De Chinese Wouden, vrijdag 6 december: Dong Jun, economische signalen
Dong Jun is weer terecht! Staatspersbureau Xinhua bericht dat de minister van defensie gisteren sprak met Afrikaanse delegaties die in Shanghai waren voor een forum met de Chinese marine over de Golf van Guinee. De Financial Times berichtte dat hij zelf onderwerp van onderzoek zou zijn. Hij is dus in ieder geval niet verdwenen.
Het Chinese ministerie van defensie kondigde eerder wel aan dat de belangrijkere partij-pief admiraal Miao Hua onderzocht werd, maar deed de berichtgeving over Dong af als fantasie. Toentertijd waren er al twijfels – sommigen vroegen zich af of Dong niet ondervraagd werd voor het onderzoek naar Miao. Dat Dong nu terecht is, wil niet zeggen dat hij geen problemen heeft. Alleen zullen ze op z’n minst niet extreem zijn.
Nog even terugkomen op de Chinese maatregelen tegen uitvoer van kritieke grondstoffen naar de VS in de nieuwsbrief van woensdag. Op LinkedIn wees Rebecca Arcesati er terecht op dat Peking al een de facto verbod had op de export van gallium en germanium naar de VS. De aangekondigde maatregel zou je kunnen zien als een typische formalisering van al bestaande feiten. Bill Bishop noemde het op zijn podcast niet voor niets bovenal een signaal aan bijv. Japan om de VS niet te volgen.
Wat betreft mijn bespiegelingen voorafgaand aan de naderende Centrale Conferentie voor Economisch Werk, zie mijn analyse van twee stukken die de Chinese economie bespreken. Ik verwacht dat Xi Jinping de huidige koers doorzet, als onderdeel van een door hem gewenste transitie. De weg naar de nieuwe economie zal niet pijnloos zijn.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Noord-Brabant haalt banden aan met Chinese zusterprovincie Jiangsu, ondanks kritiek – Omroep Brabant: „Over de reis naar China bracht de provincie weinig naar buiten. […] Nu is een maand na het bezoek, is de getekende vriendschapsverklaring openbaar gemaakt.” 🇳🇱
Zie het rapport Vriendschap winnen van Ties Dams voor Clingendael i.s.m. de NCTV over de manier waarop het Verenigd Front van de CCP de steden- en provinciebanden centraal aanstuurt.
Interview Bart Groothuis: „Word wakker!” zegt deze VVD’er na de zoveelste sabotageactie in Europa – NRC: „De theaters in Rusland en China zijn met elkaar verweven. Zeventig procent van alle elektronica in Russische wapens is Chinees.” 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Whatever happens in Trump’s White House, EU and China to remain rivals, EU ambassador Jorge Toledo says – SCMP: ‘saying the EU “clearly believes that we are not competing fairly”, which has led to trade measures against China.’
‘Toledo said that Europe failed to understand China’s position on the Ukraine war’ ‘Toledo said Europe’s perception of China would not improve “if the Chinese attitude and the Chinese position” remained unchanged.’ 🇪🇺
Lithuania prepared to assist Taiwan in a crisis, foreign minister-select says – Nikkei Asia 🇱🇹
Lithuania’s govt programme: new China direction, social economy policy — key points – LRT 🇱🇹
Taiwan and Austria hold economic talks via video conference to strengthen cooperation – Focus Taiwan 🇦🇹
Rusland 🇷🇺
Chinas Rolle im Ukrainekrieg: Der Tod kommt auf leisen Flügeln – Süddeutsche Zeitung: „Es gibt Beweise, dass chinesische Firmen in Russland Kampfdrohnen testen – und dorthin exportieren.“ 🇷🇺
China-Russia flights to take off, with Beijing, Shanghai, and Hainan on the radar – SCMP 🇷🇺
China economie
China can accept GDP growth of less than 5%, says People’s Daily – Reuters: ‘The focus for the Chinese economy is on qualitative improvements and reasonable quantitative growth, […] People’s Daily said in an editorial [incorrect, column-serie van staatspersbureau Xinhua gepubliceerd in het Volksdagblad].’
