isolatie van Taiwan 🇨🇳🇹🇼
A new diplomatic struggle is unfolding over Taiwan – The Economist
Certain countries must stop sending wrong signals to ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces – Zhong Sheng in People’s Daily: ‘The one-China principle is the political premise on which China establishes and develops diplomatic relations with other countries.’ ‘The one-China principle is what underpins peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.’ ‘The real threat to cross-Strait peace and stability is the DPP authorities’ unwillingness to recognize the 1992 Consensus which embodies the one-China principle’
Zhong Sheng is de gezaghebbende pennaam waaronder het Volksdagblad – stem van het Centraal Comité van de CCP – oproepen/instructies aan het buitenland publiceert. Het stuk, inclusief het citaat, staan vol feitelijke onjuistheden.
Tuvalu expected to review Taiwan ties after election, minister tells Reuters – Reuters: ‘adding voters in the tiny Pacific Island nation wanted more financial support from the international community for climate change and development.’ 🇹🇻
Former Taiwan ally Nauru re-establishes diplomatic ties with China – Reuters: ‘According to the document Nauru recognises that there is “only one China in the world” governed by the People’s Republic of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.’ 🇳🇷
Full Text: Joint Communique on the Resumption of Diplomatic Relations Between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Nauru – Xinhua 🇳🇷
Philippine President Marcos asserts One-China policy, defends congratulations as courtesy – GMA News: ‘“[…] We are not endorsing Taiwanese independence. Taiwan is a province of China but the manner in which they will be brought together again is an internal matter,” Marcos said.’ 🇵🇭
International society unswervingly adheres to one-China principle – Xinhua: ‘As its consistent position, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) respects and supports the one-China principle [!], said ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn’
Dit klopt niet: ASEAN heeft niet eens een eigen één-Chinabeleid.
Kao Kim Hourn is Cambodjaans.
Blijf voorzichtig met Chinese berichten: zo stelt het Chineestalige transcript van een persconferentie van het ministerie van buitenlandse zaken dat Brazilië en Jamaica zich committeren aan hun eigen ‘één-Chinabeleid’, maar in het Engels wordt dat ineens Pekings ‘één-Chinaprincipe’.
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 looks abroad for confidence – The Economist’s Chaguan
In the telling of Mr Xi’s chief diplomats, events are now vindicating that chilly realism. Pragmatic, predictable China, they assert, understands what is needed to bring peace and enjoys growing respect in the developing world. They draw a contrast with Western governments that bluster about upholding moral principles, then leave poor countries to pay the price as conflicts drive millions from their homes or as sanctions cause food and fuel prices to spike. Seen from Beijing, liberal democracies are being torn apart by political arguments. […]
[…]
Since Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2022, Chinese officials have scoffed that Western unity over the war would not last. Now, with American aid in the balance, a well-connected scholar contrasts China’s cool-headed analysis of the conflict with the “emotional” approach of European politicians.
Between China and Russia, landlocked Mongolia eyes summit with both to enhance ties as geopolitical pressures mount – SCMP: ‘a gathering of the neighbours could speed up new railway connections, economic corridor developments and a widely watched gas pipeline’ 🇲🇳🇷🇺
Weekend 🏝️📚
Longreads en achtergrond
💡 2023 letter – Dan Wang: ‘Xi is talking about national greatness without backing it up with economic growth. The trouble is that when people suffer […] they start to doubt.’ ‘Xi is not telling a good national story to help people make sense of economic slowdown.’
The reason China can’t stop its decline – Howard W. French for Foreign Policy
Recensie: ‘Ondergrondse historici’ strijden tegen geschiedvervalsing in China – Follow the Money
Oceans under pressure: China’s challenge to the maritime order – Peter Alan Dutton for the Council on Geostrategy
Roadblocks ahead? Taiwan-Europe relations after 2024 elections – Marcin Jerzewski for CHOICE
Notes from Central Taiwan: Taiwan’s elections change nothing – Michael Turton for Taipei Times: ‘If only commentators had spent more time talking to cranky people over 50 who owned real estate assets, we might have a better understanding of what happened in the recent election.’ ‘Older voters reap the benefits of the current economy — wealth gains since 2000 have largely gone to older people with property. They do not want change, and they signaled that emphatically with this election.’
Surveying the Experts: US and Taiwan views on China’s approach to Taiwan – CSIS
Shih Ming-teh 施明德 was Taiwan’s indomitable fighter for democracy – Nikkei Asia: ‘Fahey said, “Many think that his prominence in the anti-corruption campaign against Chen was motivated by his considerable vanity and a desire for revenge.”’
