De Chinese Wouden, woensdag 1 november: Centraal Forum voor Financieel Werk, Xiangshan Forum
Belangrijk maar abstract resultaat van het vijfjaarlijkse, vertraagde Centrale Forum voor Financieel Werk zal de toon zetten voor enkele cruciale beleidskeuzes die komen. De economie stelt al weer wat teleur, dus er is werk aan de winkel.
Het Xiangshan Forum is afgelopen. De Amerikaanse delegatie sprak Chinese tegenhangers. Dit is slechts een van de verschillende plekken waar beide kanten de dialoog met elkaar aan gaan. Men bereidt duidelijk de geplande ontmoeting voor tussen Biden en Xi in San Francisco.
Ondertussen richt de Chinese Stasi de pijlen op bepaalde landen die zich bewapend zouden hebben met genetische wapens die bepaalde rassen uit zouden kunnen schakelen, en op ongeautoriseerde meteorologische data die naar het buitenland gaat. Samenzweringstheorieën over ras-specifieke wapens gaan al langer rond in Chinese cirkels, maar dat het nu op zo’n serieus kanaal wordt genoemd, is wel een zorgelijk teken van waar de geesten in de geheime diensten zich momenteel bevinden.
De laatste woorden van Xi Jinping voor de conferentie voor vrouwenwerk klinken ook een stuk conservatiever dan wat het vaste taalgebruik was voor vrouwenrechten nog maar kort geleden. Meer nadruk op geboortes en minder op gelijkheid.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Press statement by Minister Bruins Slot in Manila, the Philippines, 30 October 2023 – Government of the Netherlands: ‘Both our countries are committed to upholding the international law of the sea. That's why we will work jointly to build capacity concerning the content and relevance of the law of the sea. The Netherlands stands with the Philippines in its call for the full observance of international law in the South China Sea. In that light, we support the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that vindicated the Philippines’ claims. We urge all parties to respect this ruling and to refrain from confrontational actions.’ 🇳🇱
Wáng Yì 王毅 urges Europe to be ‘pragmatic’ in China ties during talks with senior French diplomat Emmanuel Bonne – SCMP: ‘Wang called for France to practise “true multilateralism” with China’ 🇫🇷
China and France hold strategic dialogue – Xinhua 🇫🇷
China cooperating in Balticconnector investigation, Finland says – Reuters 🇫🇮
EU parliamentary group on visit to strengthen ties with Taiwan – Focus Taiwan 🇪🇺
南京大屠杀史实展在匈牙利开幕 – 新华网 🇭🇺
Centraal Forum voor Financieel Werk
China signals tighter Communist party control of finance sector – FT: ‘emphatically backed Xi and his allies’ drive to deleverage China’s huge real estate sector, shore up the finances of indebted local governments and clamp down on speculation and corruption.’
China says it will set up a system to resolve debt risks of its local governments – Bloomberg
Xinhua Headlines: Key meeting sets tone on China's financial development – Xinhua
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 says preventing, resolving China’s financial risks are ‘eternal theme’ for Beijing – SCMP
Xiangshan Forum
PLA will ‘show no mercy’ against Taiwan independence moves, top Chinese general Zhāng Yòuxiá 张又侠 says – SCMP: ‘Zhang’s statement on Taiwan was less aggressive and shorter than a speech delivered in June at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore by General Li Shangfu’
‘Zhang’s role at this year’s Xiangshan gathering is unusual – the opening speech has been delivered by the defence minister since the forum began in 2006.’ ‘In Li’s place, the two vice-chairmen of the CMC – the Chinese military’s ruling body – have been holding bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the forum.’
If China is forced to resolve the Taiwan question through the use of force, it will be a legitimate and just war, says Lieutenant General Hé Léi 何雷 – The Global Times
US and Chinese defence officials meet at Beijing security forum – Nikkei Asia
Lloyd Austin’s absence at Xiangshan Forum a ‘missed opportunity’ for Pentagon, says Chinese general Hé Léi 何雷 – SCMP
China and Russia take aim at US at Chinese military forum – Reuters
Russia’s defence chief hails China ties as ‘exemplary’, warns Nato expansion risks clash between nuclear powers – SCMP
10th Beijing Xiangshan Forum concludes – Xinhua
Overlijden Li Keqiang
Remains of Lǐ Kèqiáng 李克强 to be cremated on November 2 – Xinhua
De arrangementen volgen wat ook bij het overlijden van voormalig premier Li Peng de gang van zaken was. Alleen was de ‘Slager van Peking’ minder populair en dient het herinneren van Li ook als signaal van ontevredenheid en het rouwen om een bepaalde periode van hoop en hervorming die nu voorbij is.
Amid mourning for ex-premier Lǐ Kèqiáng 李克强, Beijing treads fine line between grief and dissent – The Straits Times
Tech War 💽💥
Canada bans WeChat, Kaspersky applications on government devices – Reuters
Taiwan’s PSMC to build wafer foundry in Japan’s Miyagi prefecture – Focus Taiwan
Taiwan puts chips on the table with US$375 million semiconductor expansion fund – SCMP
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
Beijing’s top spy agency cracks down on illegal foreign weather stations amid push to stop data leaving China – SCMP: ‘more than 10 meteorological agents with overseas links had also been investigated’
China’s declining aid to Pacific islands increasingly goes to allies, think tank reports – AP
China’s billionaires looking to move their cash, and themselves, out – The Guardian
US Space Force chief urges universal rules to keep China in check – Nikkei Asia
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
China’s top spy agency warns some countries armed with ‘gene weapons’ able to target specific ethnicity or race – SCMP: ‘The existence of such weapons has long been dismissed by the mainstream scientific community as a conspiracy theory.’
