De Chinese Wouden, vrijdag 3 januari 2025: nieuwjaar, artikel Xi
Gelukkig nieuwjaar! Als ik kijk naar de statistieken, zijn veel van jullie de afgelopen dagen met e-mailvakantie geweest. Vast welverdiend! Ik hoop dat iedereen met frisse moed het nieuwe jaar tegemoet gaat. Mocht je het gemist hebben, dan wijs ik nog even op mijn nieuwsbrief van afgelopen vrijdag 27 december, waarin ik de discussie uit de doeken doe over de manier waarop Xi naar de Chinese economie kijkt.
Xi is zelf druk met het nieuwe jaar. Naast een korte toespraak voor een partijorgaan, een warm telefoongesprek met Ruslands president Poetin en een mooie brief aan Amerikaanse scholieren, had hij ook een boodschap aan het Chinese volk. Zie de sectie. De nieuwjaarsboodschap is er eentje, die de Chinezen moet voorbereiden op de onrust die er is in de wereld.
Xi erkent de uitdagingen waar de Chinese economie voor staat. Hij wijst daarbij echter naar de binnenlandse tegenstellingen en buitenlandse factoren die ik ook al aanwees op 27 december. In zijn analyse heeft de focus op de ‘nieuwe productieve krachten’ al vruchten afgeworpen en blijft het bestaande economische plan de oplossing, juist vanwege de moeilijkheden.
In Taiwan sprak president Lai Ching-te (DPP) ook het volk toe met het nieuwe jaar. In zijn geval richtte hij zich vooral op de slechte politieke situatie in het binnenland. De strijd tussen de uitvoerende macht en de KMT-TPP meerderheid in het parlement lijkt alleen maar te verslechteren. Het is de vraag hoeveel de Taiwanese politiek gedaan gaat krijgen in 2025. Wat China betreft is het contrast duidelijk: Lai wil graag internationale steun, terwijl Xi juist duidelijk maakt dat het een ‘familieaangelegenheid’ is. Het komende jaar zal de spanning rondom de internationalisering van het Taiwan-vraagstuk waarschijnlijk verder toenemen.
Mocht je de tijd hebben, dan zou ik willen aanraden om een ander, belangrijker artikel te lezen. Het theoretisch tijdschrift van de CCP, Qiushi, heeft een lang artikel gepubliceerd onder de naam van Xi Jinping over Chinese modernisering en China’s herrijzenis. Gebaseerd op een toespraak uit 2023 na de benoeming van nieuwe hoge partijkaders is het de meest allesomvattende samenvatting van de wereldvisie van Xi Jinping. Bill Bishop heeft een Engelse op Sinocism buiten de betaalmuur.
Xi presenteert ‘Chinese modernisering’ – de explosieve economische ontwikkeling van China sinds de late jaren zeventig – als ultieme oplossing uitgevonden door de CCP na twee eeuwen strijd in China. Het is de Partij en haar leiderschap die het geheime ingrediënt van dit succes vormen. De theorie van het marxisme-leninisme en de praktijk van het socialisme met Chinese karakteristieken vormen de wetenschappelijke basis die Peking tussen de extremen heen loodst.
De anti-Westerse grondtoon van Xi Jinpings visie is niet alleen te vinden in de begrijpelijk anti-koloniale geschiedenis. Meerdere keren definieert hij ‘Chinese modernisering’ expliciet in contrast met ‘Westerse modernisering’. Die zou kapitaal- i.p.v. mensgericht zijn. Dit leidt tot materialisme en ‘spirituele leegte’. Chinese modernisering volgt het pad van ‘vreedzame ontwikkeling’, in tegenstelling tot Westerse modernisering doormiddel van oorlogen, slavernij, en kolonialisme en plundering.
Sinds de communistische overwinning heeft China in enkele decennia een miraculeuze economische ontwikkeling doorgemaakt die het Westen vele eeuwen kostte. Dit bewijst dat Chinese modernisering het enige juiste pad is, een nieuwe vorm van menselijke beschaving gebaseerd op de excellente Chinese cultuur en een alternatief voor het Westerse model.
Het uitbuitende kapitalistische model van het Westen bleek namelijk niet geschikt voor de rest van de wereld. In een tijd waarin ‘het Oosten opkomt en het Westen neergaat’, met ‘orde in China en chaos in het Westen’, biedt de ‘Chinese oplossing’ een alternatieve optie voor de ontwikkelingslanden.
