De Chinese Wouden, woensdag 16 april: Xi in Zuidoost-Azië
Xi Jinping is op reis in Zuidoost-Azië. Ik ben natuurlijk jaloers. Na Vietnam is hij nu aangekomen in Maleisië. De staatsbezoeken worden omgeven met een groot propagandaoffensief vanuit Chinese hoek. De boodschap is duidelijk: werk samen met China voor de open handel en tegen de Amerikaanse heffingen.
Vietnam en Maleisië hebben een balanceeract vol te houden. Xi werd door de leiders ontvangen op het vliegveld en krijgt grote aandacht in de pers. Er wordt gesproken over infrastructuurprojecten en andere samenwerkingen. Economisch is het belangrijk. Toch ziet men de overweldigende Chinese aanwezigheid ook als dreiging, zo blijkt al jaren uit de State of Southeast Asia Survey van regionale elites.
Vietnam en Maleisië hebben beide problemen met de Chinese claims in de Zuid-Chinese Zee. Vietnam heeft ook een eeuwenlange geschiedenis van strijd tegen China voor zijn onafhankelijkheid. Bovendien hebben beide landen erg geprofiteerd van de verplaatsing van fabrieken uit China naar de regio voor de internationale/Westerse markt.
Voor veiligheidsredenen (Vietnam) en economische redenen (beide) willen ze hun opties open houden. Beide zijn ook druk bezig om te onderhandelen met Trump over de heffingen en gaven aan geen tegenheffingen in te voeren. Xi Jinpings oproep aan Vietnam om samen tegen de heffingen te gaan werd in de Vietnamese readouts weggelaten.
Het gevoel van een beschavingsstrijd word in China wel meer gedeeld. De hoogste Chinese functionaris voor Hong Kong, Xia Baolong, stelde: ‘“The US isn’t after our tariffs – it is after our very survival.”’ ‘“Let those American peasants wail before the 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation!” – een reactie op JD Vance.
Wat Washington nu wil, weet zelfs Washington niet. Het Witte Huis zegt vol vertrouwen over de aantrekkingskracht van de Amerikaanse markt, dat China de eerste stap moet zetten – ook al heeft Trump de meest waardevolle producten (tech) voorlopig uitgezonderd. In ‘Trumpworld’ worden ondertussen de China-haviken steeds zeldzamer, observeert The Economist.
Herhaling: ik ben 16–22 april in Brussel. Verwacht geen nieuwsbrief op Goede Vrijdag.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Comments of the Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands on Dutch Parliament’s anti-China motions – Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands, WeChat: ‘In disregard of China’s strong opposition and solemn representations, the House of Representatives of the Netherlands adopted a series of anti-China motions, which seriously violates the long-held position and commitments of the Dutch side and the basic norms governing international relations’ 🇳🇱
Wordt de website tegenwoordig gewoon niet meer bijgewerkt? Ik denk niet dat de gewraakte „members of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands […] keen on concocting and sensationalizing anti-China issues” op WeChat zitten.
Braucht Deutschland eine neue China-Strategie? – FAZ: „Drei Dutzend deutsche Unternehmen in China haben gemeinsam einen Katalog mit Empfehlungen für das Merz-Kabinett erarbeitet. Sie wollen die geopolitische Orientierung der Bundesregierung drehen. China soll wieder stärker als Partner, nicht als Gegner gesehen werden.“
„Öffentlich will mit dem Papier niemand in Verbindung gebracht werden. Zu groß ist die Sorge, als naiver China-Freund abgestempelt zu werden.“ 🇩🇪
Chinese foreign ministry slams ‘manipulation and hype’ over Chinese soldiers captured in Ukraine – AFP 🇺🇦
Chinese soldiers captured by Ukraine claim no connection to Beijing – Nikkei Asia 🇺🇦
A secretive Italian billionaire has emerged as a powerful broker in a US$19 billion port deal with Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchinson – Bloomberg: ‘main investors in [the] consortium’ 🇮🇹
Advocacy Lab Content: 50 Years of EU-China Relations: the future of the strategic partnership – Euractiv Advoacy’s Lab, sponsored by Mission of China to the EU 🇪🇺
Don’t politicise row over Scunthorpe steel plant, says Chinese foreign ministry – The Guardian: ‘Ministers have accused Jingye of acting in bad faith last week’ 🇬🇧
Revealed: Chinese researchers can access half a million UK GP records – The Guardian 🇬🇧
China is set to import more Russian LNG in 2025, ambassador to Russia says – Reuters 🇷🇺
Wereldhandelsoorlog 📉💥
World wants more trade with Europe since Trump-driven uncertainty, von der Leyen says – POLITICO 🇪🇺
US to demand EU pulls away from China in return for cutting tariffs – The Irish Times: ‘according to briefings circulated to senior ministers and officials after Tánaiste Simon Harris’s meeting in Washington last week’ 🇪🇺🇺🇸
Opinie: Trumps brute machtspolitiek mogen we niet accepteren – Frans Timmermans (GroenLinks-PvdA) in NRC: „We hebben een achterstand op China en de VS, maar kunnen die goed maken als we snel ons investeringsvermogen en weerstandsvermogen vergroten met een Europese kapitaal- en bankenunie, met een echte energie-unie en forse investeringen in nieuwe technologieën, toekomstgerichte industrieën en wetenschap op het allerhoogste niveau.” 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Dutch exports to China tumble as chip machine giant ASML clears back orders before US bans – SCMP: ‘Customs data from March also showed a continuation of trends that have alarmed EU policymakers in recent months, as China’s exports to Europe surged, even as its imports from Europe continued to fall.’ 🇪🇺
Top Trump official Brendan Carr tells Europe to choose between US or Chinese communications tech – FT: ‘accused the European Commission of “protectionism” and an “anti-American” attitude.’