‘“If we do not break free from the ‘worship of speed’ and continue to expand blindly and launch projects indiscriminately, even if we temporarily boost growth, it will come at the cost of exhausting future growth potential,” the editorial said.’
经济增速怎么看（当前中国经济问答） – 《人民日报》（2024年12月04日 第05版）：“看经济增速，不仅看当下、看一时，更要辩证看、长远看。重视速度、不唯速度，是当前中国经济发展所遵循的辩证法。”
“粗放型经济发展方式曾经在我国发挥了很大作用，但也让我们付出了巨大的资源和环境代价，掩盖了一些矛盾和风险。
如果我们不破除‘速度崇拜’，习惯于铺摊子、上项目，即使暂时把速度抬上去了，也会透支未来的增长。”
“发展是硬道理，高质量发展是新时代的硬道理。〔……〕当前的中国经济，更加注重实现质的有效提升和量的合理增长，而不是简单以GDP论英雄。”
Belangrijke windvaan voor de Centrale Conferentie voor Economisch Werk later deze maand, deze Xinhua-serie gedeeld in het Volksdagblad.
Vertaald: „Kijkend naar economische groei, moeten we niet alleen kijken naar het heden en de korte termijn, maar nog meer met dialectische en lange-termijn-kijk. Snelheid waarderen, maar niet alleen snelheid, is de dialectiek die de huidige Chinese economische ontwikkeling volgt.”
„Een extensieve wijze van economische ontwikkeling heeft in ons land een erg grote rol gespeeld, maar heeft ons ook een gigantische prijs in grondstoffen en milieu laten betalen en enkele contradicties en risico’s toegedekt. […]”
„Ontwikkeling is de ijzeren logica, hoge kwaliteit ontwikkeling is de ijzeren logica van het Nieuwe Tijdperk [van Xi Jinping]. De huidige Chinese economie besteedt nog meer aandacht aan het bereiken van effectieve verhogen van kwaliteit en redelijke groei van kwantiteit, en niet simpelweg op basis van BNP te spreken van helden.”
内需提振怎么看（当前中国经济问答） – 《人民日报》（2024年12月05日 第 05 版）：“进入新时代，我国社会主要矛盾发生历史性变化。在满足人民对‘好不好’的需要上下功夫，内需市场潜力无限、机遇无限。”
“提振内需，必须发挥超大规模市场优势。”
Twee veelzeggende zinnetjes uit deel 2 van deze Xinhua-columnserie: „Bij het betreden van het Nieuwe Tijdperk ondergaat de hoofdtegenstelling* van de samenleving van ons land een historische verandering. Bij het werk om alle soorten vraag van het volk naar ‘goed of niet’** te voldoen zijn de potentie en kansen voor de markt van binnenlandse vraag onbegrensd.”
(* maoïstische term voor belangrijkste uitdaging van het moment)
(** verwijzing naar de nieuwe hoofdtegenstelling tussen onevenwichtige ontwikkeling en de groeiende vraag van het Volk naar een beter leven)
„Binnenlandse vraag stimuleren vereist het benutten van het voordeel van de supergrootschalige markt [van China].”
Het stuk is een vrij optimistische opsomming van allerlei tekenen dat consumptie en investeringen in China toenemen. De teneur is dat er grote kansen zijn, dankzij de transitie naar een nieuw soort economie om aan de nieuwe hoofdtegenstelling te voldoen en het unieke voordeel van de mondiale aantrekkingskracht van de enorme Chinese markt.
Bovenstaande twee stukken samen doen mij met elkaar vermoeden dat Xi Jinping de huidige strubbelingen ziet als een belangrijke transitie. De periode van extreme groei is afgelopen, maar de nieuwe toekomst biedt veel betere kansen om structureel sterker te komen staan. De pijn gaat dus aanhouden, want dit vereist geen stimulans maar doorzetten.
Chinese economists’ candid speeches poke holes in ‘bright prospects’ – Nikkei Asia: ‘China likely overstated its gross domestic product by 10 percentage points over the past three years, said Gao Shanwen, chief economist at SDIC Securities, who has advised Chinese policymakers in the past. Meanwhile, he said that a total of 47 million people were unable to find formal jobs during the same period, suggesting a massive undercounting of joblessness, according to a transcript of his speech.’
