De Chinese Wouden, vrijdag 29 november: Schoof belt Li, corrupte admiraals, Lai naar VS
De Nederlandse minister-president Dick Schoof had zijn eerste telefoongesprek met de Chinese premier Li Qiang. Volgens de grondwet van de Chinese staat is de rol van de president vooral ceremonieel en is dus Li het regeringshoofd. Leuk voor Schoof. Helaas voor beide mannen is Li slechts de no. 2 in de Partij, en daar is Xi wel ook formeel de baas.
De rol van de premier is in de praktijk erg gericht op de economie en daarover hadden Schoof en Li genoeg te bespreken. De tweet van Schoof noemde klimaatadaptatie en verduurzaming (en Oekraïne), maar het Chinese staatspersbureau Xinhua had het natuurlijk over de hoop dat Nederland een stimulans kan zijn voor handel i.p.v. een blokkade. Li en ASML zullen opgelucht ademhalen dat de nieuwe ronde Amerikaanse techmaatregelen – de laatste onder Biden – minder scherp lijken te worden dan verwacht.
In Taipei was minister van buitenlandse zaken Lin Chia-lung te gast bij een evenement van de Nederlandse vertegenwoordiging in Taiwan. In 2024 staan/stonden beide landen stil bij 400 jaar ‘contact’ (kolonisatie van Taiwan begon met de VOC in 1624). Wolkenkrabber Taipei 101 lichtte oranje op.
Komende week begint de nieuwe Europese Commissie haar werk. Peking zal teleurgesteld zijn dat het Ursula von der Leyen (EVP) gelukt is een tweede termijn als voorzitter te verwerven. Vanwege haar doortastende China-beleid en coördinatie met Biden was China haar liever kwijt dan rijk geweest. Haar nieuwe commissie is een stukje rechtser dan de vorige en zal een regering Trump te vriend moeten houden. Het zal eerder harder dan zachter gaan in de tweede termijn van Von der Leyen – zeker aangezien ze beter zal samenwerken met Kallas dan Borrell.
Het grootste nieuws betreft de Chinese strijdkrachten. De koppen gaan over de claims van de Financial Times dat minister van defensie admiraal Dong Jun onderwerp van een corruptieonderzoek zou zijn. Als dat klopt, dan zou hij zijn twee directe voorgangers achterna gaan, waaronder de verdwenen ex-generaal Li Shangfu. Er is nog geen zekerheid.
Wel is bevestigd dat er onderzoek loopt naar admiraal Miao Hua. Miao is eigenlijk belangrijker dan Dong. De defensieminister en zijn ministerie zijn relatief onbelangrijk en vooral voor externe betrekkingen. Het Volksbevrijdingsleger (PLA) wordt aangestuurd door de Centrale Militaire Commissie (CMC) van de Partij.
Dong is geen lid van die CMC. Miao wel. Miao is ook de directeur van de Afdeling voor Politiek Werk van de CMC, verantwoordelijk voor al het politieke (dus partij-) werk in de strijdkrachten. Ook overlapte Miao met Xi Jinping in Fujian.
Dat Dong niet na verloop van tijd lid werd van de CMC, zou eventueel een vroeg signaal zijn geweest voor problemen. Andere bronnen menen dat Dong niet zelf in de problemen is, maar simpelweg werd gehoord in het onderzoek naar Miao. Het een sluit het ander natuurlijk niet uit.
Voorlopig is wel duidelijk dat de corruptiecampagne in de PLA nog niet ten einde is. Bill Bishop vraagt zich zelf af of de nieuwe vervolging van de Shanghainese bestuurder Zhu Zhisong ermee te maken heeft, aangezien hij ook een verleden in militaire cirkels heeft.
Dit blijft wel pijnlijk voor Xi Jinping. Na Li Shangfu gaat het nu weer over door hemzelf aangewezen functionaris(sen). Betrouwbare strijdkrachten zijn belangrijk voor zijn geloofwaardigheid in binnen- en buitenland. Gaat het hier om restanten van corruptie? Is hij nog niet klaar met het verkrijgen van de volledige politieke controle?
