De Chinese Wouden, vrijdag 28 februari: Twee Zittingen, wereldhandelsoorlog, Taiwan, PLA-geweld
De Twee Zittingen komen er aan – de belangrijkste week van de Chinese wetgevende kalender. Dinsdag opent de vergadering van het Nationale Comité van de Politieke Consultatieve Conferentie van het Chinese Volk (CPPCC). Op woensdag begint de plenaire zitting van het Nationale Volkscongres (NPC).
De CPPCC is de top van de pyramide van de verenigd front-wereld. Leidende gemeenschapsfiguren van binnen én buiten China krijgen de kans om in Peking gehoord en gezien te worden. De NPC is het hoogste wetgevende orgaan van de Chinese staat. De belangrijkste wetten en benoemingen worden op de plenaire zitting aangenomen.
Het meest kijken de commentatoren uit naar het werkrapport van de premier. Hieruit kun je de beleidsprioriteiten voor het komende jaar aflezen. Ik wens de meelezende diplomaten en journalisten in Peking al vast veel plezier met het meeluisteren vanaf de tribunes. De leiding van de CPPCC en NPC hebben al hun voorbereidende vergaderingen gehad. De vergadering van het Politburo, de partijtop, is nog deze week.
Wat betreft het Centraal Comité, Xi Jinping heeft ook al voortgangsrapporten van zijn ondergeschikten aangehoord. Xinhua gaf zijn toespraak voor die gelegenheid vrij. Aandacht was er voor zijn oproep om „kalm te reageren op uitdagingen die meegebracht worden door veranderingen in de binnenlandse en internationale situatie”. Deze woordkeuze laat zien dat de onrust van Trump meegewogen wordt.
Tegelijkertijd volgt direct daarop de oproep „vast te houden aan de algemene toon van het werk van het streven naar vooruitgang in stabiliteit”. Afgelopen december schreef ik over deze woordkeuze bij de Centrale Conferentie voor Economisch Werk, die zoveel aandacht kreeg vanwege de nadruk op binnenlandse consumptie. Thema was toen de contradictie-synthese „streven naar vooruitgang in stabiliteit, met vooruitgang stabiliteit bevorderen”.
Nu verwijst Xi’s woordkeuze hier weer naar. Dit versterkt de boodschap van kalmte. Peking speelt geen paniekvoetbal of bedenkt nieuw beleid op de korte termijn. Er zal praktisch gereageerd moeten worden op Trumps maatregelen. Tegelijkertijd zal Peking haar langdurig strategisch beleid voortzetten. China maakte zich al lang minder afhankelijk van de rest van de wereld (zie ook: dual circulation).
Deze Twee Zittingen zijn daarnaast de viering van het grote succes van technologische industriepolitiek Made in China 2025. Komt er volgende week een opvolger? Consumptie/Deflatie blijft lastig. Peking kan Trump en Europa onderschatten. Maar Xi heeft volgens zijn eigen visie alle reden om kalm door te blijven schrijden op zijn gekozen pad.
Om nog even terug te komen op mijn opmerkingen over China-Rusland-VS in de nieuwsbrief van afgelopen woensdag: ik moet denken aan een ‘skeet’ (ja) op Bluesky van Ankit Panda. Het nieuwe tijdperk, zegt hij, is niet eentje van competitie tussen grootmachten (great power competition), maar goede oude grootmachtpolitiek (great power politics).
Tijdens de Koude Oorlog wilde elk blok zichzelf zo sterk mogelijk maken door binnenlandse verbeteringen en buitenlandse allianties. In de ouderwetse wereld van de toekomst streven eigenbelang grootmachten na, waarbij de wrijving met andere grootmachten vooral gaat om controle over de overgangsgebieden. (The Economist spreek over mafiatactieken.)