In de serie van tegenstellingen die gebalanceerd moeten worden bij de uitvoering van Chinese modernisering, noemt Xi Jinping vervolgens ook weer ‘dubbele circulatie’ – de noodzaak om de binnenlandse economie te beschermen tegen buitenlandse invloeden terwijl China de grootte van zijn markt en de dominante rol in de leveringsketens moet gebruiken voor invloed/leverage over de rest van de wereld.
Want, essentieel is strijd/struggle. Xi Jinping zegt dat de geschiedenis bewijst, dat intens strijden voor de zaak veiligheid brengt, terwijl veiligheid zoeken door zwakte en concessies enkel tot verlies leidt. China moet volhouden in het aangezicht van omcirkeling en blokkade, want het heeft de gerechtigheid aan zijn kant in de strijd tegen hegemonisme en unilateralisme.
Veel westerse commentatoren zien in de huidige binnenlandse moeilijkheden van China het bewijs dat Peking op de verkeerde weg is. Bovenstaande maakt echter duidelijk – wat ik ook al op 27 december schreef – dat voor Xi het juist omgekeerd is. Xi meent, dat China in een millennialistische strijd is verwikkeld. De Chinese moeilijkheden, volgens de CCP óók o.a. van buitenlandse oorsprong, bewijzen juist de noodzaak om door te gaan op de huidige weg. De de politieke chaos in het Westen, de Westerse onmacht om Rusland te stoppen en de Chinese technologische successen zijn voor Peking bewijzen dat de trend van de geschiedenis nog altijd de ‘juiste’ kant op gaat.
Herhaling voorwaarschuwing: vanaf 8 januari ben ik t/m 18 februari weer eventjes terug in Singapore. Wat voor gevolgen dat heeft voor de nieuwsbrief, moet ik nog zien. Maar hij zal ongetwijfeld minder frequent en betrouwbaar verschijnen.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Neue Chinastrategie gesucht – FAZ: „Jens Spahn, der für Wirtschaft zuständige Fraktionsvize der [CDU], setzt schon mal den Ton. Er wirbt für ein selbstbewussteres Auftreten Deutschlands gegenüber China.” 🇩🇪
Opgejaagd door vloedgolf aan Chinese pakketjes sleutelt EU aan douaneregels – FD 🇪🇺
UK lawmakers summon Shein 希音 and Temu for questioning over labour practices – Reuters 🇬🇧
Police called to Chinese Consulate in Manchester after graffiti protest – RFA: ‘after [the PRC consulate-general’s] staff started an altercation with a Radio Free Asia journalist who filmed them cleaning up Hong Kong protest graffiti on the street outside.’ ‘threatened RFA reporters’ ‘“We know your name, we know your address,” one warned RFA’s reporter.’ 🇬🇧
Hetzelfde consulaat dat een tijd terug in het nieuws was vanwege fysieke aanvallen op demonstranten. Dezelfde consul-generaal lijkt nu weer betrokken.
How an FBI sting stopped a Russian war smuggler but not his Hong Kong supply route – WSJ: ‘Beijing is certainly aware of the trade conducted via Hong Kong, but they are doing virtually nothing to stop it.’ 🇷🇺🇺🇦
Air China 国航 and China Southern 南航 appear to avoid south Russia after deadly Azerbaijani crash – SCMP 🇷🇺🇦🇿
nieuwjaarsboodschappen 🎇📃
China 🇨🇳
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 signals growth is ‘top priority’ in New Year speech acknowledging China’s strains – FT: ‘Xi on Tuesday also repeated a thinly veiled warning over international support for Taiwan.’
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 underlines confidence and hard work in 2025 to rise above challenges – Xinhua
Full text of President Xi Jinping’s 2025 New Year message – Xinhua:
‘We have proactively responded to the impacts of the changing environment at home and abroad. We have adopted a full range of policies to make solid gains in pursuing high-quality development. […] We have fostered new quality productive forces in light of actual conditions.’
‘In a world of both transformation and turbulence, China, as a responsible major country, is actively promoting global governance reform and deepening solidarity and cooperation among the Global South.’