China says to continue relentless efforts for Palestinian question settlement – Xinhua
Biden will meet Xi Jinping in coming weeks during San Francisco summit, White House says – POLITICO: ‘seemed to accidentally reveal the announcement.’
US to send strongest-ever delegation to China International Import Expo amid improving ties – SCMP
Feature: Flying Tigers legacy propels China-US cooperation – Xinhua
推动中美关系真正稳下来、好起来(钟声) – 《人民日报》(2023年10月31日 第03版)
Alles wijst erop.
China military says Philippine ship ‘illegally entered’ waters near Scarborough Shoal – Reuters
Philippines says its ships have ‘every right’ to be near Scarborough Shoal – Al Jazeera
Japan envisions ‘quasi-alliance’ with Philippines – Nikkei Asia
‘War of money’: can China drag rivals into bankruptcy in a new arms race with drones? – SCMP
Yáng Héngjūn 杨恒均’s family urges Albanese to negotiate with China for jailed Australian writer’s release – The Guardian
China economie
China’s factory activity contracts in blow to economic momentum – FT
China’s economy suffered a setback, reigniting growth concerns just as activity appeared to be stabilising – WSJ
Some Chinese institutions borrow at 50% rate as liquidity squeezed – Reuters
HSBC chief says worst is over for China real estate – FT
China binnenland
Xí Jìnpìng 习近平 says China’s women must start ‘new trend of family’ – Reuters
Xí Jìnpìng 习近平 stresses organising and motivating women to contribute their strength to Chinese modernisation – Xinhua: ‘It is necessary to strengthen guidance on young people's perspectives on marriage, childbearing and family, he said’
Beijing’s message to the National Women’s Congress: Gender equality is out, family and childbirth are in – Carl Minzner for Council on Foreign Relations
China removes public anonymity of bloggers’ accounts with more than 500,000 followers – Reuters
Hong Kong
Hong Kong finance chief Paul Chan 陳茂波 to attend APEC meet, side-stepping dispute – Reuters
US state senator acquitted of illegal firearms possession in Hong Kong – Reuters
University of Hong Kong ex-student leaders jailed 2 years each over mourning death of man who stabbed police officer – HKFP
‘Unauthorised article’ removed from prison by Hong Kong activist was complaint form to government watchdog, court hears – HKFP
‘Non-patriots’ have no place in Hong Kong’s District Council race, Beijing official says – HKFP
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Taiwan Air Force stages annual Sky Dragon drills – Focus Taiwan
Japan and the US must lead an alliance to deter China from invading Taiwan, says former Japan defence minister – Taipei Times
Caribbean Formosa club members visit Taiwan – Taipei Times
Taiwan’s defence ministry reports on countering PRC infiltration tactics – Taipei Times
Taiwan verkiezingen
KMT and TPP agreed on Monday to collaborate in legislative elections – Focus Taiwan: ‘However, the two main opposition parties made no progress in terms of how to select the “strongest opposition presidential candidate” to end the DPP’s eight-year rule, during Monday’s talks.’
CCP seeks to influence election, says DPP – Taipei Times: ‘DPP spokesman […] said that Beijing’s political influence was also behind an effort by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) to form a “blue-white alliance” for January’s elections.’
朱侯柯深夜密會 總統怎麼合無結論 – 自由時報
Afgelopen nacht vond er nog een ontmoeting plaats. Ze blijven in het nieuws, terwijl Lai wat onzichtbaar blijft. Er is wel heel snel een doorbraak nodig om nog tot een gezamenlijke kandidatuur de komen voor de presidentsverkiezing. Tegelijkertijd is juist in het parlement, via bijvoorbeeld afspraken om elkaar in bepaalde kiesdistricten niet te beconcurreren, veel mogelijk om de DPP van een meerderheid af te houden.
Foxconn (Hon Hai 鴻海) calls for ‘confidence’ in wake of Chinese tax probe – AFP
KMT and TPP campaign promises ‘empty,’ Lai Ching-te 賴清德 (DPP) says – Taipei Times
Group tour ban to China is bad policy, says Hou Yu-ih 侯友宜 (KMT) – Taipei Times: ‘The problem with Taiwan is bad cross-strait policy, he said.’ ‘“We do not need more fighter jets flying across the Taiwan Strait. Instead, we need more passenger jets and good timing to create peace,” he added.’
TPP aims to have 17,000 volunteers monitor polling stations – Taipei Times
賴清德指副手口袋名單有6人 蕭美琴是優先之上 – 中央社
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Taiwan’s economy grows at its fastest pace in a year in the last quarter, giving the government a much-needed boost before a critical presidential election in January – Bloomberg
Taiwan estimated Q3 GDP growth below earlier forecast – Focus Taiwan: ‘mainly due to sluggish investments.’
President Tsai announces NT$40bn [€1.2b] boost for space programme – Taipei Times