De Chinese Wouden, woensdag 14 augustus: Rusland en China
Vandaag wijs ik vooral op twee goede stukken over de toenadering tussen China en Rusland. The New York Times heeft een belangrijke discussie over de recente gezamenlijke oefeningen van de Chinese en Russische strijdkrachten. Zo zien sommige experts het als een poging om met militaire middelen een signaal te geven aan de Verenigde Staten wat volgens Peking anders niet zou landen in Washington DC. Ondertussen kon het Volksbevrijdingsleger bij de recente gezamenlijke luchtmachtoefening in de buurt van Alaska gebruik maken van Russische bases die het dichterbij dan ooit bracht.
Daarnaast schreef Jude Blanchette in Foreign Affairs een interessant overzicht van de manier waarop officiële Chinese denkers lijken te onderschatten welke schade Pekings steun voor Moskou nu al heeft veroorzaakt. Voor mij is dat een verder onderdeel van de Chinese hoogmoed die mij al langer somber doet stemmen.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Schriftelijke vragen: Het proces tegen Jimmy Lai 黎智英, hoofdredacteur van de voorheen grootste vrije krant in Hongkong – Jan Paternotte (D66), Eric van der Burg (VVD) en Tom van der Lee (GroenLinks-PvdA), Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal 🇳🇱
Hongkongs Hooggerechtshof handhaaft lange gevangenisstraffen voor democratische voorvechters – NRC
Beijing admits Hong Kong-flagged ship destroyed key Baltic gas pipeline ‘by accident’ – SCMP: ‘a critical Baltic Sea gas pipeline running between Estonia and Finland’
‘While it is understood that the report is circulating in various ministries, it is not submissible as official evidence in the investigations. Authorities in both capitals urged Beijing to respond to their urgent requests for information on the ship.’ 🇪🇪🇫🇮
Estonian defence minister doubts China’s claim pipeline damage was accidental – SCMP 🇪🇪
Online fashion retailer Shein 希音 enlists a former top EU official to bolster its lobbying efforts across the region – Bloomberg: ‘former EU budget commissioner Günther Oettinger’ 🇪🇺
Can China’s charm offensive breathe new life into ties with central and eastern Europe? – SCMP
Ruslands invasie 🇷🇺
China and Russia could skirt US sanctions with barter-trade deals that ‘break with tradition’ – SCMP: ‘Some local governments in China have been leading discussions and making plans’ 🇷🇺
Why China’s and Russia’s militaries are training together – The New York Times: ‘“Beijing increasingly feels that diplomatic and economic actions are not enough to get its points across to Washington, so it is relying more on its military as a tool for signaling. Partnering with Russia is a way to amplify Beijing’s messaging,” said Brian Hart’
‘By taking off from a Russian air base, nuclear-capable Chinese bombers were able to fly about 200 miles from the Alaskan coast, a distance that would have been unreachable taking off from China.’ 🇷🇺
China is in denial about the war in Ukraine: Why Chinese thinkers underestimate the costs of complicity in Russia’s aggression – Jude Blanchette for Foreign Affairs: ‘conspicuously absent from the Chinese public discourse [is that] China has, in fact, incurred costs as a result of Putin’s war and Beijing’s economic and diplomatic support for it. Europe has not completely turned its back on China, but the country’s deepening relationship with Russia has caused a significant deterioration in its relations with many European countries that cannot easily be reversed.’
‘After watching two years of war in Ukraine, however, many [Chinese thinkers] have concluded that the West has no stomach for conflict and will grow tired of supporting democracies facing an invading force if the economic costs are high. This conclusion is often overstated and probably underestimates American resolve. But the very fact that they have drawn it suggests that the Taiwan Strait—and the world at large—may be heading in a still more dangerous direction.’ 🇷🇺
China urges de-escalation as Ukraine advances in Russia offensive – AFP: ‘Those are: “No expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting, and no fuelling the flame by any party,” a foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement.’ 🇺🇦🇷🇺
Chinese FM spokesperson’s remarks on Ukrainian troops crossing into Russian territory – Xinhua 🇺🇦🇷🇺
Russia-Ukraine conflict intensifies amid Ukraine’s fresh offensive on Russian border – Xinhua: ‘Twelve civilians have died, and another 121 have been injured following Ukraine’s attack on the Kursk region, Russian authorities said.’ 🇺🇦🇷🇺
Het artikel vertelt vooral wat Poetin heeft gezegd in reactie.