We gaan snel nog meer Chinees militair nieuws krijgen. Nu is bevestigd, dat Taiwans president Lai als onderdeel van zijn eerste buitenlandse reis ‘tussenstoppen’ zal maken in de Verenigde Staten. Hij gaat op staatsbezoek naar de Taiwanese diplomatieke partners in de Still Oceaan. Daarbij komen een ‘transit’ van twee nachten in de Amerikaanse staat Hawaii en eentje van één nacht in het Amerikaanse territorium Guam.
Dat hij niet naar Amerikaanse vasteland gaat, zou je kunnen zien als signaal van moderatie. Alsnog is Peking niet blij. Taiwanese functionarissen voorspellen al dat de PLA weer met militaire oefeningen zal komen in respons. Kijken we straks naar een Joint Sword-2024C?
Een nogal zware nieuwsbrief met veel te lezen op deze vrijdag. Fijn weekend!
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
‘📞: Goed om vandaag kennis te maken met premier Li Qiang. De relatie met China is van groot belang voor Nederland. Naast onze omvangrijke handelsrelatie werken we samen op verschillende terreinen, waaronder klimaatadaptatie en het verduurzamen van onze economieën. In het gesprek benadrukte ik ook waar onze zorgen zitten, zoals het belang van een gelijk speelveld voor onze bedrijven en uiteraard de Russische agressie-oorlog tegen Oekraïne. We roepen China op om zoveel mogelijk druk uit te oefenen op Rusland om deze oorlog te beëindigen. Ik zie uit naar de verdere samenwerking met premier Li.’ – Dick Schoof, Twitter 🇳🇱
China ready to expand economic and trade exchanges with Netherlands, Chinese Premier Lǐ Qiáng 李强 says during phone call with Dick Schoof – Xinhua: ‘The Netherlands is ready to serve as a gateway for China’s cooperation with Europe’ 🇳🇱
Jan Paternotte (D66): „Stop met het idee dat we vrienden zijn met China” – EW Magazine: „China is een bedreiging voor de huidige wereldorde en daarmee voor de democratische wereld. Punt.” 🇳🇱
‘I attended the event hosted by the Netherlands Office in Taipei, celebrating 400 years of #Taiwan 🇹🇼-#Netherlands 🇳🇱 ties. Taipei 101 was lit up in orange. I deeply appreciate the Netherlands’ support for Taiwan and look forward to stronger relations in the future.’ – Foreign Minister 林佳龍 Lin Chia-lung, Twitter 🇳🇱
Zorgen over spionage [en vooral over afhankelijkheden] bij nieuwe elektrische bussen uit China voor Groningen – RTV Noord: „D66-Statenlid Paula Benjamins vraagt zich af of het vervoersbedrijf er wel verstandig aan doet om Chinese bussen te laten rijden in Groningen.” 🇳🇱
De kop dekt de lading van de zorgen in de provinciale staten niet helemaal.
Rijksambtenaren schrikken van bureausensoren ‘made in China’ – ANP: „Nader onderzoek wijst uit dat alleen de verpakking uit China komt” 🇳🇱
The Chinese ship Yi Peng 3 伊鹏3 is suspected of deliberately severing two critical cables in the Baltic by dragging its anchor along the seabed for over 100 miles – WSJ: ‘Their probe now centers on whether the captain of the Chinese-owned ship, which departed the Russian Baltic port of Ust-Luga on Nov. 15, was induced by Russian intelligence to carry out the sabotage.’ 🇷🇺
Sweden seeks clarity from China about suspected sabotage of undersea cables – The Guardian: ‘Sweden has announced that it has sent a formal request to China for cooperation’ 🇸🇪
China’s support for Russia has hurt its relations with Europe, say Nordic and Baltic states – FT: ‘as they also urged the EU to urgently toughen its response to hybrid warfare such as sabotage of critical infrastructure.’