Record number of young Chinese compete for ‘iron rice bowls’ in toughest job market in years – The Straits Times
China’s services activity expanded less than a month earlier, a private survey showed, a sign that consumer demand remains sluggish despite stimulus – Bloomberg
Handel 🚗⚡️
PVV-minister Beljaarts wil niet alleen maar klagen over Europa – FD: „PVV-minister van Economische Zaken neemt voortouw bij vervolmaken van Europa’s waardeketen voor halfgeleiders.” 🇳🇱
China’s commerce ministry urges EU to avoid abusing trade remedy measures – Xinhua: ‘So far this year, the EU has launched 15 trade remedy investigations targeting China, about which China is highly concerned’ 🇪🇺
China automakers pivot to hybrids for Europe to counter EV tariffs – Euractiv 🇪🇺
Plunging EV demand drives down German car sales – AFP 🇩🇪
In Depth: Amid China’s EV boom, conventional carmakers cry foul – Caixin Global: ‘some traditional carmakers are complaining that they aren’t competing on a level playing field with their NEV counterparts.’
General Motors writes off more than US$5bn from value of China businesses – FT 🇺🇸
In Depth: For Chinese battery-makers, Europe is losing its spark – Caixin Global 🇪🇺
Chinese commerce official urges solar firms to find global partners to navigate tariffs and trade tensions – SCMP: ‘urged PV makers to seek cooperation with local companies in the Belt and Road Initiative countries and explore opportunities through investments in solar power projects.’
Trump 🇺🇸
China retaliation for US protectionism, while ‘never a good choice’, may be just starting – SCMP: ‘the message conveyed by former central bank governor Yi Gang on Wednesday’ 🇺🇸
‘Frozen out’: Trade hawk Lighthizer unlikely to return for Trump’s second term – POLITICO: ‘throws into doubt the president-elect’s promises to pursue an even more aggressive second term trade policy’ 🇺🇸
Behind the Curtain: Trump’s shock and awe – Axios: ‘Trump has been telling friends he denied Robert Lighthizer — his pro-tariff, China-hawk U.S. trade representative in the first term — a Cabinet role because he’s “too scared to go big.” He’s loyal but too timid to take big, risky swings, Trump contends.’ 🇺🇸
Robert Lighthizer seemed like a shoo-in for a senior role in Donald Trump’s administration, but the former trade chief is now expected to go home empty-handed – WSJ: ‘after he expressed reluctance to engage in the behind-the-scenes jockeying’ 🇺🇸
Donald Trump nominates China hawk Peter Navarro as senior economic adviser – FT: ‘a former aide who was imprisoned for contempt of Congress over the January 6 2021 storming of the Capitol’ 🇺🇸
Tariff Man’s superpowers are weaker than he thinks – Alan Beattie for FT: ‘Quite simply, the US just isn’t that big in global trade any more.’ 🇺🇸
Tech War 💽💥
EU beveelt TikTok om gegevens te bewaren vanwege rol bij verkiezingen Roemenië – NOS 🇪🇺🇷🇴
Romania’s ultranationalist presidential front-runner Georgescu benefited from Russia-style booster campaign, declassified docs say – POLITICO Europe: ‘A group created on the Telegram messaging app was used to coordinate the TikTok activity, the SRI said.’ 🇷🇴
Commission, online platforms, and civil society increase monitoring during Romanian elections – European Commission: ‘The Commission has issued a “retention order” to TikTok under the DSA, ordering the platform to freeze and preserve data related to actual or foreseeable systemic risks its service could pose on electoral processes and civic discourse in the EU.’ 🇪🇺
ASM International reaffirms outlook despite new US export restrictions – Reuters: ‘ASM’s larger peer ASML has also said the new restrictions were unlikely to impact its most recent financial guidance.’ 🇳🇱
NXP Semiconductors and TSMC affiliate VIS 世界先進 are discussing an expansion of their US$7.8 billion Singapore venture – Bloomberg: ‘NXP is also trying to find a way to serve customers who will need capacity inside China’ 🇳🇱🇸🇬
TSMC 台積電 in talks with Nvidia for AI chip production in Arizona, sources say – Reuters 🇺🇸
China’s shift to local chips gains momentum from latest US export controls – FT: ‘Even foreign companies are increasingly switching to local semiconductors, with German car parts supplier Bosch highlighting its “localised chip solution”’ 🇺🇸
Japan’s chip traders see China opportunities in US crackdown – Nikkei Asia: ‘are looking to move deeper into the Chinese market’ 🇯🇵
China mineral export curbs heighten Japan supply chain fears – Nikkei Asia 🇯🇵
China’s loss-making SenseTime 商汤 reshapes to focus on generative AI growth – Reuters: ‘The restructuring comes as SenseTime’s computer vision business declines, with its “traditional AI” segment down 50.6% in the first half of this year.’