In Kantelpunt aandacht voor gelijktijdige agressie van de Chinese PLA. Scroll helemaal naar onderen voor mogelijk belangrijke uitspraken van Wang Huning over Taiwan. Vandaag (二二八和平紀念日) is een vrije dag in Taiwan, vanwege de nationale herdenking van het Incident van 28 Februari van 1947, waarmee de KMT haar moorddadige ‘Witte Terreur’ begon op Taiwan – de staat van beleg zou pas in 1987 worden opgeheven.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
ASML-topman Roger Dassen: „Je moet wel zorgen dat de VS en China denken: Europa heeft wat te bieden” – de Volkskrant: „China is vooral groot in het maken van mainstream chips […]. Die zijn ook hartstikke belangrijk. Zonder die chips rijden onze auto’s niet. Stel dat je China compleet isoleert, dan loop je het risico dat de lopende banden in Europa en de VS ook stil komen te staan.” 🇳🇱
Belgisch parket opent onderzoek naar hack van groep „gelinkt aan Volksrepubliek China” die gegevens stal van Staatsveiligheid – HLN 🇧🇪
Des hackers chinois ont volé des données sensibles à la Sûreté de l’Etat – Le Soir : « Durant près de deux ans, des hackers à la solde de l’espionnage chinois ont exploité la brèche d’une cybersociété américaine pour siphonner 10 % des courriels entrants et sortants du service de renseignement belge. Les informations classifiées ne sont pas concernées, toutefois des données personnelles de près de la moitié des membres de la Sûreté sont potentiellement compromises. » 🇧🇪
Le Soir verwijst naar dit artikel uit 2023: Staatsveiligheid en militaire eenheid getroffen door hacking bij securityleverancier – Knack
EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič plans China visit amid soaring tensions with Donald Trump – SCMP: ‘will mark his first trip to Beijing as commissioner for trade and economic security and comes after a maiden visit last week to Washington’ 🇪🇺
‘Chinese vice foreign minister [Ma Zhaoxu] in Paris this week - comes after Hua Chunying, also VFM, went to Brussels last week after accompanying Wang Yi to UK, Munich and Ireland’ – Finbarr Bermingham, Twitter 🇪🇺
Spokesperson of the Chinese Mission to the EU speaks on a question concerning the inclusion of Chinese companies and individuals in the EU’s 16th sanctions package against Russia – Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the European Union 🇪🇺
China could take peacekeeping role in post-war Ukraine — but at what cost? – SCMP 🇺🇦
Iedere expert die SCMP aanhaalt is sceptisch over het proefballonnetje van Zhou Bo.
Servië verwelkomt Chinese investeringen in staal, maar niet iedereen juicht – FD 🇷🇸
Twee Zittingen
What to expect at China’s ‘two sessions’ and why this year is a bit different – SCMP
Chinese President Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 urged officials to stay composed amid domestic and global challenges – Bloomberg: ‘signaling Beijing will take a measured approach to the Trump administration’s new trade and investment restrictions.’
‘In his latest remarks, Xi also called on top officials to maintain social stability, promote the sustained recovery of the economy and steadily improve people’s living standards.’
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 stresses new responsibilities and actions in advancing Chinese modernisation – Xinhua: ‘Xi also called for calmly responding to any challenges arising from evolving dynamics at home and abroad, accelerating the establishment of a new development pattern, further deepening reform comprehensively, expanding high-standard opening up, and promoting sustained economic recovery and growth.’
‘Xi also asked the officials to enhance research and studies, adhere strictly to the central Party leadership's eight-point decision on improving conduct, and consciously fulfill their political responsibilities for Party self-governance.’