Podcasts
💡 Xi’s new growth synthesis – Jude Blanchette for Pekingology interviews Andrew Batson 🍎 🤖 (transcript)
Beijing’s response to Taiwan’s election – Bonnie S. Glaser for China Global interviews Rick Waters 🍎 🤖
Taiwan naar de stembus: het referendum over China. Met Casper Wits – GeopolitiekNu 🍎 🤖
Bonus Episode: Linda Gail Arrigo’s verdict on Shih Ming-teh 施明德 – Formosa Files: ‘while, like many, she has a great amount of respect for the former political prisoner-turned statesman, Linda notes that history will unfortunately remember the errors he made in his latter decades that sullied his once-glowing reputation.’ 🍎 🤖
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
China’s PLA watches as US warship sails through Taiwan Strait in ‘provocative’ move – SCMP 🇺🇸
Interview: China’s human rights achievements widely acclaimed in Geneva, says ambassador Chén Xù 陈旭 – Xinhua: ‘China’s candid, pragmatic attitude and its efficient, orderly organization were appreciated by all [sic] parties, said Chen’
Xinhua Commentary: Lies about China reveal Western hypocrisy – Xinhua
China seals closer Uzbek ties, pushes railway route bypassing Russia – Reuters 🇺🇿
China denies providing weapons to Hamas in Israel-Gaza war – SCMP: ‘Earlier this month, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said they had discovered a “massive” stockpile of Chinese-made weapons being used by Hamas, according to a report by The Telegraph.’ 🇵🇸🇮🇱
China mediated ceasefire in Myanmar, but questions remain if it can lead to lasting peace – The Straits Times 🇲🇲
China economie
China’s attempts to lift confidence in economy fall flat – Reuters
China tightens access to offshore investment funds as domestic market founders – FT
China’s mutual fund houses are trying to tamp down investors’ enthusiasm for US stocks, putting new restrictions on buying into their products as demand soars – Bloomberg
China hoopt met miljarden aan staatssteun de beurzen overeind te houden – de Volkskrant
China’s brutal stock market selloff risks exacerbating a downward spiral of pessimistic sentiment, says Goldman’s chief China economist – Bloomberg: ‘She sees fiscal policy as more important than monetary policy this year, since the former can increase demand.’
China lowers bank reserve ratio, boosting stimulus as growth lags – Nikkei Asia
Guangdong government debt pile approaches CN¥3 trillion [€386b] – Caixin Global
China binnenland
Chinese leader Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 calls for ‘deep reflection’ on frequent accidents after latest deadly accident – SCMP
Xinhua Headlines: All-out efforts in search of landslide survivors as death toll rises to 31 in southwest China’s Yunnan – Xinhua
China vows to open immigration ‘at stable pace’, more policies to lure foreign talent – SCMP: ‘In addition, immigration officials were told to combat infiltration and disruption by “hostile forces”’
China’s Communist Party vows to take on ‘new and old challenges’ in People’s Daily article based on Xí Jìnpíng 习近平’s speech – SCMP: ‘as graft fighters report a record number of internal investigations of senior officials’
Science fiction awards held in China under fire for excluding authors – The Guardian
Hong Kong
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Taiwan voert langere dienstplicht in uit angst voor aanval van China: „Ik zou anders gewoon kanonnenvlees zijn” – de Volkskrant: „Peng steunt de langere dienstplicht, en vindt het goed dat Taiwan zijn nationale defensie verbetert. Maar hij wil voor zichzelf een vrijstelling proberen te krijgen, om onder de dienstplicht uit te komen.”
„Het Taiwanese leger moet zich volgens experts richten op asymmetrische oorlogsvoering tegen China’s overmacht. […] Het Taiwanese ministerie van Defensie is bezig met die omschakeling, maar dat is niet makkelijk. Dat blijkt ook bij de verlenging van de dienstplicht.”
TPP proposes panel to oversee effectiveness of extended military service – Taipei Times
1st post-election US congressional delegation arrives in Taiwan – Focus Taiwan 🇺🇸
Taiwan president-elect Lai Ching-te 賴清德 (DPP) signals desire to join US-led trade framework IPEF – Reuters 🇺🇸
Taiwan politiek
KMT formally nominates Han Kuo-yu 韓國瑜 for legislative speaker – Taipei Times
Third-party supporters lean anti-unification and non-populist, scholar says – Focus Taiwan: ‘Huang said TPP supporters were just as mainstream in their support for the status quo on China as were those of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and main opposition Kuomintang (KMT).’
Taiwan’s main opposition party, Kuomintang, is facing a crisis of relevance after its unprecedented third presidential term in a row – Bloomberg: ‘“The KMT has a pro-China problem,” said Professor Chia-hung Tsai, a research fellow at National Chengchi University’s Election Study Center.’
Online talk show The Night Night Show apologises over ridicule of disabled DPP politician by Tokyo-based Chinese guest Wáng Zhì'ān 王志安 – Taipei Times
China journalist Wáng Zhì'ān 王志安 at center of talk show controversy receives Taiwan entry ban – Focus Taiwan: ‘breached the terms of his tourism visa a by appearing on “The Night Night Show with Hello.”’
Responding to ableism with nationalism? The Wáng Zhì'ān 王志安 controversy – New Bloom
Groots uitgemeten in de DPP-vriendelijke pers met de nadruk op het feit dat Wang Chinees is.
KMT legislators eye absentee voting proposals – Taipei Times: ‘Absentee ballots could introduce additional issues, such as people voting from China and how to verify those votes, [DPP’s] Hung said.’
KMT’s outlines bill expanding access to assisted reproduction – Taipei Times
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Regulator NCC fines Homeplus over SET TV shares sale probe lapses – Taipei Times
EVA Airways 長榮航空 pilots strike set for Feb. 7 – Taipei Times
Court upholds espionage convictions of retired military officers – Taipei Times