Chinese vice premier Dīng Xuēxiáng 丁薛祥 encourages sci-tech workers to contribute to Chinese modernisation – Xinhua: ‘Noting that the key of Chinese modernization lies in the modernization of science and technology, Ding said that building a great modern socialist country hinged on the independent and self-reliant development of science and technology.’
China-proposed group to boost AI cooperation at UN – China Daily 🇺🇳
NVIDIA to Open Vietnam R&D Center to Bolster AI Development – Nvidia 🇻🇳
Zuid-Korea 🪖🇰🇷
China’s foreign minister Wáng Yì 王毅 calls South Korea’s political situation an ‘internal matter’ – Nikkei Asia 🇨🇳
China hopes Republic of Korea will protect Chinese nationals and institutions’ safety, foreign ministry spokesperson says – Xinhua: ‘China noted relevant events and will not comment on the ROK’s domestic affairs, said Lin’ 🇨🇳
China urges its citizens in South Korea to be vigilant after martial law turmoil – SCMP 🇨🇳
South Korea’s martial law sends brief tremors through Chinese tourists and firms – SCMP: ‘no lasting effect on trade and investment between Beijing and Seoul is expected, said company executives and analysts.’ 🇨🇳
DPP caucus deletes Threads post comparing South Korea martial law justification to situation in Taiwan’s legislature – Focus Taiwan: ‘The post was quickly deleted around 20 minutes after it was made, and a statement criticizing martial law was posted in its place.’ 🇹🇼
Deze had ik woensdag gemist. Dom. Pro-KMT krant UDN wijd al een hoofdredactioneel commentaar hieraan, waarin het claimt dat de DPP met deze ‘steun’ (sic) de democratie de rug toekeert.
DPP lambasts KMT over martial law insinuations – Taipei Times: ‘[The KMT said] that the “long-term leadership” of the DPP presidency in Taiwan is similar to that of the South Korean president.’ 🇹🇼
President Lai highlights Taiwan’s democracy after Korea martial law incident – Focus Taiwan: ‘“The path of democracy is the one we continue to walk,” Lai said.’ 🇹🇼
President Lai Ching-te 賴清德 (DPP) calls national security meeting following South Korea chaos – Focus Taiwan: ‘40-minute video conference, called after Lai arrived in Guam on Wednesday night’
South Korea martial law move a domestic row, Taiwan intelligence head says – Focus Taiwan: ‘Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Wednesday called on Taiwanese traveling to South Korea to avoid taking part in political gatherings and/or protests while there for their own safety.’ 🇹🇼
South Korea’s tumult is a symptom of China-US strife – Leo Lewis for FT: ‘If Tuesday’s madness was, […], a pathology of deepening public despair at the capacity of politics to solve the big issues, China is among the reasons that many of those issues seem so intractable.’ 🇰🇷
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
Verzoek om door een externe denktank te laten onderzoeken wat momenteel de strategische afhankelijkheden zijn van de Europese NAVO-landen ten opzichte van de Verenigde Staten – Derk Boswijk (CDA), Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal 🇺🇸
Westerse farmaceuten grotendeels afhankelijk van China: „Kan gebruikt worden als strategisch instrument” – BNR: „De trend de afgelopen jaren is echter dat westerse farmaceuten juist naar Azië trekken”
Trump is a golden opportunity for China. Beijing will waste it – Minxin Pei for Bloomberg: ‘China still lacks the credibility to present itself as a reasonable and convincing alternative. Indeed, it has established a long and lamentable record of overpromising and underdelivering.’ 🇺🇸
Western businesses in China hold on to hopes for Trump 2.0 – Thomas Hale for FT: ‘The optimistic case for those seeking closer US-China ties is that under Trump, Chinese companies would agree to invest directly in the US to gain tariff-free access to its consumer market.’ ‘Like any other theory, this one may struggle to survive exposure to the real world.’ 🇺🇸
Russia supporting North Korea nuclear programme in exchange for troops, Nato chief says – AFP 🇰🇵
Weekend 🏖️📚
Longreads en achtergrond
Nederland nog lang niet klaar voor onafhankelijkheid van China – Reformatorisch Dagblad 🇳🇱
China in 2025 – MERICS 🇪🇺