中央政治局委员、书记处书记等向党中央和习近平总书记述职 – 新华网：“要增强政治能力，沉着应对国内外形势变化带来的挑战，坚持稳中求进工作总基调，完整准确全面贯彻新发展理念，加快构建新发展格局，扎实推动高质量发展，进一步全面深化改革，扩大高水平对外开放，推动经济持续回升向好，稳步提高人民生活水平，确保社会大局稳定。”
Ik vertaal de hele, langer zin die achter de vetgedrukte Engelse indikking hierboven zat: „moet politieke capaciteiten vergroten, kalm reageren op uitdagingen die meegebracht worden door veranderingen in de binnenlandse en internationale situatie en vasthouden aan de algemene toon van het werk van het streven naar vooruitgang in stabiliteit”
Afgelopen december schreef ik over de contradictie-synthese „streven naar vooruitgang in stabiliteit, met vooruitgang stabiliteit bevorderen”（要坚持稳中求进、以进促稳） die zo belangrijk was voor de Centrale Conferentie voor Economisch Werk. Ook hier noemt Xi ‘streven naar vooruitgang in stabiliteit’ （稳中求进）.
Vermenging interne en externe uitdagingen betekent: rust in de tent, vertrouwen in plannen.
Two Chinese Communist Party newspapers echo Xi Jinping’s call for promotion of private sector in editorials ahead of Two Sessions – SCMP
Het commentaar in het Volksdagblad is nummer 1 in een serie, dit stuk opent met vertellen hoeveel Xi Jinping en de centrale overheid gedaan hebben voor private ondernemingen.
China’s national political advisory body holds leadership meeting – Xinhua: ‘Wang called for organizing political advisors to carry out extensive research and in-depth consultations on promoting the healthy and high-quality development of the private sector.’
China pledges more chances for Taiwan compatriots’ participation in Chinese democracy – Xinhua 🇹🇼
Deelname van ‘Taiwanese’ vertegenwoordigers is altijd een belangrijk onderdeel van de propaganda.
Exclusive: China plans to start injecting at least CN¥400 billion [€52bn] of fresh capital into some of its biggest banks in the coming months – Bloomberg: ‘following through on a broad stimulus package unveiled last year to shore up the struggling economy.’
China’s government strives to end vicious price wars plaguing several industries – SCMP: ‘China’s market regulator has convened a meeting with leading solar, automotive and technology companies’
Wereldhandelsoorlog 📊💥
Trump kondigt „binnenkort” importheffingen aan van 25 procent tegen EU – NRC 🇪🇺🇺🇸
Donald Trump threatens to impose 25% tariffs on EU goods – FT: ‘as he lashed out at the bloc, saying it “was formed to screw the United States”.’ 🇪🇺🇺🇸
Trump says tariffs on Chinese imports will double to 20 per cent and go into effect next week – SCMP 🇺🇸
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office says Taiwanese government seeks to give away chip industry to US – Reuters 🇹🇼🇺🇸
Eerder liet oppositiepartij KMT al een peiling doen om voor hetzelfde te waarschuwen.
Taiwan will not accept ‘unfair’ US chip tariffs, economics minister says – Taipei Times: ‘Kuo declined to expand on the comments, saying that any elaboration might affect ongoing negotiations.’ 🇹🇼🇺🇸
TSMC needs permission for overseas JV, minister says – Taipei Times 🇹🇼🇺🇸
Techoorlog 💽💥
Versimpelingen in Europa: de groene plannen worden door Brussel flink teruggesnoeid – NRC: „De Clean Industrial Deal, een groot industrieplan, gevolgd door een omnibuspakket met daarin verschillende versoepelde duurzaamheidswetten, staan voor nieuw politiek elan.” 🇪🇺
Brussel versimpelt milieuregels, maar versimpelt volgens critici vooral de werkelijkheid – de Volkskrant 🇪🇺
‘Koop Europese waar’, is de koers van de EU om de industrie te redden – NRC 🇪🇺
Brussels pitches €100B for grand plan to boost made-in-EU clean manufacturing – POLITICO Europe 🇪🇺
Chinese CALB 中创新航 lithium factory in Portugal’s Sines could get €350 million in EU reindustrialisation grants – Euractiv 🇵🇹🇪🇺
A Chinese court accepted a restructuring for lithium-ion battery maker Shanshan Group, in one of a growing number of court-led debt plans in the country – Bloomberg
Audi Brussels shuts down as Europe’s auto woes deepen – AFP 🇪🇺🇧🇪
Mercedes gaat volgens Bloomberg banen schrappen in China – ANP 🇩🇪
Tesla lijdt onder ‘Musk-schaamte’: beurskoers onderuit, verkoop in Europa bijna gehalveerd – de Volkskrant 🇪🇺🇺🇸
China’sBaidu 百度 and CATL to jointly develop ‘competitive’ driverless vehicles – Reuters
Singapore and other nodes in high-tech sectors face collateral damage as US tightens rules on chips – The Straits Times 🇸🇬
3 men charged with fraud, cases linked to alleged movement of Nvidia chips from Singapore to China – CNA: ‘after authorities raided 22 locations the day before.’ ‘The three were among nine people arrested during raids by the Singapore Police Force and Singapore Customs.’