Peking heeft het vertrouwen bij dit soort zaken verspeeld door zo dicht naast Rusland te staan.
Volkswagen confirms plans to exit controversial Xinjiang operation – Reuters: ‘Volkswagen and its Chinese partner agreed to sell the asset to a Shanghai government-owned buyer’ 🇩🇪
Volkswagen zieht sich aus Uiguren-Region Xinjiang zurück – FAZ: „Wie VW am Mittwoch mitteilte, wird das umstrittene Werk in der Provinzhauptstadt Urumqi an ein chinesisches Unternehmen verkauft. Das gleiche Unternehmen, SMVIC aus Schanghai, übernimmt auch die Teststrecke in Xinjiang, bei deren Bau möglicherweise Zwangsarbeiter zum Einsatz kamen.“ 🇩🇪
All set for future mobility: Volkswagen Group and SAIC 上汽集团 strengthen long-standing partnership with new joint venture agreement – Volkswagen Group: ‘an extension of their joint venture agreement’ 🇩🇪
‘Hungary to sign an extradition treaty with China […]’ – Finbarr Bermingham, Twitter 🇭🇺
New insights on Slovakia PM Robert Fico’s trip to China (a quick take on FOIA-obtained documents) – Matej Šimalčík 🇸🇰
China’s top legislator Zhào Lèjì 赵乐际 pledges deeper cooperation with Spain – Xinhua: ‘meeting with Spanish King Felipe VI’
‘China appreciates Spain’s adherence to the one-China principle’ ‘Sanchez said Spain abides by the one-China policy.’ 🇪🇸
British Parliament rejects China’s UN Resolution 2758 claims over Taiwan – Nikkei Asia 🇬🇧
Ruslands oorlog 🇷🇺
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning’s Regular Press Conference on November 28, 2024 – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China:
TASS: The New York Times reported that some US and EU officials proposed giving Ukraine nuclear weapons. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment?
Mao Ning: China is paying close attention to the nuclear risks triggered by the Ukraine crisis and has reiterated time and again that nuclear weapons should not be used and nuclear war must not be fought. Under the current circumstances, all parties need to remain calm and exercise restraint, and jointly seek to cool down the situation through dialogue and consultation to reduce strategic risks.
Een kenmerk van de vorige regering Trump was dat Peking veel actiever was met het verspreiden van samenzweringstheorieën. Gaan we dat nu weer krijgen?
China and Russia agree to deepen cooperation on Arctic shipping route – SCMP: ‘The two nations had reached consensus on the mechanism and goals of a subcommittee on cooperation on the Northern Sea Route’ 🇷🇺
Corruptie PLA 🪖💴
High-ranking military official in China, Political Work Department director Miáo Huá 苗华, is placed under investigation, defence ministry says – AP: ‘Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said Miao is under investigation for “serious violations of discipline,” which usually alludes to issues of corruption.’
Senior PLA ideology official Miáo Huá 苗华 under investigation for ‘serious discipline violations’ – SCMP: ‘In the second such denial from Beijing in two days, Wu also rejected a media report that Defence Minister Dong Jun was under investigation for alleged corruption.’
Het zou kunnen dat Dong ondervraagd is voor het onderzoek naar Miao en dat bronnen dit interpreteerden als onderzoek naar Dong zelf. Het zou ook kunnen dat Dong als verdachte betrokken is/raakt.
Derde Chinese defensieminister op rij dreigt plaats te moeten maken in verband met mogelijke corruptie – de Volkskrant
China’s defence minister Dǒng Jūn 董军 placed under investigation for corruption – FT: ‘according to current and former US officials familiar with the situation.’
‘He is the third consecutive serving or former defence minister to be investigated for alleged corruption.’
‘The news comes a week after Dong attended an Asian defence meeting in Laos at which he refused to meet US defence secretary Lloyd Austin’
‘Earlier this year, Dong was not appointed to the CMC as expected, in an unusual development that raised questions about his tenure.’