Handel 🚗⚡️
Gerechtshof: Nuctech 同方威视 moet data uit China overhandigen in Europees onderzoek – FD 🇪🇺
Nuctech 同方威视 denies receiving Chinese state subsidies in EU probe – Reuters: ‘after the EU General Court on Monday rejected its request to temporarily suspend the European Commission’s decision to inspect the company.’
‘“What’s more striking is the Court’s insistence on Nuctech breaking the Chinese laws to illegally share data stored in China. Nuctech has repeatedly informed the Commission and the Court that we are prohibited from providing such data as it violates the PRC law. […]”’ 🇪🇺
German investment in China soars despite Berlin’s diversification drive – FT: ‘Experts say much of the investment dollars are reinvested profits earned in China.’
‘the uptick in German direct investment reflected a new “In China, for China” strategy pursued by companies like Volkswagen’ 🇩🇪
Europe’s biofuels sector sounds alarm over Chinese imports – FT: ‘Shell put the construction of a major biofuels plant in Rotterdam on hold.’ 🇪🇺
China’s Zeekr 极氪 to bring luxury EVs to Japan in 2025 – Nikkei Asia 🇯🇵
Battery giant CATL markets itself directly to consumers in rivalry with BYD 比亚迪 – Nikkei Asia
Intel launches new chip to power Chinese carmakers’ advanced in-vehicle AI initiatives – SCMP 🇺🇸
China is rushing to build battery-storage systems but needs to ensure they’re used more frequently – Bloomberg
Tech War 💽💥
Nvidia AI chip smuggling to China becomes an industry – The Information 🇺🇸
China’s new green-transition guidelines show how the embattled industry will power on – SCMP: ‘The main objectives aim to achieve “remarkable results” in the green evolution by 2030, and to basically establish a green, low-carbon and circular development economic system by 2035, according to Xinhua.’
China trials cargo drones and air taxis as low-altitude economy gains speed – Reuters
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
German Air Force joins multilateral India drills – DW: ‘along with NATO partners France, Spain and the UK.’ 🇩🇪🇫🇷🇪🇸🇬🇧🇮🇳
As US trade with Asia flourishes, resistance to trans-Pacific bloc CPTPP holds firm – SCMP: ‘American companies have integrated more closely with the bloc, undercutting the need to negotiate in, some analysts say.’ 🇺🇸
Japan helpt eilandstaten in Oceanië graag, maar heeft daarbij een eigen agenda – NRC 🇯🇵
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
Zuid-Chinese Zee
Philippines urges China to de-escalate tensions after air incident over Scarborough Shoal – Reuters 🇵🇭
Is China’s coastguard about to go big offshore with new ocean-going mothership? – SCMP
overige
Chinese foreign minister Wáng Yì 王毅 visits Myanmar amid fresh fighting between junta and rebel groups – SCMP: ‘follows special envoy Deng Xijun’s trip to Naypyidaw last week to meet junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and the arrival of China’s new ambassador Ma Jia on Monday.’ 🇲🇲
US Army intelligence analyst pleads guilty to selling defence information to China – AFP: ‘Among the documents handed over by Schultz was one discussing the lessons learned by the US Army from the Ukraine-Russia war that it would apply in a defense of Taiwan.’ 🇺🇸
US officials to travel to China for economic meetings – AFP 🇺🇸
Will Pakistan unrest dampen China’s belt and road ambitions? – SCMP: ‘Despite Pakistan’s efforts to bolster security at China’s repeated request, the situation seems to be deteriorating’ 🇵🇰
Israeli campus of China’s UIBE to suspend new student enrolments due to Gaza war – SCMP 🇮🇱
Vietnam’s newly appointed party chief set to visit China next week – Reuters 🇻🇳
Chinese officials head to Indonesia for ‘2+2’ military and diplomacy talks – SCMP 🇮🇩
Ex-member of Japanese biological warfare unit revisits China – Kyodo News 🇯🇵
Feature: Decades later, Japanese veteran returns China to repent and apologise – Xinhua 🇯🇵
China economie
Foreign investors pulled a record amount of money from China last quarter, with the second-only fall on record likely reflecting deep pessimism about the economy – Bloomberg: ‘Chinese outbound investment also hit a record’
Strikes hit China’s property and manufacturing sectors as growth slows – Nikkei Asia: ‘Labor strikes in China increased 3% on the year to 719 incidents in the first half of 2024, according to the China Labor Bulletin (CLB), a Hong Kong-based workers advocacy group. Incidents involving the property and manufacturing sectors were up 12%, accounting for 80% of the total.’