‘CNA understands the cases are linked to the alleged movement of Nvidia chips from Singapore to be used by Chinese artificial intelligence firm DeepSeek.’ 🇸🇬
Singaporean chip tool maker sees AI opportunities amid DeepSeek 深度求索 boom after stock plunge – SCMP 🇸🇬
Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu 吴泳铭 meets Chongqing party secretary Yuán Jiājūn 袁家军 for possible AI partnerships – SCMP: ‘This followed Alibaba’s announcement of an ambitious plan to invest US$52 billion in cloud computing and AI infrastructure over the next three years’
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
Grote schietoefening van China voor de Taiwanese kust – NRC 🇹🇼
China holds ‘shooting’ drills off Taiwan’s coast, vows ’reunification’ push – Reuters: ‘”[…] setting up a drills area in waters about 40 nautical miles (74 km) off the coast ... without prior warning, […]’,” the ministry added. Taiwan’s major southwestern population centres of Kaohsiung and Pingtung are both home to important naval and air bases.’ 🇹🇼
China sends 60 warplanes and vessels near Taiwan – Focus Taiwan: ‘Of the 45 aircraft, 14 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, while 20 others crossed its extension and entered the southwestern and central parts of Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ)’ 🇹🇼
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office says Taiwanese government ‘manipulating’ undersea cable cutting incident before facts clear – Reuters 🇹🇼
China’s Ministry of National Defence warns DPP authorities: We will come and get you, sooner or later – The Global Times 🇹🇼
Australië wist niets van Chinese schietoefeningen tot een burgerpiloot waarschuwde – NRC: „De Chinese marine was al een half uur bezig toen een piloot van een passagiersvlucht er afgelopen vrijdag melding van maakte.” 🇦🇺
Australia’s intelligence chief says Chinese warship deployment designed to be ‘provocative’ – ABC News: ‘there was a “working assumption” that a taskforce comprising three warships so far from the Chinese mainland for weeks could have submarine support for at least part of the deployment.’ 🇦🇺
New Zealand’s top diplomat tells China sudden live-fire drills represent ‘failure’ in relationship – The Guardian 🇳🇿
China holds live-fire exercises in Gulf of Tonkin after Vietnam marks its territorial claims – AP 🇻🇳
Standoff in the skies: Witnessing an unsafe intercept over the South China Sea – The Japan Times 🇵🇭
Wat zegt het over de capaciteit van het Volksbevrijdingsleger dat het op zoveel plekken actief kan zijn? Wat zegt het over de doctrine van het Volksbevrijdingsleger dat het deze activiteiten op zulke agressieve wijze onderneemt?