‘The Chinese economy now faces some new conditions, including challenges of uncertainties in the external environment and pressure of transformation from old growth drivers into new ones. But we can prevail with our hard work.’
‘We Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same family. No one can ever sever the bond of kinship between us, and no one can ever stop China’s reunification, a trend of the times.
As changes unseen in a century accelerate across the world, it is important to rise above estrangement and conflict with a broad vision, and care for the future of humanity with great passion.’
Op Twitter vergeleek John-Boy Vossen de Taiwan-zinnen in eedere nieuwjaarstoespraken van Xi. Simpel gezegd: het is onderdeel van de trend, maar valt allemaal nog binnen de bandbreedte. Niet nodig om het in je kop te melden.
China’s Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 expects 2024 GDP growth of around 5%, vows more proactive measures in 2025 – SCMP: ‘Xi also issued a rallying call to maintain strategic focus.’
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 calls for forging ahead to build strong China – Xinhua: ‘“On the journey of Chinese modernization, we will not only encounter clear skies and gentle breezes, but also face high winds, choppy waters, and even dangerous storms," said Xi.’
China and Russia always moving forward ‘hand in hand’, Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 tells Putin – Reuters: ‘an exchange of New Year greetings’ 🇷🇺
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 and Vladimir Putin exchange New Year greetings – Xinhua: ‘The political mutual trust and strategic coordination between the two sides have been advancing toward higher levels under the strategic guidance of the two leaders, he added.’
‘On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin also exchanged New Year greetings.’ 🇷🇺
Rusland is en blijft de meest belangrijke diplomatieke partner van China.
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 and his wife send New Year card in return to representatives of US middle school teachers and students – Xinhua: ‘the year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. During the Second World War, China and the United States fought together for peace and justice’ 🇺🇸
Chinese official Sòng Tāo 宋涛 calls for concerted efforts to advance national reunification – Xinhua: ‘in a New Year message to Taiwan compatriots.’
‘The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the liberation of Taiwan from Japanese colonial rule and its return to the motherland.’ 🇹🇼
Taiwan 🇹🇼
President Lai Ching-te 賴清德 (DPP) stresses democracy and constitution to resolve domestic disputes in first New Year’s Day address – Focus Taiwan: ‘Offering no hints, however, of reconciliation with the opposition-controlled Legislature in his speech, Lai stressed the right of the government and the people to oppose moves by the lawmaking body.’
President Lai delivers 2025 New Year’s Address – Office of the President, Republic of China (Taiwan): ‘First, we must keep firm on the path of democracy.’ ‘Domestic competition among political parties is a part of democracy. But domestic political disputes must be resolved democratically, within the constitutional system. This is the only way democracy can continue to grow.’
‘Second, we must continue to bolster our national strength, make Taiwan more economically resilient, and enhance the resilience of supply chains for global democracies.’
‘Third, we must continue working toward a Balanced Taiwan and generational justice, ensuring that the fruits of our economic growth can be enjoyed by all our people.’
Taiwan president Lai wants exchanges with China, sees lack of goodwill – Reuters: ‘Lai said China was blocking normal interactions with restrictions on Chinese tourists visiting or students studying on the island, while similar bans do not apply to Taiwanese going to China.’ 🇨🇳
Opposition KMT chair Eric Chu 朱立倫 urges President Lai to reach across aisle to break political impasse – Focus Taiwan: ‘Chu also reiterated the KMT’s stance that both sides of the Taiwan Strait are part of a collective ethnic Chinese group and share the same Chinese culture. The only difference between the two sides is in their respective political systems, Chu said’
Premier Cho Jung-tai 卓榮泰 (DPP) announces government’s ‘New Year’s resolutions’ – Taipei Times
artikel Xi Jinping
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平’s article on Chinese modernisation to be published – Xinhua
习近平：以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业 – 《求是》2025/01
Xi in Qiushi: Comprehensively Advancing the Building of a Strong Country and the Great Cause of National Rejuvenation Through Chinese Modernisation –
The Party’s leadership unlocks powerful momentum for building Chinese modernization. […] The Party uses the vision of Chinese modernisation to motivate, inspire, and galvanise people. […] encourages Chinese people worldwide to unite in pursuit of common goals, thus forging a mighty force for fully building a modern socialist country.