‘as European governments and some European companies consider whether Starlink […] is a reliable partner’
‘Carr said that European telecoms companies Nokia and Ericsson should move more of their manufacturing to the US’ ‘The two companies are the largest vendors of mobile network infrastructure equipment in the US.’ 🇪🇺🇺🇸
Nogal lastig voor Europa om te kiezen voor Amerikaanse bedrijven, wanneer Starlink eigendom is van een anti-Europeaan en in telco de Amerikanen juist afhankelijk zijn van Europa…
VS-China 🇨🇳
Ball in China’s court for trade talks, White House says – Reuters: ‘“China wants what we have … the American consumer, or to put another way, they need our money,” Leavitt said.’ 🇺🇸
Trump says will announce semiconductor tariffs over next week – Reuters: ‘adding that there would be flexibility on some companies in the sector.’ 🇺🇸
Interview Jue Wang: „Strijdbare taal uit Washington en Beijing is voor de bühne, uiteindelijk zullen ze moeten onderhandelen” – NRC 🇺🇸
Chinese government ordered its airlines not to take any further deliveries of Boeing jets as part of the tit-for-tat trade war, sources say – Bloomberg: ‘Beijing has also asked that Chinese carriers halt any purchases of aircraft-related equipment and parts from US companies’ 🇺🇸
China Southern 南航 cancels sale of Boeing aircraft amid tariff war – Nikkei Asia 🇺🇸
Slachtoffers van de handelsoorlog: Chinese chauffeurs plotseling zonder werk – RTL Nieuws
At China’s largest trade fair, exporters say US markets are ‘frozen’ – Reuters 🇺🇸
Tariff wars to hit popular US-made drugs in China, regulator data shows – Reuters: ‘The Trump administration is also currently investigating whether imports of pharmaceutical products threaten U.S. national security, which could be a precursor to slapping tariffs on those products.’ 🇺🇸
Why Xi holds a stronger hand than Trump – Gideon Rachman in FT 🇺🇸
Opinie: Xi krijgt precies wat hij wil van Trump: controle – Victor De Decker in De Morgen
Chinese factories in Vietnam see ‘crazy’ surge in orders amid US tariff pause – SCMP 🇻🇳
VS-wereld 🌏
UK trade secretary to visit China with aim of reviving key joint trade commission – The Guardian: ‘has not met since 2018 when relations began deteriorating after Beijing’s crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong.’ 🇬🇧
UK retail bosses raise fears of Chinese ‘dumping’ due to Trump tariffs – FT 🇬🇧
China and Brazil to discuss expanding farm exports amid US tariff escalation with Beijing – SCMP 🇧🇷
Techoorlog 💽💥
China’s EV battery king CATL joins with Sinopec 中国石化 to build swapping-station network – SCMP
China to tighten EV battery rules to reduce fire and explosion risks – Reuters
Nvidia to take up to US$5.5 billion sales hit as US regulates sales of H20 chip in China – Reuters: ‘H20 is the primary chip Nvidia is legally permitted to sell in China.’ 🇺🇸
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
EU issues US-bound staff with burner phones over spying fears – FT: ‘“The transatlantic alliance is over,” said a fifth EU official.’ 🇪🇺
European Space Agency eyes defence in big budget boost – Euractiv: ‘The European Space Agency is drawing up plans for a military-grade reconnaissance satellite network with the EU’ 🇪🇺
China hawks are losing influence in Trumpworld, despite the trade war – The Economist: ‘conventional China hawks, whether primacists or prioritisers, are losing ground in the battle for influence.’ 🇺🇸
Trump is halfway to making America a police state – Edward Luce in FT: ‘At around noon on 14 April, 2025, America ceased to have a law-abiding government. […] Trump chose to ignore a 9-0 Supreme Court ruling to repatriate an illegally deported man. He even claimed the judges ruled in his favour.’ 🇺🇸
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平’s rondreis door Zuidoost-Azië krijgt door Trumps heffingen plots meer gewicht – de Volkskrant
China Power: As Beijing plays up global peacemaker role, scepticism lingers in Southeast Asia – CNA
Neem de moeite om het helemaal te lezen, tot het lange einde – waarin kritische noten feitelijke correcties bieden van het in de regio wijdverspreide geloof in mooie Chinese verhalen van de daarboven geciteerde Maleisische en Filipijnse personen.