Why isn’t Europe diversifying from China? – Agatha Kratz, Camille Boullenois, and Jeremy Smith for Rhodium Group: ‘the EU’s dependence on China for imports has increased over the past five years, rising from 22% in 2017 to a peak of near 27% in 2022, and then leveling off to 25% in 2023.’ 🇪🇺
How China will strike back at Trump – The Economist 🇺🇸
The fiction of Western unity on China de-risking – James Crabtree for Foreign Policy
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 challenged following spate of violent attacks – Willy Wo-Lap Lam for Jamestown China Brief
Wolf Warriorism: China’s disastrous attempt at aggressive discourse is over –
Lai Ching-te 賴清德 (DPP) and the ‘Republic of China’ and ‘Motherland’ theories – Kawashima Shin for The Diplomat: ‘he has effectively created flexibility to frequently use the term “Republic of China” without issue.’
Renowned romance novelist Chiung Yao 瓊瑤 dies by suicide at 86 – Focus Taiwan: ‘Chiung Yao, best known for over 70 novels, had many works adapted into TV dramas and films, including “Outside the Window,” “The Young Ones,” and “My Fair Princess,” making her the most famous romance writer in the Chinese-speaking world from the 1970s-1990s.’
Beeldende kunst: Was Wǔ Zétiān 武則天, de enige vrouwelijke Chinese heerser, een terreurkeizerin of simpelweg een ambitieuze vrouw? – de Volkskrant
Podcasts
China intimideert Nederlandse journalisten. Met Ardi Bouwers en Susanne Kamerling – GeopolitiekNu Podcast 🍎
Noord-Korea op drift: is China de control kwijt? – VRT NWS China voorbij de muur 🍎
Biden’s final export control salvo misfires –
🍎Sharp China: Final Updates to the Biden Chip Controls; Peak Tough on China?; PLA and CEWC Speculation; More Trump Questions than Answers in Beijing –
China’s implementation of the Global Security Initiative in Southeast and Central Asia – GMFUS China Global 🍎
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
China’s PLA Navy shadows Philippine Coast Guard in West Philippine Sea/South China Sea – The Inquirer: ‘This is the first time China has deployed People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy vessels to shadow the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the West Philippine Sea, an agency official revealed on Wednesday.’ 🇵🇭
West Philippine Sea/South China Sea: Philippine Coast Guard reports more harassment by Chinese vessels in Escoda/Sabina Shoal – The Inquirer 🇵🇭
China urges Philippines to halt provocation after ship-ramming incident – Xinhua: ‘“Otherwise, the Philippines will be held accountable for all consequences arising from this,” CCG spokesperson Liu Dejun said.’ 🇵🇭
Philippines files diplomatic protest against China over South China Sea incident – Reuters 🇵🇭
Chinese and Vietnamese navies conclude joint patrol in Beibu [Tonkin] Gulf – Xinhua: ‘The joint patrol was the 37th of its kind between Chinese and Vietnamese navies to take place in the Beibu Gulf.’ 🇻🇳
China’s top political advisor Wáng Hùníng 王沪宁 meets Vietnamese delegation – Xinhua 🇻🇳
US to donate small boats to Vietnam to boost maritime law enforcement – Reuters 🇺🇸🇻🇳
Bolster defences against China hackers or face fines, FCC warns telecoms – The Washington Post 🇺🇸
MNDAA declares truce with Myanmar junta after China detains leader after Kunming meeting – The Irrawaddy: ‘declared a unilateral ceasefire with the junta while pledging to join China-brokered peace efforts, as Beijing continues to detain its chief.’ 🇲🇲
Paraguay kicks out a visiting Chinese envoy for urging its lawmakers to turn their backs on Taiwan – AP: ‘was in Paraguay for an annual UNESCO meeting’ ‘Xu skipped the UNESCO session and instead turned up at Congress in Paraguay’s capital of Asunción, where he caused a diplomatic stir by calling on Paraguay to ditch Taiwan’ 🇵🇾
China’s top diplomat Wáng Yì 王毅 calls for joint work to promote stable and lasting China-Japan ties – Xinhua: ‘China and Japan need to work in tandem to safeguard Asian unity and cooperation to prevent external forces from fomenting confrontation.’ 🇯🇵
Global antidoping agency WADA froze out investigators who warned about China – The New York Times: ‘raises new questions about WADA’s response to repeated incidents of possible doping by Chinese athletes.’