[…]
[…] the five distinctive features of Chinese modernisation […]
Modernisation of a huge population. 人口规模巨大的现代化。 […]
Modernisation achieving common prosperity for all. 全体人民共同富裕的现代化。 […] a striking distinction from Western modernization. The greatest shortcoming of Western modernization is its capital-centric, rather than people-centric, […]. This has led to significant wealth disparities and severe polarization. […]
Modernisation balancing material and cultural-ethical progress. 物质文明和精神文明相协调的现代化。 […] Today, many Western countries find themselves increasingly in difficulty, largely because they cannot curb the greedy nature of capital or address the deep-rooted maladies of materialism and spiritual emptiness.
4. Modernisation with harmonious coexistence between people and nature. 人与自然和谐共生的现代化。 […]
Modernisation following the path of peaceful development. 走和平发展道路的现代化。 […] Modernization in Western countries was steeped in wars, slavery, colonialism, and plunder, causing immense suffering for many developing countries. […]
[…] Chinese modernisation […] is, in fact, a completely new form of human civilisation. […] Chinese modernisation breaks the myth that “modernisation is Westernisation,” presents another perspective on modernisation, and expands the range of options available to developing countries in their pursuit of modernisation. It thus offers a Chinese solution for humanity’s quest for a better social system. […]
[…] with the marked contrast in the new era often described as “the East is rising while the West is in decline” and “order in China versus chaos in the West”—numerous developing countries now see new hope and new possibilities. […]
[…]
History has repeatedly proven that striving for security through struggle brings genuine security, while seeking security through weakness and concession ultimately leads to insecurity. 历史反复证明，以斗争求安全则安全存，以软弱退让求安全则安全亡；
Handel 🚗⚡️
Klaas Knot: „Je mag toch van politici verwachten dat ze de economie klaar willen maken voor de toekomst?” – de Volkskrant: „Ik ben net terug uit Beijing, waar ik als voorzitter van de Financial Stability Board was uitgenodigd door president Xi Jinping, samen met de hoofden van negen andere internationale organisaties. Xi heeft ons daar zijn visie op de Chinese economie verteld, maar ook duidelijk de indruk achtergelaten dat China voorbereid is op alles wat er vanuit de VS hun kant op zou kunnen komen. Zonder het te willen dramatiseren, maar er is natuurlijk een serieuze kans op een handelsoorlog. En dat is voor een open economie als Nederland een slechte zaak.” 🇪🇺🇳🇱
China may start selling its products to Europe at discounted rates if the US starts a trade war by imposing new tariffs, according to ECB Governing Council member Klaas Knot – Bloomberg: ‘“We are already seeing that happening in the steel market,” he said. “In this way, China is, as it were, exporting its deflation to us.”’ 🇪🇺🇳🇱
China struggles to build car chip supply chain to break free of heavy reliance on imports – SCMP: ‘domestic firms remain reliant on foreign suppliers for more than 90 per cent of their needs, according to analysts and industry insiders.’
Chinese EV makers led by BYD 比亚迪 saw a late-2024 sales boom that’s set to give way to another bruising year as carmakers face risks to demand both at home and abroad – Bloomberg
China’s BYD 比亚迪 enjoys a year-end surge to push total sales to 4.25 million passenger cars last year, narrowing its gap with Tesla – Bloomberg
Chinese EV makers extend buying incentives as price war enters third year – Reuters
Taiwan’s Hon Hai 鴻海 to demonstrate electric vehicles and automotive electronics at CES in Las Vegas – Taipei Times
Tech War 💽💥
China wil export batterijgrondstof en -technologie verder beperken – FD
China’s commerce ministry proposes further export curbs on battery and critical minerals tech – Reuters
ByteDance 字节跳动 appears to be skirting US restrictions to buy Nvidia chips, according to report – TechCrunch: ‘The company isn’t bringing the chips directly to China and is instead storing them in data centers located in other regions like Southeast Asia, according to The Information’s reporting.’ 🇺🇸
China races to secure advanced US chip materials ahead of new year – Nikkei Asia 🇺🇸
China’s Wingtech 闻泰科技 abandons Apple ambitions to Luxshare 立讯精密 after US blacklisting – Nikkei Asia 🇺🇸
US investors in China venture funds brace for new tech rules – FT: ‘Many investors have responded by cutting back or pausing new investments in China amid growing tensions between Washington and Beijing.’ 🇺🇸
China steps up drive to break Boeing and Airbus grip on plane market – FT: ‘the ultimate aim of challenging the western duopoly of Boeing and Airbus.’ ‘“So far, [Comac is] building aircraft that are mostly western by value, but with Chinese structures,” said AeroDynamic Advisory’s Aboulafia. “That makes production ramps dependent on western willingness to continue providing systems, and, given a Trump presidency, there’s no guarantee of that at all.”’ 🇺🇸🇪🇺
Veel van de kennis die China zelf heeft was inderdaad gestolen. Maar goed, met kopen en stelen van het Westen en Japan/Zuid-Korea heeft China ook de basis gelegd voor de eigen innovatie op het gebied van eigen hogesnelheidstreinen die nu iedereen overtreffen. Hou je ogen op COMAC, zou ik zeggen.