Latest graft probe on China defence minister Dǒng Jūn 董军 a blow to foreign engagement – The Straits Times: ‘“We need to remind ourselves the defence minister role under the PRC system is mostly a ceremonial one,” said Dr James Char’
China’s foreign ministry calls report that Defence Minister Dǒng Jūn 董军 is under probe ‘shadow-chasing’ – Reuters
China Defence Minister Dǒng Jūn 董军’s fate unclear as corruption probe sparks differing account – Reuters: ‘two U.S. officials told Reuters that he was being investigated for corruption while another urged caution.’
Sinocism 28 November – Bill Bishop: ‘One other sign of a continued investigation into parts of the military industrial complex may be the investigation of Shanghai official Zhu Zhisong, who before moving to the Shanghai government in 2014 spent his career in the Shanghai aerospace system.’
China investigates Shanghai free-trade-zone party chief Zhū Zhīsōng 朱芝松 for corruption – SCMP: ‘he is the second “tiger”, or senior official, in Shanghai targeted by the CCDI since the Communist Party wrapped up a major reshuffle at its 20th party congress in October 2022.’
Party chief of Pudong New Area in Shanghai Zhū Zhīsōng 朱芝松 under probe – Xinhua
Handel 🚗⚡️
EU countries back duties for Chinese titanium dioxide – Reuters 🇪🇺
Een megabatterijfabriek en een strategische haven: China zoekt invloed via Portugal – Trouw: „Ja, de Alentejo is een arme regio en ja, daarom is iedere investering hier welkom.” 🇵🇹
Chinese steelmakers narrowed losses in October, after the government’s efforts to stimulate the economy encouraged more production and helped raise prices – Bloomberg: ‘Still, overcapacity and the impact on demand from China’s property crisis mean that steel remains one of the worst-performing corners of the economy.’
It’s not us, it’s you: China’s surging overcapacities and distortive exports are pressuring many developing countries too – Jacob Gunter and Claus Soong for MERICS
Trump 🇺🇸
In het Chinees-Amerikaanse conflict is Europa bijzaak – NRC 🇺🇸
Buy American to avoid Trump trade war, says ECB’s Christine Lagarde – FT: ‘The ECB president said policymakers needed to monitor […] a “rerouting scenario” for Chinese goods carefully.’ 🇪🇺
Interview with Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, conducted by Roula Khalaf, Patrick Jenkins and Olaf Storbeck on 25 November 2024 – European Central Bank: ‘Free trade with China is more attractive if it’s reciprocal and beneficial for both. Otherwise, the risk is that tariffs will be raised by Europe, as has already happened in the case of electric vehicles.’ 🇪🇺
China has a new playbook to counter Trump: ‘supply chain warfare’ – The New York Times: ‘The goal has been to use China’s status as the world’s factory floor to exact punishment.’ 🇺🇸
Trump’s trade chief pick Jamieson Greer, a Lighthizer protégé, set to push hard line and tariffs on China – SCMP 🇺🇸
Trumps handelsheffingen raken iedereen, maar niet echt hard – NRC 🇺🇸🇳🇱
Taiwan’s Foxconn [Hon Hai 鴻海] says global manufacturing footprint to shield it from Trump’s tariffs – Reuters: ‘Liu said Foxconn would only be able to share more details about the company’s U.S. plans after Jan. 20, once Trump takes office and his policies become clearer’ 🇺🇸🇹🇼
Hon Hai 鴻海 acquires land in Texas, said to expand AI server production – Focus Taiwan 🇺🇸🇹🇼
China’s state media praise some US firms for ‘strong collaboration’ amid fears of a new trade war – Reuters 🇺🇸
Positieve en negatieve voorbeelden aanwijzen zijn een gebruikelijk onderdeel van de Chinese aanpak.
