De Chinese Wouden, vrijdag 27 oktober: Global Gateway, VS-China, druk op Taiwanese verkiezingen
Lauw nieuws uit Brussel.
De Verenigde Staten werken toe naar een ontmoeting tussen Biden en Xi Jinping tijdens de rap naderende APEC-top in de Verenigde Staten. Wang Yi is al in het land. Er zijn echter wel een aantal factoren die roet in het eten kunnen gooien, afgezien van de bestaande bilaterale spanningen.
Ik wijs op de Filipijnen en de voortdurende onrust in de Zuid-Chinese Zee. Maar ook op de bredere spanningen tussen het Chinese en Amerikaanse militair terwijl de PLA geen thuis meer geeft.
Ook zal de Chinese politieke druk op Taiwan alleen maar toenemen naarmate de verkiezingen van januari 2024 dichterbij komen. Ondertussen is er ook nog Israël-Palestina.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
China weert Nederlands vlees vanwege uitbraak blauwtong – NU.nl 🇳🇱
Nederland importeert minder uit China, vooral minder computers – AD: „De Nederlandse uitvoer van goederen naar China neemt dit jaar wel toe, komt naar voren uit de beschikbare gegevens tot en met juli.” 🇳🇱
Tesla not part of EU investigation into Chinese carmaker subsidies, but could still face duties – SCMP: ‘Brussels is instead focused on three Chinese-owned manufacturers’ 🇪🇺
China EVs: EU relieves Tesla, German carmakers from heavy subsidies probe – Borderlex 🇪🇺
China’s former envoy to EU Wú Hǎilóng 吴海龙 hits back at Josep Borrell, accuses bloc of focussing on negatives – SCMP: ‘Co-organised by Chinese think tank the Centre for China and Globalisation and Brussels-based institution the European Policy Centre’ 🇪🇺
Chinese Premier Lǐ Qiáng 李强 told his Russian counterpart that he wants to boost their trade and other cooperation, underscoring the nations’ close ties – Bloomberg 🇷🇺
China-Russia cooperation not targeted at any third party, premier Lǐ Qiáng 李强 says – Xinhua: ‘The two sides carry out bilateral cooperation with an aim to benefit their people, promote global development, and uphold fairness and justice, Li said’ 🇷🇺
China willing to provide necessary information in accordance with international law on Baltic Sea pipeline probe – Reuters 🇫🇮🇪🇪🇸🇪
Germany’s growing differences with China demand action, envoy to Japan Clemens von Goetze says – Nikkei Asia 🇩🇪
EU Global Gateway 🇪🇺🌏
EU’s Global Gateway meeting slammed as ‘business as usual’ – EU Observer
Opening speech by President von der Leyen at the Global Gateway Forum – European Commission: ‘For us is important that Global Gateway is about giving choices to countries — better choices. Because for many countries around the world, investment options are not only limited, but they all come with a lot of small print, and sometimes with a very high price.’
The EU and the US will launch the groundwork for a corridor to connect the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia with the Atlantic Ocean as they compete with China to access critical minerals – Bloomberg
De Lobito-corridor verscheen eerder al in Nikkei Asia.
EU checking how China-linked firm got on its business board for Global Gateway infrastructure drive – SCMP
Tech War 💽💥
A controversial chip in a Huawei phone that alarmed the US was produced on DUV equipment from ASML, sources say – Bloomberg: ‘A senior Dutch official confirmed that the Netherlands’ government was informed by the US about the Oct. 17 measures. But that doesn’t mean the move went over well: A group of Dutch politicians, including lawmakers from two parties in the ruling coalition, called for their government to take a stand against the new US measures.’ 🇳🇱
De aandelenkoers van ASML daalde na dit nieuws, omdat de beurshandelaren ook wel weten dat er nu nog meer Amerikaanse aandacht zal komen voor wat het bedrijf nog altijd wel kan exporteren.