Diepzeemijnbouwer wil Trump helpen in grondstoffenstrijd met China – Trouw 🇺🇸
US cobalt miner Jervois in rescue deal to better compete with China – Reuters 🇺🇸
Apple gaat met kortingen strijd met Chinese concurrenten aan – BNR 🇺🇸
Venezuela fines ByteDance 字节跳动’s TikTok U$10 million over viral challenge deaths – AFP 🇻🇪
Yearender-China Focus: AI technology drives new wave of industrial revolution in China – Xinhua: ‘AI isn’t just modernizing traditional sectors in China — it is also revolutionizing the emerging industries.’
China approved more than 90 per cent of overseas data transfers in 2024, top regulator says – SCMP
Taiwan launches ‘digital nomad’ visas in bid to confront talent shortage – SCMP
Taiwanese cabinet approves new Silicon Valley plan for southern Taiwan – Focus Taiwan
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
Meerderheid Nederlanders wil dat regering zich minder richt op buitenland, blijkt uit SCP-studie – NRC: „Tegelijkertijd is er groeiende zorg over de onveiligheid in het buitenland.” 🇳🇱
Russia trained officers for attacks on Japan and South Korea – FT 🇷🇺🇯🇵🇰🇷
Shipowners switch to smaller vessels as world trade reroutes from China – FT: ‘With manufacturing shifting to India and Vietnam, “it probably makes less sense to expect the largest vessels [to be] filled up in two or three ports”, [one senior executive] said.’
„Verschuiving naar kleinere containerschepen raakt ook haven Rotterdam” – BNR 🇳🇱
China to work with Global South in solidarity for development, foreign ministry spokesperson says – Xinhua
‘Tarievenkrijger’ Trump wacht steviger verzet van China en Europa in handelsgeschillen – De Tijd 🇺🇸🇪🇺
Weekend 🏖️📚
Longreads en achtergrond
China heeft Europa steeds meer in een houdgreep – FD: „Diplomaten, experts en bedrijven in Peking zijn pessimistisch over de relatie tussen China en het Westen” 🇪🇺
Taiwanese schoolklassen leren over Nederlandse ‘roodharigen’ – NRC 🇳🇱
Two plane crashes generate vastly different coverage in China –
: ‘While state media poured over the incident in South Korea, news of the flight shot down by its ally Russia was rather more muted’ 🇰🇷🇷🇺Beijing on the Cyprus Problem: One China, One Cyprus? –
: ‘This silence suggests that the “One Cyprus principle” may be an initiative of one outspoken ambassador that does not represent a shift in Chinese foreign policy.’ 🇨🇾Cover Story: How profit-driven local law enforcement can kill businesses in China – Caixin Globa
‘I was very lucky’: activist and blogger Lu Yuyu on escaping China – The Guardian: ‘Lu is part of a relatively new breed of Chinese activists who use social media to document and publicise unrest in China’
Notes from Central Taiwan: The KMT unleashes chaos – Michael Turton for Taipei Times: ‘The KMT’s amendments to the budgetary allocation […] local governments […] receive[…] more […] than the central government.’ ‘Many of us longtime Taiwan watchers think the KMT is slowly being hollowed out by powerful local factions.’