Trump says to ‘un-unite’ strong strategic bonds between China and Russia. But how will he do it? – The Straits Times: ‘what alarms the US and some of its allies more are indications that Beijing and Moscow wish to expand their alignment into a broader and more sustained challenge to Western interests worldwide.’
Vol verwondering spreken over hoe geweldig Poetin is gaat Trump niet helpen om hem los te weken van Poetins oude vriend Xi Jinping.
Tech War 💽💥
The US is weighing additional chip sale restrictions to China that stop short of some stricter measures previously considered – Bloomberg: ‘The measures follow months of deliberations by US officials, negotiations with allies in Japan and the Netherlands, and intense lobbying by American chip equipment makers’
‘they now plan to add only some of those Huawei suppliers to the entity list, with the notable omission of ChangXin Memory Technologies Inc.’
‘would also sanction two chip factories owned by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., Huawei’s chipmaking partner’ 🇺🇸
China’s commerce ministry warns of ‘necessary actions’ if US escalates chip curbs – Reuters 🇺🇸
Chipaandelen in de lift na berichten over minder strenge regels voor China – FD 🇳🇱
Chinese companies are trying to poach engineers in high-tech Western industries by offering to triple their salaries – WSJ: ‘Staff with access to sensitive Zeiss know-how received LinkedIn messages, emails and calls from Huawei representatives’ ‘The push triggered an investigation by German intelligence officials’
‘One former Taipei-based employee of ASML said he received inquiries from Chinese recruiters every month for two years after he left the company in 2020. The engineer said Huawei was particularly persistent’ 🇩🇪🇳🇱
Twijfels over TikTok en fraude na verrassende uitslag van Roemeense presidentsverkiezingen – NRC 🇷🇴
Romania asks EU to investigate ByteDance 字节跳动 TikTok’s election handling after irregularities before ultranationalist’s stunning first-round win – POLITICO Europe 🇪🇺🇷🇴
France, Germany, and Sweden urge EU battery sector push to avoid China reliance – Reuters: ‘The issue is acute for Sweden after Northvolt filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States last week.’ 🇪🇺🇫🇷🇩🇪🇸🇪
Foreign smartphone sales in China drop 44.25% y/y in October, data shows – Reuters: ‘Overall phone sales in China increased by 1.8% to 29.67 million units in October, CAICT data showed.’
China declares space milestone in launch of ‘self-driving’ radar satellites – SCMP
South Korea is eyeing US$10.2 billion in support for domestic chipmakers next year – Bloomberg 🇰🇷
Japan and South Korea struggle to reduce reliance on China tech materials – Nikkei Asia 🇯🇵🇰🇷
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
Opinie: Europa zal nu merken wat het echt kost om de veiligheid op orde te krijgen – Paul van Hooft in NRC 🇪🇺
European Commission plans to slash EU embassy staff around the world – POLITICO Europe: ‘A second official said that in internal chats about this project “there are clear worries that Russia or China could fill any vacuum we create.”’ 🇪🇺
US adds nuclear-powered submarine to Guam outpost as China rivalry grows – SCMP 🇺🇸
Weekend 🏖️📚
Longreads en achtergrond
How Shanghai’s ambition to be the ‘future of finance’ fell apart – FT
In Depth: China’s multitrillion-dollar salve for local government hidden debt – Caixin Global
India’s new nuclear submarine base challenges China’s naval ambitions – WSJ Video 🇮🇳
Laos-China railway boosts trade and tourism, but also Beijing’s clout – Kyodo News: ‘Railway staff said speaking Chinese is a prerequisite for their job.’ 🇱🇦
A moment that changed me: at seven, I saw the truth of China’s one-child policy — and felt my parents’ pain – Shi Naseer for The Guardian
Persuasive technologies in China: implications for the future of national security – Daria Impiombato, Nathan Attrill, Albert Zhang, Fergus Ryan, and Bethany Allen for ASPI
Seeing Through a GLASSBRIDGE: Understanding the Digital Marketing Ecosystem Spreading Pro-PRC Influence Operations – Google Threat Intelligence
How America’s war on Chinese tech backfired: And why Trump’s plans would make things even worse – Scott Kennedy for Foreign Affairs: ‘Washington has seen progress in some areas, such as slowing China’s semiconductor sector, but witnessed even more rapid Chinese success in others, such as in electric vehicles and batteries.’