Hoe China de Pakistaanse economie wurgt – De Standaard: „Om zijn energietekort op te lossen, tekende Pakistan ooit een wurgcontract met China. Dat leidt nu tot hoge schulden én hoge elektriciteitsprijzen.”
„De plotse run op goedkope Chinese zonnepanelen is het gevolg van de sterke stijging van de lokale elektriciteitsprijzen.” 🇵🇰
Iranian president and Chinese vice premier Zhāng Guóqīng 张国清 meet on bilateral ties – Xinhua: ‘Zhang reiterated China’s firm support for Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, and legitimate rights’ 🇮🇷
China’s ties with Saudi Arabia buoyed by green tech – FT: ‘China has also become the kingdom’s largest source of greenfield foreign direct investment’ 🇸🇦
Chinese Vice President Hán Zhèng 韩正 meets Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez in Beijing – Xinhua 🇻🇪
China cuts fighter pilot training by 1 year, on track for full overhaul ‘by early 2030s’ – SCMP
China binnenland
China’s defence minister Dǒng Jūn 董军 stresses shared responsibility for maintaining security – Xinhua: ‘Dong made the remarks while meeting with heads of delegations in Shanghai attending the second edition of the seminar on security situation in the Gulf of Guinea.’
Gisteren trof de Chinese minister van defensie Dong Jun in Shanghai de Afrikaanse delegaties die in China waren voor een forum met de Chinese marine over veiligheid in de Golf van Guinea. Dat maakt een einde aan zijn afwezigheid sinds berichten dat hij onderwerp van onderzoek zou zijn. Hij kan nog steeds ondervraagd zijn, maar misschien was dat toch inderdaad voor de zaak tegen Miao Hua.
China reaffirms commitment to enhancing stability and security in Gulf of Guinea – Xinhua: ‘Hosted by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, the second edition of the seminar on security situation in the Gulf of Guinea’ 🇨🇲🇨🇬🇬🇦🇨🇮🇳🇬
China’s Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 stresses need to fight graft in military – Reuters: ‘Xi was making his first inspection of the military's new information warfare department, established in April’
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 stresses building strong and modernised information support force – Xinhua: ‘Xi demanded the information support force adhere to the fundamental principle of the Party's absolute leadership over the armed forces.’
President Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 urges new military information force to give China modern combat edge – SCMP
Voorpagina van het Volksdagblad vandaag.
‘我本望保持低调，对近期媒体报道不多说话，但这几周被持续炒作，还有人上传私人视频，断章取义，引来猜测。十二年来，我们所有当事人未曾对外讲一句自辩的话，任由言论宰割，本习以为常。但因我新婚，又被翻旧账，让我困惑。这许多的误解，尽管一言难尽，在此做个简略答复（小学中文水平，见谅）。 [……]’ – Kuangyi (Guagua) Bo, Twitter
Zie zelf of je gelooft of dit echt is.
Study outline on Xi Jinping Thought on Culture published – Xinhua
China’s state security ministry warns state secrets being leaked in common crowdsourcing jobs – SCMP: ‘The strategy involves dividing intelligence-gathering tasks into smaller jobs and recruiting people using crowdsourcing platforms, the Ministry of State Security(MSS) said in an article on social media.’