How Shen Yun 神韻 tapped religious fervour to make US$266 million – The New York Times: ‘Shen Yun has become a repository of vast wealth for Falun Gong, often accumulating money at the expense of its loyal adherents’
Shen Yun 神韻 needed publicity. The Epoch Times wrote 17,000 articles. – The New York Times: ‘Top journalists at The Epoch Times have said privately that Mr. Li directed the paper to ramp up its Trump coverage starting around 2016’
Podcasts
Leen Vervaeke stopt als correspondent in China: „Er hangt een sfeer van pessimisme in het land” – VRT De Ochtend
The Defence Department’s 2024 China Military Power Report: A conversation with Dr Ely Ratner and Dr Michael Chase – CSIS ChinaPower 🍎
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
🚨 Inside the Chinese government’s secret plan to send weapons disguised as Covid aid to Libya warlord Haftar – The Telegraph: ‘three alleged co-conspirators who negotiated the deal while employed at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’
‘Experts believe the deal under investigation in Canada is just one corner of wider plans between China and Libya to arm Haftar’
‘In June, the Italian authorities seized Chinese drone parts that were disguised as wind turbine equipment bound for Libya’ 🇱🇾
De internationale organisatie voor burgerluchtvaart heeft al langer een rare relatie met China.
China’s commerce ministry adds 28 US entities to export control list – Reuters: ‘The companies on the list include General Dynamics (GD.N), Boeing Defense, Space & Security, Lockheed Martin(LMT.N), and Raytheon Missiles & Defense.’ 🇺🇸
China adds 10 US companies to unreliable entities list – Xinhua: ‘for selling arms to the Taiwan region.’ 🇺🇸
Verenigde Staten opnieuw in verlegenheid door Chinese inbraak in overheidscomputers – Trouw 🇺🇸
‘Major incident’: China-backed hackers breached US Treasury workstations – CNN 🇺🇸
China mourns passing of former US President Jimmy Carter, foreign ministry says – Xinhua 🇺🇸
Obituary: Jimmy Carter, an enduring friend of China – The Straits Times 🇺🇸
Xinhua Commentary: Remember Jimmy Carter, cherish his legacy – Xinhua: ‘Washington is in urgent need of political leaders like Carter who have the correct perception of China and can work with China’ 🇺🇸
Xinhua Commentary: Carry on Carter’s legacy for better China-US ties – Xinhua: ‘Amid Cold War tensions, Carter acted decisively to sever official ties with Taiwan, setting the stage for steady and sound growth of bilateral ties.’ 🇺🇸
Chinese muslim Hui, after finding a refuge in Queens, now fear Trump – The New York Times 🇺🇸
WHO implores China to finally share Covid origins data, five years on – AFP: ‘Beijing issued a stern response to the comments on Tuesday, [incorrectly] saying it had shared information on Covid “without holding anything back.”’ 🇺🇳
China says it shared Covid-19 info ‘without holding anything back’ – AFP: ‘[MFA’s] Mao said Tuesday that “more and more clues” pointed “to Covid-19’s origins having a global scope”.’
Nog altijd vasthouden aan die samenzweringstheorie…
Milestone: COVID-19 five years ago – WHO: ‘We continue to call on China to share data and access so we can understand the origins of COVID-19. This is a moral and scientific imperative.’ 🇺🇳
🚨 China’s navy and coast guard conduct naval blockade exercise in Miyako Strait near Japan’s Okinawa; CCG ships near Senkaku/Diaoyutai Islands given stronger weapons – The Yomiuri Shimbun 🇯🇵
China charged Chinese-born Japanese woman with espionage for activities in Japan – Kyodo News: ‘China detained a Japanese woman in 2015, alleging she had engaged in spying activities in Japan, sources familiar with the bilateral relationship said Monday’ 🇯🇵
Chinese warships make port call in Vietnam’s Da Nang after talks on joint patrols – SCMP 🇻🇳
Filippijnen vinden onderwaterdrone, „vermoedelijk van China” – NRC 🇵🇭
China charges Myanmar Golden Triangle syndicate suspects with murder and telecoms fraud – SCMP 🇲🇲
Vaak worden ook de slachtoffers van mensenhandel die gedwongen te werk werden gesteld vervolgd in China.
Syria appoints some foreign Islamist fighters to its military, sources say – Reuters: ‘Uyghur militant Abdulaziz Dawood Khudaberdi, also known as Zahid and the commander of the separatist Turkistan Islamic Party’s (TIP) forces in Syria, was appointed a brigadier-general, a TIP statement said and the Syrian military source confirmed.