In onzekere tijden moet de bevolking van Taiwan weerbaarder worden – bijvoorbeeld met een cursus – NRC 🇹🇼
Von der Leyen zoekt nieuwe vrienden voor Europa en bezoekt India met een zeer zware delegatie – NRC: „Voor het eerst reist vrijwel het voltallige college van eurocommissarissen – 21 van de 27 portefeuillehouders – met haar mee naar India.” 🇪🇺🇮🇳
US bid to divide China and Russia ‘doomed to fail’, Beijing’s foreign ministry says after Rubio ‘peel off’ note – SCMP 🇺🇸🇷🇺
What Donald Trump’s closer ties to Russia mean for China – FT: ‘The fragmentation of the western-led liberal order is a vindication of Xi’s worldview. For years, he has spoken of “major changes unseen in a century” — Chinese Communist party-speak for the decline of the US and the rise of China in a more multipolar world.’ 🇺🇸🇷🇺
America’s self-isolating president: No, Donald Trump’s Putin-wooing is not like Nixon going to China – The Economist’s The Telegram: ‘Nixon’s and Kissinger’s original intention was not to play a “China card” to contain the USSR.’ ‘America did not drive China and the Soviet Union apart.’ 🇺🇸🇷🇺
Een telefoontje tussen Poetin en Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 is niet zomaar een telefoontje maar een signaal richting Trump – de Volkskrant 🇺🇸🇷🇺
Weekend 🏖️📚
Longreads en achtergrond
Dutch Courage: The Chinese who took root in Rotterdam – Sixth Tone: ‘Around the end of World War I, a surge in demand for Chinese laborers led to the establishment of a thriving Chinese district in Katendrecht, with most Chinese seafarers arriving via British and German shipping routes.’ 🇳🇱
The Chinese migrants hoping for a new life in Germany – The Guardian: ‘hundreds of Chinese people who claimed asylum in Germany in 2024.’ ‘nearly 50% of Chinese asylum seekers in Germany were rejected.’ 🇩🇪
Seek deeper: Signs of China’s changing strategy towards European societies – Vladimir Shopov for ECFR: ‘China appears to be moving on from its strategy of focusing on elites and key actors towards pursuing a strategy intent on engaging horizontally, and with an ever wider range of entities and actors [in Bulgaria].’ 🇧🇬
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平’s purges have escalated. Here’s why they are unlikely to stop – Wu Guoguang for ChinaFile: ‘When Xi’s actions are viewed through the lens of what might be termed “Stalin Logic,” they become both less paradoxical and easier to predict.’
Why high medical bills are bringing pain to China’s economy – FT: ‘the system still lags developed countries in its coverage of chronic diseases such as diabetes or hypertension’ ‘“Moreover, China has disproportionately high incidences of catastrophic health expenditure compared with countries with similar economic development,” the authors of the paper wrote.’
Who works where doing what in China: A surprising new census shows a workforce being transformed – The Economist: ‘China embraces technology yet clings to agriculture. Both set it apart from other middle-income countries.’ ‘even China cannot entirely resist deindustrialisation.’
Focus on the new economy, not the old: Why China’s economic slowdown understates gains – Gerard DiPippo for RAND: ‘for Xi, while the current situation isn't ideal, it may be good enough.’
Interview: ‘Punkprofessor’ Michael Pettis: handelstekort VS is een probleem van de hele wereld – FD
The iPhone, the IMF, and China’s balance of payments – Brad Setser for CFR: ‘If the IMF wants to get its policy recommendations to China right, it needs to have a clear view on the size of China’s current account surplus.’
Donovan’s Deep Dives: The KMT is sabotaging itself – Courtney Donovan Smith for Taipei Times: ‘Historically, the recall votes that have succeeded have all been of people who offended a lot of people.’
Het valt op hoeveel minachting de leidende figuren binnen de KMT hebben voor ‘Taiwan’. Dat gaat tegen de partij werken.