Taiwan’s economic affairs ministry approves TSMC fab investment plan for Dresden, Germany – Focus Taiwan
China rushes to swap Western tech with domestic options as US cracks down – Reuters: ‘Huawei has emerged as the leading firm in this replacement cycle’
Stellantis neemt belang in Chinese elektrische automaker Leapmotor – FD
US curbs AI chip exports from Nvidia and AMD to some Middle East countries – Reuters
China’s internet addiction regulation could erode the user base of Big Tech platforms, analysts say – SCMP
Verenigde Staten en China 🇺🇸🇨🇳
China and US release duelling videos with accusations of provocation in the South China Sea – Bloomberg
China is turning up the heat in the Pacific. With talks between the U.S. and Chinese militaries largely frozen, Washington worries a misstep could trigger a dangerous escalation. – WSJ
US and China need ‘comprehensive’ dialogue to stabilise ties, China’s Wáng Yì 王毅 says – Reuters
US President Joe Biden set to speak with China’s top diplomat Wáng Yì 王毅 on Friday, sources say – Reuters
California Governor Newsom has surprise meeting with China’s leader Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 amid warm welcome in Beijing – AP
Xi meets US California governor – Xinhua
Leading Chinese academic and cultural figures call for Sino-US ‘people power and friendship’ – SCMP
China mobiliseert het hele soft power-/beïnvloedingsarsenaal (streep door naar keuze).
China upgrades diplomatic ties with close US ally Colombia – Reuters: ‘China now has strategic ties with 10 out of the 11 South American countries with which it has relations’
Chinese druk op Taiwan 🇹🇼🇳🇫
Amid Foxconn (Hon Hai 鴻海) probe, China tells Taiwan firms to assume their social responsibilities and play positive role in peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait – Reuters
‘Vreedzame ontwikkeling’ (‘peaceful development’ 和平发展) is het Chinese integratieplan voor nu de tijd van de zogenaamde ‘vreedzame hereniging’ (‘peaceful unification’ 和平统一) nog niet gekomen is.
‘Like it was with Jack Ma’: China puts world’s biggest Apple supplier in its crosshairs – FT: ‘apart from small-scale tax, labour or environmental audits, Beijing has reserved crackdowns for enterprises viewed as pro-DPP. The fact that the Chinese leadership is now giving similar treatment to Foxconn and Gou — viewed in Taiwan as the most pro-China on the spectrum — speaks of the dramatic changes under way in Beijing, Taiwanese observers said.’
‘Analysts said this could become a watershed moment in China’s relationship with international investors.’ ‘Beyond politics, Foxconn executives believe Beijing wants to warn the company not to shift too much production capacity out of China’
Foxconn (Hon Hai 鴻海) founder Terry Gou 郭台銘 lies low in Taiwan election as China tax probe reverberates – Reuters
Er loopt ook strafrechtelijk onderzoek in Taiwan naar zeven personen betrokken bij het verzamelen van de handtekeningen die Gou nodigt heeft voor zijn kandidatuur.
[Chinese] spokesperson lauds Ma Ying-jeou 馬英九 (KMT) for reflecting common aspiration [sic] of Taiwan compatriots [sic] – Xinhua
国台办:当前台湾正面临和平与战争、繁荣与衰退两条道路、两种前景的抉择 – 中国新闻网
Dit in reactie op Ma’s oproep in de VS aan de VS om zich ‘neutraal’ op te stellen door Taiwan aan te moedigen Ma’s eigen Chinabeleid na te streven. Enger is dat in de Chinese versie van de verklaring het Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office KMT-retoriek herhaalt dat de verkiezingen een keuze tussen vrede en oorlog zijn.
MJIB seizes NT$11bn [€320m] in illegal remittances – Taipei Times: ‘The MJIB is also to step up efforts to monitor Chinese coming to Taiwan on the pretext of “social interaction,” but who might be involved in attempts to influence the Jan. 13 elections or to conduct illegal activities, Tsai said.’