Two other Uyghur fighters, Mawlan Tarsoun Abdussamad and Abdulsalam Yasin Ahmad, were given the rank of colonel’ 🇸🇾
Chinese ambassadeur Lín Jí 林棘 tekent condoleanceregister NDP voor Desi Bouterse – Suriname Herald 🇸🇷
China sends help to quake-hit Vanuatu as it expands Pacific island ties – SCMP 🇻🇺
‘All frequencies’: China releases sixth-generation stealth fighter standard – SCMP
New ‘sixth-generation’ Chinese warplane triggers concerns over strategic gap in India – SCMP 🇮🇳
Chinese military’s range in West Pacific expands with new early warning aircraft – SCMP
The Tibetan government-in-exile has a new strategy – Robert Barnett for ChinaFile: ‘In early July, for the first time since 2010, Chinese authorities reportedly held direct talks with the exile Tibetan political leadership, based in Dharamsala, India.’
China economie
China’s manufacturing activity slowed its pace of expansion in December, according to new data – Bloomberg
China’s residential property sales in December stay flat, reflecting signs of market stabilisation after the government’s stimulus blitz – Bloomberg
China looks set to miss a year-end target for boosting production of less-polluting steel – Bloomberg
The scale of the excesses plaguing China’s economy underscores the perilous position Beijing finds itself in as a new trade war looms – WSJ:
‘China’s property meltdown has since 2021 destroyed around $18 trillion of Chinese household wealth, according to an estimate by Barclays, eclipsing the losses suffered by Americans in the financial crash of 2008-09.’
‘Borrowing by government, households and corporations in China is approaching 300% of its annual GDP.’
China binnenland
Chinese youth flock to civil service, but slow economy puts ‘iron rice bowl’ jobs at risk – Reuters: ‘“The current leadership has no intent of reducing the size of public sector workers, who are the backbone of regime stability,” said Alfred Wu’
‘However, rare interviews with ten public sector employees across four Chinese provinces paint a different picture: widespread bonus reductions and pay cuts of up to 30% this year have prompted some to consider resigning, while local government austerity drives have led to sporadic staff cuts.’
China has awarded a range of civil servants across the nation their first significant pay rise in years to boost morale and spur spending, sources say – Bloomberg
More local officials replaced in wake of China’s worst lone wolf car attack in Zhuhai – SCMP
China hands lengthy jail terms to two teenagers for murdering classmate with shovel – Reuters
China Health Commission to narrow gaps in mental health services – Reuters: ‘as mental health issues have sprung to the forefront in China after several violent incidents in 2024’
40,000 punished in China’s medical corruption crackdown, including over 350 top figures – SCMP
Chinese police in Anhui target writers of gay erotica with prison terms and heavy fines – SCMP: ‘many of those arrested had been posting stories on the Taiwanese-based fiction website Haitang Culture’
Henan’s Zhengzhou the first city in China to ban cellphone use in schools – SCMP
Hong Kong
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Speaker Han Kuo-yu 韓國瑜 (KMT) to lead 8-member delegation to Trump’s inauguration – Focus Taiwan 🇺🇸
Taiwan reports first Chinese ‘combat patrol’ of the New Year – Reuters: ‘Taiwan's defence ministry said it had detected 22 Chinese military aircraft, including J-16 fighter jets, […] in conjunction with Chinese warships’ 🇨🇳
Retired major Lee Hai-peng 李海鵬 sentenced to 12 years prison for selling secrets to China – Taipei Times 🇨🇳
Why China’s Taiwan integration experiment in Fujian’s Pingtan is starting to fizzle – SCMP 🇨🇳
Taiwanese government to stop issuing permits for correspondents from Fujian-based newspaper group – Taipei Times: ‘after Strait Herald was found to have intervened in political elections in Taiwan by releasing false polling results’ 🇨🇳
Taiwan binnenland en economie
DPP urges swift transfer of remaining two approved bill changes – Taipei Times: ‘the Legislative Yuan only sent the amended Constitutional Court Procedure Act to the Presidential Office and the Executive Yuan.’