One Europe, many policies: balancing EU relations with Taiwan and China – Sense Hofstede for Fondation pour la recherche stratégique 🇪🇺
Podcasts
US, China, and economic warfare: A conversation with Mr Edward Fishman – CSIS ChinaPower Podcast 🍎
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
China’s defence ministry says work on discussions with the US military are in their early stages, a development that could lead to an easing of tensions spurred by Beijing ramping up naval activity – Bloomberg 🇺🇸
US should be the first to cut its nuclear arsenal and military expenditure, Chinese defence spokesperson says – Xinhua 🇺🇸
US lawmakers warn that China could use Musk to influence Trump – Reuters: ‘Republican [China] committee chair John Moolenaar and Democratic ranking member Raja Krishnamoorthi’ 🇺🇸
Talks to sign South China Sea Code of Conduct ramping up, Asean sources say – The Straits Times: ‘Sources tell The Straits Times that the fresh momentum to ink the code […] partially driven by Beijing’s desire to constrain the actions of other claimant states as well as to pre-empt any moves in the region by the new US administration under President Donald Trump.’
‘say that Chinese negotiators have shown their eagerness for the COC talks to wrap up sooner’
Thailand zet Oeigoeren ondanks protest na 10 jaar detentie uit naar China – NOS 🇹🇭
40 Chinese nationals repatriated from Thailand in joint crackdown on illegal immigration – Xinhua 🇹🇭
Spokesperson of the Chinese Mission to the EU speaks on a question concerning a Xinjiang-related statement by European External Action Service – Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the European Union 🇪🇺
WUC condemns deportation of 40 Uyghur refugees from Thailand to China – World Uyghur Congress 🇹🇭
Thailand’s cooperation with China on cross-border crime comes at a cost – Mark S. Cogan for The Diplomat: ‘the reorganization of the region’s security along Chinese lines could be problematic for Thailand and wider Southeast Asia.’ 🇹🇭
China welcomes new search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 11 years after disappearance – SCMP 🇲🇾
Chinese and Filipino social media users at odds over claim on the Philippines’ Palawan province – Benar News: ‘The Chinese government has not publicly staked a claim to Palawan.’ 🇵🇭
Philippines should withdraw missile system from South China Sea, Chinese state media writes – Reuters 🇵🇭
Philippine presidential place to increase security following espionage threats – Philstar: ‘The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested two Chinese nationals and three Filipinos for allegedly spying on Malacañang Palace.’ 🇵🇭
China deploys advanced radar near Myanmar border, poses security threat to India – India Today: ‘in its southwestern Yunnan province’ ‘allowing Beijing to monitor extensive areas of the Indian Ocean and deep into Indian territory.’ 🇮🇳
Toen de Amerikanen het THAAD-systeem in Zuid-Korea plaatsten vanwege toegenomen dreiging van Noord-Korea, begon Peking een stevige economische en diplomatieke campagne tegen Seoel vanwege soortgelijke klachten over de reikwijdte van de THAAD-radar.
Cook Islands PM survives no-confidence vote over China pact – Reuters 🇨🇰
Australia discusses security and aid with Vanuatu amid competition with China – Reuters 🇻🇺🇦🇺
China economie
CICC to merge with Galaxy Securities 银河证券 to form China’s No.3 brokerage, say sources – Reuters: ‘would mark the second mega merger in China's $1.6 trillion securities industry in a matter of months’
Singapore’s CapitaLand sees China valuation nearing bottom – Nikkei Asia 🇸🇬
China’s regulator puts brakes on US stock listings for homegrown companies – FT: ‘US regulators, led by the Securities and Exchange Commission, have in recent years issued multiple warnings about pump and dump schemes involving small Chinese companies listed in New York.’ 🇺🇸
China steps up scrutiny of capital flows as yuan depreciates – Reuters
In Depth: How cryptocurrency gets used to move billions of yuan in and out of China – Caixin Global
China binnenland
Discipline inspection, supervision work yielded notable results in 2024: report – Xinhua
China must reduce steelmaking capacity by 15% over next 5 years to meet green targets – SCMP
Hong Kong
Ex-lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting 林卓廷 jailed for 3 years, 1 month for ‘rioting’ over 2019 Yuen Long attack – HKFP: ‘ Dozens — including Lam — were beaten and injured during the assault.’ ‘some [police] officers seen […] interacting with the white-clad men.’