Het debat gaat in feite over de vraag of Amerikaanse maatregelen de Chinese ontkoppeling onnodig hebben versterkt. Scott Kennedy zegt van wel. Of dit wenselijk is, hangt af of je denkt dat het op termijn toch onvermijdelijk was – ook in deze mate – en of je verwacht dat Peking zal slagen. Kennedy gelooft van niet en wel, respectievelijk.
Bijkomend is dat veel voorstanders van maatregelen de verweving met China zelf als grotere bedreiging dan de winsten van economische en technologische samenwerking. Dat is een argument van een andere orde.
The true impact of allied export controls on the US and Chinese semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME) industries – Gregory C. Allen for CSIS: ‘China’s greatest progress came in sectors with no export controls.’
‘Semiconductor export controls—as implemented thus far—have in different ways and at different times both helped and hindered Chinese firms.’
Een stevig empirisch onderzoek naar de realiteit laat zien dat het verhaal gecompliceerder ligt dan een simpel ‘helpt’ of ‘helpt niet’.
Biden’s economic security blueprint hands Trump a loaded gun: China won’t be the only target for the new US administration – Viking Bohman and Matt Ferchen for The Wire China: ‘The Biden administration’s impulse to address economic risks from China is understandable. However, it made a critical mistake by not setting clear boundaries to its economic de-risking initiative and failing to build a stable coalition to support it.’
Economie heeft juist nu baat bij handel met China – Sandra Phlippen (ABN AMRO) in FD
Jammer dat de econoom totaal voorbijgaat aan de politieke zorgen, d.w.z. de expliciete binnenlandse uitspraken van Xi Jinping dat de rest van de wereld afhankelijk moet worden van China wat betreft de technologieën van de toekomst om Pekings macht over hen te vergroten. Het gaat niet alleen om respect voor ‘Europese waarden’ in het ‘productieproces’.
Factory Reset: A new generation races to save China’s family businesses – Sixth Tone
Podcasts
China and Trump’s election victory, with Jude Blanchette and Katja Drinhausen – MERICS China Podcast 🍎
Trump’s Indo-Pacific strategy: A conversation with Mr Ivan Kanapathy – CSIS ChinaPower 🍎
Voormalige nationale-veiligheidsfunctonaris onder Trump I, dus geeft een goed beeld van hoe in die kringen gedacht wordt.
The geopolitics of chips: Chips in the USA – FT Tech Tonic 🍎
Eerste aflevering in een serie.
EP-124 林培瑞（Perry Link）：我的中共幻灭史 – 不明白播客 🍎
The Rise of Data Politics – CSIS Pekingology 🍎
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
US exchanges Chinese detainees for three imprisoned Americans – POLITICO: ‘The release of Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung is the result of years of intensive talks’ 🇺🇸
US State Department downgrades China travel warning after prisoner swap – POLITICO: ‘That exchange “was a factor” in the State’s move to ease its travel warning’ 🇺🇸
China hails US release of two convicted for espionage and one allegedly politically connected citizen convicted over child pornography – FT: ‘Bill Bishop, author of the Sinocism newsletter on China, said it was surprising that Beijing would pick Jin alongside two citizens involved in cases related to national security.’ 🇺🇸
China’s bid to join major trade bloc CPTPP kicked into the long grass – POLITICO Europe: ‘Delegates of a major Indo-Pacific trade bloc will sidestep politically sensitive decisions on China and Taiwan’s membership when they meet in Canada this week’
Chinese analyst [at South China Sea institutes created for the PRC’s foreign influence work] forecasts more troubles at sea after US-Philippine task force revealed – SCMP 🇵🇭🇺🇸
Is dit dus een waarschuwing over de onrust die Peking zelf gaat creëren?