Les risques liés à l’ambiguïté : l’opinion publique taïwanaise, la crédibilité des États-Unis et l’efficacité de la dissuasion – James Lee, Chong Ja Ian, Pan Hsin-Hsin, Wu Chien-Huei et Wu Wen-Chin pour Le Rubicon : « Si Taïwan a confiance dans le soutien des États-Unis, en particulier face à une attaque non provoquée de la RPC, le gouvernement est plus susceptible de mettre en œuvre la nouvelle stratégie de défense asymétrique que les États-Unis encouragent désormais »
Goed stuk dat op basis van harde data terugslaat tegen de oneerlijke argumentatie van enkele Amerikaanse experts die zich meer al politieke activisten gedragen.
Filipijnen vs China 🇵🇭🇨🇳
Philippines to file case versus China over coral harvesting in West Philippine Sea [South China Sea] – CNN Philippines
Philippines eyes multilateral effort to avert South China Sea clashes – Reuters
Joe Biden warns China not to attack the Philippines – FT
Philippines and Denmark eyeing cooperation on IT and cyber defence – Philstar: ‘Mellbin also invited the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard for a study visit in Copenhagen’ 🇩🇰
Israël-Palestina 🇮🇱🇵🇸
Russia and China veto US push for UN action on Israel and Gaza – Reuters: ‘The initial U.S. text shocked many diplomats with its bluntness’
China vetoes UN draft resolution on Israel and Palestine, saying it departs from spirit of previous UN resolutions – Xinhua: ‘the United States introduced a new draft resolution that set aside the consensus of the Council members’
Explanation of Vote by Ambassador Zhang Jun on the UN Security Council Draft Resolution Regarding the Palestinian-Israeli Situation – Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations: ‘the draft does not reflect the world’s strongest calls for a ceasefire and an end to the fighting, and it does not help resolve the issue.’
‘China is by no means opposing the Council taking actions.’
‘China is by no means indifferent to acts that harm civilians.’
‘China is by no means indifferent to the sufferings of the people in Gaza.’
‘China is by no means denying Israel’s security concerns.’
Israeli envoy in Taipei says Taiwan a good friend, China’s response to Hamas attacks ‘disturbing’ – Reuters
How China sees Gaza: A blow to Chinese hubris in the Middle East, but a chance to bash America – The Economist’s Chaguan
Oost-Turkestan
Trial of Uyghur film-maker Ikram Nurmehmet arrested in Beijing to begin in Ürümqi this week – The Guardian
Hikvision violates pledge, includes ethnic minority analytics in latest platform – IPVM
Adrian Zenz. 2023. ‘The Conceptual Evolution of Poverty Alleviation through Labour Transfer in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region’. Central Asian Survey. https://doi.org/10.1080/02634937.2023.2227225.
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
Regional affairs should be decided without external interference: Chinese premier – Xinhua
Full text: Outlook on China’s Foreign Policy on Its Neighbourhood In the New Era – Xinhua
Japan equity fees top China for the first time since 1999 – FT
Weekend 🏖️📚
Longreads en achtergrond
China’s Age of Malaise – Evan Osnos for The New Yorker: ‘When I return to China these days, the feeling of ineluctable ascent has waned.’
De meest overtuigende kritiek op dit goedgeschreven stuk, is dat de auteur de malaise onder de elite sinds Xi verwart met de langer groeiende onvrede onder de middenklasse – een middenklasse die juist ook deels werd/wordt uitgebuit door diezelfde elite die nu de dupe is.
The multimillion-dollar machines at the centre of the US-China rivalry – The New York Times: ‘Vera Kranenburg, a China researcher at the Clingendael Institute, a Dutch think tank, said that while ASML had made clear that it would follow the regulations, the company was already chafing under earlier regulations that barred it from exporting a more sophisticated lithography machine to China.’
Politics poses the biggest threat to economic growth in China – Martin Wolf for FT: ‘The big question then is whether restrictions on technology will prove a binding constraint on the performance of the economy. I do not know, but I am sceptical. Chinese people are very innovative and entrepreneurial. The big issue is whether these qualities are allowed to flourish.’
Bij de Sovjetunie werkte het wel, omdat het leninistische systeem de binnenlandse innovatiecapaciteiten doodsloeg.