Slachtoffer veroordeeld als dader…
Case of man charged with sedition under Hong Kong’s Article 23 security law adjourned to May – HKFP
Hong Kong to slash 10,000 civil service jobs, push AI in bid to reverse deficit – Reuters
China to lower asset threshold for Hong Kong and Macao institutions investing in mainland insurers – Xinhua
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
China’s no. 4 official unveiled stronger language toward Taiwan that signalled greater efforts ahead to intimidate the self-ruled democracy, as Beijing announced military exercises near the island – Bloomberg: ‘Wang Huning, who oversees Taiwan affairs for China, urged his nation to “shape the inevitable reunification of the motherland” [塑造祖国必然统一大势] at a meeting in Beijing’ ‘It marked the first time that phrase had been used by the government in Beijing’
Deze Chinese frase mist in de Engelse versie.
Senior CCP official Wáng Hùníng 王沪宁 urges resolute efforts to advance national reunification – Xinhua: ‘he called for standing closely with Taiwan compatriots, giving firm support to patriots in Taiwan who desire reunification’ [shape volgt hier]
‘stressed efforts to consolidate the international community's commitment to the one-China principle.’
‘strengthening the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee over work related to Taiwan.’ 🇹🇼
Fujian province launches latest incentive drive to tempt Taiwanese to work and invest in China – SCMP: ‘A policy document released on Thursday laid out 17 measures that aim to support cross-strait exchanges, state broadcaster CCTV reported’ 🇨🇳
CCP does not interact with ruling DPP, SEF says – Taipei Times: ‘preferring instead to go through opposition parties and local governments’
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council to amend cross-Strait rules to deal with Chinese residence permits – Taipei Times: ‘The statement was in response to remarks earlier yesterday by China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian’ 🇨🇳
DPP touted so-called international support for Taiwan only illusion, Chinese spokesperson says – Xinhua: ‘Zhu Fenglian made the remarks in response to the disclosure that the United States Agency for International Development had backed and indulged many non-governmental groups in Taiwan, either directly or indirectly’ 🇨🇳
Chinese captain of ship that allegedly cut Taiwan-Penghu cable remanded in custody – Focus Taiwan: ‘Wang will be remanded in custody and held incommunicado, while the seven crew will be released but will be monitored via electronic tagging’ 🇨🇳
Sentences increased in fake polling case – Taipei Times 🇨🇳
Donald Trump declines to say whether US would defend Taiwan in attack by China – SCMP 🇺🇸
First Taiwan-made submarine Hai Kun on track for April sea trials, defence ministry says – SCMP: ‘Under the timeline, the SAT will wrap up by October, ahead of the submarine’s planned delivery in November.’
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Cabinet to ask for budget plan and revenue allocation revotes – Focus Taiwan
Election commission approves recall vote proposals for 19 lawmakers – Focus Taiwan
Former TPP leader Ko Wen-je 柯文哲 allowed contact with family until March 10 on compassionate grounds – Focus Taiwan
President Lai faces pushback after call for DPP staff changes – Taipei Times: ‘pushback over a directive from President William Lai (賴清德) to refrain from hiring relatives or partners as assistants.’
DGBAS trims its forecast for GDP growth to 3.14% – Taipei Times
Premier urges strict execution of measures to tackle ER overcrowding – Focus Taiwan
Fourth LNG terminal’s EIA approved – Taipei Times: ‘After Taiwan People’s Party legislators raised concerns over the meeting’s procedure and the completeness of Taipower’s assessment, the discussions escalated into a physical altercation, with people opposing the plan forcefully occupying the speaker’s podium, temporarily suspending the meeting.’
Ex-diplomat fined, suspended over sexual misconduct – Taipei Times