China Focus: Upholding authority of China’s Constitution through legal review process – Xinhua: ‘When Chinese people set off firecrackers and fireworks during festive celebrations, they may not be aware that their activities have been guaranteed by the country’s Constitution’
Chinese official publications call on universities to provide ‘love education’ – Reuters: ‘to emphasise positive views on marriage, love, fertility and family, in a bid to boost the country's flagging birth rate.’
China reports warmest autumn since records began – AFP
UNESCO inscribes Spring Festival on intangible cultural heritage list – Xinhua
Hong Kong
Cathay Pacific Airways 國泰航空 pulls Family Guy episode with Tiananmen crackdown joke, apologises and vows investigation – HKFP: ‘A complaint was raised against the flagship carrier on social media, in light of the city’s national security laws’
45 jailed democrats: 3 more seek to challenge convictions and sentences in landmark subversion case – HKFP
Hong Kong culture and transport ministers, Kevin Yeung 楊潤雄 and Lam Sai-hung 林世雄, sacked – HKFP
Overseas Hong Kongers set up electoral council in Taiwan – Taipei Times 🇹🇼
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Senior Taiwan security official says China trying to set a ‘red line’ for incoming Trump government – Reuters: ‘by stepping up military activities in the region, […], including likely war games this weekend around the island.’ 🇨🇳
China slaps sanctions on 13 US military firms over Taiwan arms sale – Reuters: ‘In addition, […] six executives from five companies including Raytheon, BAE Systems and United Technologies’ 🇨🇳🇺🇸
China will impose countermeasures against US military firms and senior executives, foreign ministry says – Xinhua: ‘Pursuant to its Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law [sic]’ 🇨🇳🇺🇸
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te 賴清德 (DPP) has call with Republican US House Speaker Mike Johnson during Guam visit – AFP: ‘Lai also addressed the Guam parliament — a first for a Taiwanese president’ 🇺🇸
Taiwan’s Lai faces test in holding onto Pacific island partners – Nikkei Asia 🇲🇭🇹🇻🇵🇼
Taiwan and Tuvalu sign joint communiqué to deepen partnership – Focus Taiwan: ‘Taiwan has so far provided financial support for Tuvalu to build a new parliamentary building’ 🇹🇻
President Lai addresses Palauan legislature, highlights democracy – Focus Taiwan 🇵🇼
Ma Ying-Jeou Foundation’s Chinese student delegation may have violated regulations, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council says – Focus Taiwan: ‘[KMT legislator] Hsu, however, said that Taiwan is a country that values freedom of speech, noting that individuals may use expressions customary in their own country’ 🇨🇳
Ma Ying-Jeou Foundation urges Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council not to have ‘martial law’ mentality as Chinese student group leaves – Taipei Times 🇨🇳
Ma Ying-jeou Foundation could be banned from holding exchange events, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council says – Focus Taiwan: ‘“China Taipei” carries a strong political connotation that the people of Taiwan cannot accept, Liang said’ 🇨🇳
De manier waarop voormalig president Ma Ying-jeou en zijn stichting samenwerken met de Chinese Communistische Partij is behoorlijk kwestieus en zou meer onderzocht moeten worden, zowel door journalisten als de autoriteiten. Tegelijkertijd is het wel weer typisch dat de ophef nu gaat over iets wat mijns inziens gewoon vrijheid van meningsuiting is – d.w.z. de keuze voor een bepaalde term om naar Taiwan te verwijzen.
Taipei-Shanghai Twin-City Forum scheduled for December 17 – Focus Taiwan: ‘The two sides will sign memorandums of cooperation in “smart medical care” and zoo animal exchanges this year, according to the statement.’ 🇨🇳
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Taipei High Administrative Court upholds 2018 ruling of Women’s League of the ROC as KMT-affiliated institution – New Bloom: ‘the CWL has been ordered to pay 17.89 billion NTD [€524m] to the government in assets.’
KMT proposal to raise recall threshold is questionable, Central Election Commission says – Taipei Times
Four more suspects detained over alleged green energy-related corruption – Focus Taiwan
Executive Yuan approves solar panel subsidy plan – Taipei Times