The visual language of China’s official press – China Media Project
How China’s global initiatives aim to change the way the world is run – Manoj Kewalramani for The Wire China
US Army faces logistics and alliance hurdles in the Pacific – Defense One: ‘Many contractors there have connections to China that would prevent them from working with the U.S, Martin said.’
China’s fake press problem – China Media Project: ‘Essentially, media dangle the threat of negative revelations in front of a company or individual before presenting paid-for silence as an alternative path.’ ‘The simple and obvious answer, which China’s leadership is unable to concede, is that it has created the conditions for media corruption by making power the only standard of truth that truly matters.’
China Software Testing Center A help desk for offensive teams? –
: ‘The authors note the meeting room is locked with a cryptographic lock and keycard access—in other words, a SCIF. The inclusion of such detailed information about a US national laboratory in a book about technology to evaluate the security of ICS systems is astounding. The book goes on to cover […], and a handful of EU or Japanese labs, though none are covered in as rich detail as Idaho National Laboratory.’認識中共的「白蟻式」滲透 – 程翔(Ching Cheong) 上報
Podcasts
Drum Tower: What does it mean to be Taiwanese? – The Economist 🍎 🤖
PLA Purges! What does it all mean for Xi and Taiwan Risk? –
talks to Joel Wuthnow 🍎 🤖China’s military diplomacy and its quest for bases abroad – China Global 🍎 🤖
The administrative foundations of the Chinese fiscal state – Pekingology 🍎 🤖
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 says China is willing to cooperate with US, ahead of potential meeting with Biden – The Guardian
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 says China is ready to promote win-win cooperation with the US – Xinhua: ‘Based on the three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, China is willing to work with the U.S. side to advance mutually beneficial cooperation, properly manage differences, and make joint efforts to tackle global challenges, contribute to each other’s progress, and push for common prosperity so as to deliver benefits to both countries and the whole world, Xi said.’
Veteran diplomat is Japan’s pick for China role in bid to cool tensions – SCMP
In ‘big test’ for India, China and Bhutan push to solve border dispute and establish official ties – SCMP
Kenya’s president didn’t go to China to get new loans, says finance minister – China Global South Project
China economie
China’s 1 trillion yuan [€130b] sovereign debt plan offers ‘positive growth implications’, Beijing eager to strengthen down the road – SCMP: ‘also passed a bill to allow local governments to front-load part of their 2024 bond quota’
China’s cabinet curbs debt growth of local governments in 12 ‘high risk’ regions, according to sources – Reuters
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 tightens financial sector control as new super-regulator takes shape – FT
With China’s property bust threatening to sink the country’s economic recovery, Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 is looking for someone to blame – WSJ: ‘Beijing is expanding its probes to include bankers and financial institutions that facilitated developers’ risky behavior, people familiar with the matter say.’
Country Garden 碧桂园, once China’s largest property developer, has defaulted on a dollar bond for the first time – Bloomberg
China Evergrande 中国恒大 did not file court documents for winding-up hearing by requested time, according to source – Reuters
Xi’s energy self-sufficiency policies trickle down to oil major amid cost concerns – Nikkei Asia
Nomura 野村 reassesses mainland China business plan as losses mount – Reuters
China binnenland
China passes patriotic education law for children and families, state media reports – Reuters: ‘to counter challenges such as “historical nihilism” and safeguard “national unity”.’
Xinhua Commentary: Landmark law ensures legal safeguards for patriotic education – Xinhua
China to tighten its state secrets law in biggest revision in a decade – SCMP
All China charities to be overseen by police and anti-spying agencies under proposed revisions to 2016 law – SCMP
All eyes on Xiangshan for signs of China’s next defence minister, thaw in US-China defence ties – The Straits Times: ‘According to a government insider, General Liu Zhenli, 59, who is chief of the joint staff department under the Central Military Commission (CMC), is the front runner for the job. A dark horse is China’s top-ranked general Zhang Youxia, 73, one of the commission's two vice-chairmen, who might be tapped to serve concurrently as defence minister while retaining his role in the CMC.’
‘“If Zhang Youxia gives the opening address at the Xiangshan Forum, it would be another hint he could become defence minister,” a government insider told The Straits Times, requesting anonymity.’