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 extends congratulations on International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People – Xinhua: ‘China firmly supports Palestine in becoming a full UN member and supports the convening of a more broad-based, more authoritative and more effective international peace conference, Xi added.’ 🇵🇸
China’s foreign ministry welcomes ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon – Xinhua: ‘All parties should work together to promote an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, Mao added.’ 🇮🇱🇱🇧
China’s foreign ministry tells ICC to be ‘just and fair’ after it sought warrant for Myanmar junta chief – Reuters 🇲🇲
Chinese and Indonesian militaries to hold first joint disaster relief exercise – Xinhua 🇮🇩
Chinese military conducts combat readiness patrols near Huangyan Dao [Scarborough Shoal] – Xinhua 🇵🇭
West Philippine Sea: Large fleet of Chinese ships seen in Pagasa/Thitu Island – The Inquirer 🇵🇭
China urges withdrawal of US missile system from Philippines – Xinhua 🇵🇭
Remains of 43 Chinese martyrs in Korean War returned to homeland from ROK – Xinhua 🇰🇷
Uniqlo does not use Xinjiang cotton, boss says – BBC News 🇯🇵
‘Great prospects’ for Singapore and Shanghai to draw closer, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong 李显龙 and Shanghai CCP chief Chén Jíníng 陈吉宁 agree – The Straits Times 🇸🇬
China and Interpol vow to strengthen law-enforcement cooperation – Xinhua: ‘Expressing gratitude for China’s longstanding support, Al-Raisi affirmed Interpol’s firm commitment to the one-China principle.’
China’s foreign ministry urges G7 to stop indulging in geopolitical games – Xinhua: ‘normal economic and trade exchanges between China and Russia should not be interfered with or coerced by any third party, Mao added.’
China economie
China’s industrial firms saw profits decline for the third straight month, as worsening producer price deflation and sluggish factory output overshadowed the impact of recent stimulus measures – Bloomberg
China’s multiyear property crisis is set to drag on in 2025 as prices and sales remain weak despite the government’s stimulus push to spur demand, according to Fitch – Bloomberg
China’s central bank to cut reserve ratio again to add liquidity and aid growth, analysts say – SCMP
China stimulus hampered by plunge in land sale income for local governments – Nikkei Asia: ‘China’s regional governments earned 55% less from land-use rights sales in January-October than the 2021 peak for the period’
Chinese climate experts have grown more confident the nation will peak carbon emissions years ahead of the government’s 2030 target, according to a survey – Bloomberg
China’s emissions peak in sharper focus as solar and electric cars boom – FT: ‘More than half of new cars sold were electric for three months in a row in 2024. At the same time, the heavily polluting building industry has gone into decline.’
Signs of China’s EV boom are everywhere, eroding a major pillar of oil consumption – Bloomberg
The emergence of Xinjiang as a coal hub is undercutting China’s climate goals – Bloomberg
Chinese companies rush to tap convertible bond market – FT
In Depth: China’s insurers prepare to shine a light into their financial black box – Caixin Global
In careful protest, China Evergrande 中国恒大’s investors press for action – Reuters: ‘In the previously unreported action, small groups of disgruntled investors turned up at three Shenzhen government offices in succession’
China moves to further reduce social logistics costs – Xinhua
China binnenland
Senior CCP official Chēn Wénqīng 陈文清 calls for enhanced prevention of juvenile delinquency – Xinhua
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson declines comment on marriage of son of jailed official Bó Xīlái 薄熙来 – Reuters: ‘But he added the government “was opposed to maliciously hyping it up”.’