‘KMT caucus secretary-general Lin Szu-ming (林思銘) said the KMT caucus requested Han to postpone the transfer of the other two bills because it wanted to avoid giving the DPP the chance to use the time gap in the process to ask the Constitutional Court to order a temporary suspension of the two bills.’
Taiwan’s Cabinet to request legislative revote on Constitutional Court bill – Focus Taiwan
De president heeft tien dagen na formeel ontvangst om een nieuwe wet af te kondigen. Door eerst het amendement op te sturen dat feitelijk het Grondwettelijk Hof bevriest – door een quorum van 10 te eisen voor beslissingen terwijl er nog maar 9 rechters in functie zijn en de kandidaten af te wijzen – wil de KMT voorkomen dat de DPP-regering de andere twee wetten aan kan vechten.
Government warns against opposition KMT’s proposed National Health Insurance premium exemptions for seniors – Focus Taiwan: ‘could bleed the program of its key reserves by 2026.’
Legislature delays talks on KMT proposal to eliminate health insurance premiums for low income seniors – Taipei Times: ‘Last week, five medical organizations published a joint statement saying that the amendments would exacerbate generational inequality and increase financial strain on the NHI system.’
KMT amendment passed to ease rules on hiring of foreign caregivers – Focus Taiwan: ‘the Ministry of Labor (MOL) and MOHW expressed concern that it could undermine the long-term care system.’
敬老票陪伴者搭車也享半價？ 高鐵估：短收115.4億 – 聯合報
KMT en TPP stellen voor om halve prijs voor kaartjes voor de hogesnelheidstrein voor ouderen uit te breiden naar hun begeleiders. Het spoorbedrijf waarschuwt voor de serieuze financiële consequenties.
Legislative Yuan accepts KMT proposal to extend reduced transaction tax on stock trades to 2027 – Taipei Times
Cadeautjes voor de vaak vergrijsde achterban van de KMT? Het gaat soms om zaken waar je het best over kunt hebben en de DPP moet ook accepteren dat het geen meerderheidheid heeft. Maar de wetsvoorstellen zijn vaak slecht doordacht en worden wel erg snel door het parlement geramd. De gevolgen gaan verder dan het ondergraven van de financiële gezondheid van meer en meer instellingen.
Taipei court orders detention of TPP’s Ko Wen-je 柯文哲 at third bail hearing – Focus Taiwan: ‘after the Taiwan High Court rejected its two earlier decisions to grant Ko bail.’ ‘In response to the court’s decision, the TPP issued a statement criticizing President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and accusing him, without evidence, of interfering in the judicial process’
Ko Wen-je 柯文哲 resigns as TPP chairman – Focus Taiwan: ‘will be replaced on an acting basis by TPP Legislator Huang Kuo-chang’
TPP leader Huang Kuo-chang 黃國昌 criticises courts and DPP as Ko Wen-je 柯文哲’s detention hearing looms – Focus Taiwan: ‘Huang […] suggested, without providing evidence, that the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) had been involved in the court’s decision-making.’
De TPP heeft blijkbaar besloten om vol in de aanval te gaan op de DPP en de legitimiteit van de vervolging te ondergraven door te doen alsof de president er achter zit. President Lai houdt zich juist buitengewoon stil op dit onderwerp.
Hsinchu mayor Ann Kao Hung-an 高虹安 (TPP)’s corruption case appeal halted over constitutional concerns – Focus Taiwan: ‘Because there is no clear indication in the organic law on the legal consequences of violating the article on staff costs’
Taiwan’s Yilan County chief Lin Tzu-miao 林姿妙 (KMT) sentenced to 12 years and 6 months prison for corruption – Taiwan News
Taiwan’s government to formally seek court order to disband pro-unification Chinese Unification Promotion Party (CUPP) – Focus Taiwan: ‘[based on] the CUPP’s “links to foreign forces” and ”use of a political party name as a cover for organized crime,”’
‘may be complicated by an ongoing political dispute over Constitutional Court vacancies and reform legislation’
De banden van gangster en oprichter ‘Witte Wolf’ Chang An-lo met de georganiseerde misdaad zijn breed bekend.
Meta’s Facebook is at the heart of why Taiwan can’t stop scams – CommonWealth Magazine: ‘Why is it that one social platform, the LINE instant messaging service, has aggressively gone after fraudulent ads while Facebook has been rather passive?’