China new loans hit 15-year low in July, more policy steps expected – Reuters
Chinese developer R&F Properties 富力地产 defaults on US$147 million bond interest payments – SCMP
China’s Kaisa Group 佳兆业 liquidation hearing adjourned by Hong Kong court – Reuters
China’s central bank to extend lending support for decarbonisation projects until 2027 – SCMP
China binnenland
China issues revised regulations on subsidies and benefits for military service members – Xinhua
China vows financial support to restore agricultural output after floods – Reuters
Chinese vice premier Liú Guózhōng 刘国中 calls for ensuring bumper harvest after flooding – Xinhua
Former senior Guizhou political advisor Lǐ Zàiyǒng 李再勇 given death sentence with reprieve – Xinhua
Hong Kong
Hongkongs Hooggerechtshof handhaaft lange gevangenisstraffen voor democratische voorvechters – NRC
Hong Kong backs top court decision to uphold 2019 demo convictions, says free assembly protected within limits – HKFP
Hongkong dwingt westerse techbedrijven tot politieke censuur: „Het was eigenlijk een mislukt experiment” – NRC interviewt Lokman Tsui
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Beijing’s spy agency MSS [claims it] ‘destroyed large number’ of Taiwan intelligence networks – SCMP: ‘It made specific mention of the arrest of Taiwanese political activist Yang Chih-yuan, which it called “an innovation in the law enforcement and judicial practice” of holding Taiwan independence elements criminally responsible for their suspected acts of secession.’ 🇨🇳
China’s spy claims are intimidation, expert says – Taipei Times 🇨🇳
China to release four fishing boat crewmen today – Taipei Times: ‘detained by Chinese authorities since July 2’ 🇨🇳
HIMARS set to be delivered to Taiwan by 2026, military says – Taipei Times: ‘the first order of 11 sets of HIMARS is to be delivered between the end of this year and next year, while the remaining sets would be delivered before the end of 2026.’
Taiwanese military to retire ageing M41D tanks, CM24 armoured vehicles, and F-5s in 5 years – Focus Taiwan: ‘among a total of more than 1,000 aging armaments and weapon systems set to be decommissioned between 2024 and 2028’
Cabinet says protection of key facilities progressing – Taipei Times: ‘discussing the Executive Yuan’s first national security policy report of the year, produced by the Homeland Safety Office on critical infrastructure countermeasures against UAVs and drones.’
Taiwan to mount missile drills off east coast as PLA flexes more military muscle nearby – SCMP
Nikki Haley and ex-Japan prime minister to speak at Taipei security forum – Focus Taiwan
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Ko Wen-je 柯文哲 (TPP) comes under fire in successive financial scandals – New Bloom
De Taiwanese kranten staan vol met aantijgingen van corruptie en andere misstanden bij de TPP en Ko Wen-je. In dit geval is er eenheid tussen de groene (pro-DPP) en blauwe (pro-KMT) pers.
TPP admits errors in election accounts – Taipei Times: ‘said it had made mistakes in declaring 17 records of political donations for its election campaign which add up to about NT$18 million (US$554,529), in response to speculation that the party made false declarations.’
Former TPP finance chief Lee Wen-tsung 李文宗 takes blame for campaign expense issues – Focus Taiwan: ‘The use of Mu Ke Public Relations Marketing as one of the companies cited in the expenses particularly raised suspicions because it is owned by Lee's younger sister’
Ex-Taipei deputy mayor Pong Cheng-sheng 彭振聲 banned from leaving Taiwan over alleged corruption – Focus Taiwan: ‘his suspected involvement in the projects during former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je’s (柯文哲) tenure’