Hong Kong
Hong Kong to finalise legislation of Article 23 by 2024, set up patriotic education working group, John Lee 李家超 says in policy address – The Global Times
Chief Exec. John Lee 李家超 defends need for new security law; says Hongkongers understand why after 2019 unrest – HKFP
Hong Kong Policy Address: How city’s security crackdown targets ‘soft resistance’ – AFP
Hong Kong activist Owen Chow 鄒家成 pleads guilty to rioting in 2019 during storming of legislature – HKFP
Hong Kong national security police arrest jailed activist Owen Chow 鄒家成 and his two lawyers for allegedly trying to take complaint letter out of prison – SCMP
Advocaten arresteren…
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
US senators reintroduce Taiwan Relations Reinforcement Act – Focus Taiwan
Taiwan hopeful of reaching tax deal with US next year – Reuters
US lawmakers question Navy over bureaucratic delays for Taiwan weapons – Reuters
Taiwan congratulates newly elected US House Speaker Mike Johnson – Focus Taiwan
Shunning China, Taiwan pushes start-ups to explore US, Southeast Asia – SCMP
Coast guard expels 652 Chinese fishing boats this year so far – Taipei Times
Taiwan verkiezingen
Latest Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation election survey is more bad news for Tsai Ing-wen’s ruling DPP – SCMP: ‘A total of 53.5 per cent of respondents said they were opposed to the DPP staying in control of the government’
Taiwan News Poll of Polls, October 26 – Courtney Donovan Smith: ‘Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate and Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has dropped to his lowest point yet.’
KMT and TPP set to begin ‘party-to-party’ talks on January 13 elections – Focus Taiwan: ‘after deciding there is no longer enough time to hold polls or a primary to decide on a joint presidential candidate.’
Deadline voor handtekeningen voor onafhankelijke kandidaten (Terry Gou) is 3 november. Registratie van de kandidaten is 20–24 november.
KMT takes a stance against Medigen 高端 influenza vaccines to attack the DPP – New Bloom
Committee rejects KMT’s US pork label proposal – Taipei Times
潛艦國內供應商發表聯合聲明 促推動潛艦後續艦建立國防自主能量 – 自由時報
Negen bedrijven betrokken bij de bouw van de nieuwste Taiwanese onderzeeër hebben een gezamenlijke verklaring uitgegeven tegen voortdurende verdachtmakingen door de KMT van de kwaliteit en productie.
DPP’s candidate Lai Ching-te 賴清德 commits to preserving cross-Strait status quo at diplomatic reception – Focus Taiwan
她曾是中國幹部!民眾黨不分區立委名單外流 驚見新住民徐春鶯 – 自由時報
Taiwan binnenland en economie
DPP’s Chao Tian-lin 趙天麟 to cooperate if investigated over affair with Chinese woman – Taipei Times
De KMT laat niet voor niets Ma Wen-chun de aanval leiden met suggesties zonder bewijs dat Chao gelekt zou hebben, aangezien Ma zelf beschuldigd wordt van verraad nadat ze toe had gegeven geheime militaire documenten te hebben doorgestuurd naar in ieder geval de Zuid-Koreaanse vertegenwoordiging. De KMT-strategie in reactie op gegronde beschuldigingen aan de partij zelf is al tijden om te suggereren dat de héle politiek corrupt is en iedereen aan nepnieuws doet.
Envoys of Germany and Israel condemn use of Nazi flag at Taipei at protest outside the European School – Focus Taiwan: ‘believed to be part of a group of supporters of the German Old Mark Association in Taipei that has staged similar protests outside the school for years.’
Hou Hsiao-hsien 侯孝賢 is now retired from filmmaking due to battle with dementia – IndieWire
Retired colonel receives 20-year prison term after spying for China – Focus Taiwan
Cabinet passes a draft for ‘special associations’ amid calls to allow public servant unionisation – Taipei Times
Traffic bill a ‘joke’, says NPP – Taipei Times
Two pre-school workers in Taiwan caught taping at least five children to chairs and floor – The Straits Times
Taiwanese firms mixed about their business prospects – Taipei Times