Emergency measures rolled out for cold wave – China Daily
Hong Kong
4 Hong Kong democrats seek to challenge conviction and sentence in landmark subversion case – HKFP
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
President Lai Ching-te 賴清德 (DPP) to make stopovers in Hawaii and Guam on South Pacific trip – Focus Taiwan: ‘stopping first in Hawaii for a two-night layover before traveling to the Marshall Islands’ ‘the president will transit through Guam and spend a night there before flying to Palau’ 🇺🇸
Dat betekent dat zijn eerste (niet-)bezoek als president aan de VS zal zijn.
China could launch military drills near Taiwan over President Lai’s Pacific visit and US transit, sources say – Reuters 🇨🇳🇺🇸
Taiwan President’s US trip has drawn condemnation from Beijing and could spark fresh military exercises by China – WSJ: ‘a Chinese military spokesman told a press conference on Thursday that its People’s Liberation Army will “resolutely crush any ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist schemes and firmly push back against interference from external forces.”’ 🇨🇳🇺🇸
Taiwanese foreign minister calls on Beijing not to ‘overreact’ to President Lai’s overseas trip – Focus Taiwan 🇨🇳
Taiwan’s ‘sugar daddy diplomacy’ with US doomed to fail, Chinese spokesperson says – Xinhua 🇨🇳
Taipei-Shanghai forum list of Chinese attendees not yet submitted by Taipei City, MAC says – Taipei Times: ‘adding that those with a record of human rights abuses or religious persecution would not be allowed to enter the country.’ 🇨🇳
Paraguay foreign minister visits Taiwan; to sign reciprocal visa-free pact – Focus Taiwan 🇵🇾
Taiwan’s military uses Taipei university for urban warfare training, sparking opposition outcry – Alibaba’s SCMP: ‘National Chengchi University (NCCU) in Taipei announced last week that it would provide part of its campus to train 100 reservists’
ROC Air Force conducts quarterly comprehensive air defence drills – Focus Taiwan
Taiwan binnenland en economie
KMT National Congress shows that party’s cross-Strait policy largely set by Ma Ying-jeou 馬英九 – New Bloom: ‘In his comments, [party chair] Chu praised Ma at length, stating that the 1992 Consensus and consensus between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits on the basis of One China was a breakthrough. Chu promised to further Ma’s cross-strait policy.’
Labour ministry official at center of civil servant suicide controversy banned from leaving Taiwan – Focus Taiwan
DPP and KMT lawmakers raise issue over security of vice president at airport – Focus Taiwan: ‘after employees at a duty-free store surprised Hsiao with an unexpected group photo at the Taoyuan International Airport a day earlier.’
DPP criticises KMT’s proposed cuts to submarine budget and draft Civil Defence Act amendments – Taipei Times
2,000 demonstrate outside legislature against KMT and TPP effort to freeze Taiwan’s Constitutional Court – New Bloom
Regulator National Communications Commission to lose quorum tomorrow – Taipei Times: ‘amendment [bans] commissioners from serving more than two terms or serving in an extended term.’
Eerste slachtoffer van recente KMT-voorstellen.
Taiwan’s interior ministry rejects dual-citizenship petition for foreign residents – Focus Taiwan: ‘The MOI also noted exceptions to the rule for “high-level professionals” and “those who have made outstanding contributions.”’
Two talk show hosts sentenced 18 months for slander – Focus Taiwan: ‘While Taiwan possesses strong anti-slander laws and litigation over alleged slander often results in compensation rulings, it is unusual for media figures to be imprisoned for statements made on television, radio or internet talk shows.’
High Court upholds most verdicts in 2022 pre-election Tainan shooting case – Focus Taiwan
Executive Yuan proposes ban on corporal punishment by parents – Focus Taiwan
Economy remains healthy, National Development Council says – Taipei Times
稱洪申翰「這樣貨色」 國民黨立法院黨團總召傅崐萁：高中畢業的勞動部長，這是國家之恥 – 三立新聞網
KMT-fractievoorzitter Fu Kun-chi is boos dat de nieuwe arbeidsminister – „zulke rommel” – slechts een middelbareschooldiploma heeft, een „nationale schande”.