Neighbourhood diplomacy takes center stage as Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 begins visit to Southeast Asia – Xinhua
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平’s visit shows Vietnam’s balancing act as Trump’s tariffs loom – Bloomberg: ‘While Vietnam gave Xi a warm welcome and signed 45 deals to deepen economic ties, the nation appeared to be downplaying any comments or actions that may upset US President Donald Trump.’ 🇻🇳
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 calls on China and Vietnam to jointly oppose power politics and unilateralism – Xinhua 🇻🇳
China and Vietnam sign agreements on supply chains and railway cooperation – Reuters 🇻🇳
China’s Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 arrives in Malaysia, pledges deeper ties amid escalating US trade war – The Straits Times: ‘Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim received Mr Xi on the tarmac’ 🇲🇾
May the Ship of China-Malaysia Friendship Sail Toward an Even Brighter Future – Xi Jinping in The Star: ‘As we honor our shared past and embrace the future, our two countries must work together to give fresh momentum to our ship of friendship that has sailed through the long river of history, and ensure that it forges ahead steadily toward brighter horizons.’ 🇲🇾
Cambodia deports unknown number of Taiwanese to China on fraud charges, Taiwan says – Reuters 🇰🇭🇹🇼
Philippines calls joint US drills ‘defence rehearsal’ as China tensions simmer – Reuters: ‘The United States is deploying around 9,000 troops to the Philippines for this year's joint military exercises’ ‘will include 5,000 Filipino troops, 200 from the Australia Defence Force, and observers from the Japan Self-Defence Force.’ 🇵🇭
Philippines and China accuse each other of dangerous moves in disputed South China Sea shoal – Reuters 🇵🇭
Philippines says voiced South China Sea concerns during ASEAN-China negotiations – Reuters: ‘The Philippines […] hosted the latest round of talks last week’ 🇵🇭
China’s foreign ministry announces visa restrictions on ‘badly-behaved’ US personnel over Tibet – Reuters: ‘after Washington imposed additional visa restrictions two weeks ago on Chinese officials involved in policies governing foreigners' access to Tibetan areas.’ 🇺🇸
Chinese police in Harbin accuses US of launching ‘advanced’ cyberattacks during Asian Winter Games, names alleged NSA agents – Reuters: ‘also accused the University of California and Virginia Tech of being involved’ 🇺🇸
Greenlandic political leaders looks to enhance cooperation with China – Xinhua 🇬🇱
China schenkt Ghana een ultramoderne haven, maar de lokale vissers voelen zich verjaagd – NRC: „Zo’n 90 procent van de Ghanese vloot is eigendom van Chinese bedrijven die lokale frontbedrijven gebruiken om zich als Ghanees te registreren en de wet te omzeilen.” 🇬🇭
China economie
UBS lowers forecast for China 2025 GDP growth to 3.4% on tariff hikes – Reuters
China’s March exports jump in temporary boost as Trump 2.0 heaps pressure – Reuters
China’s murky bankruptcies expose hazards for foreign investors – Reuters: ‘Gaps in enforcement of China’s insolvency laws can leave creditors vulnerable to opaque dealings and malicious bankruptcy filings by firms seeking to evade payment obligations, or by individuals trying to appropriate company assets, they said.’
Once among China’s top shadow lenders, Zhōngróng 中融 now stares at liquidation after missing billions of dollars in payments – Bloomberg: ‘Zhongrong’s parent, Zhongzhi Enterprise Group Co., filed for bankruptcy last year’
Chinese authorities have considered opening its US$520 billion ETF market to Western market makers, sources say – Reuters: ‘The sources cautioned, however, that the escalating trade war with U.S. […] could delay Beijing’s official green light for U.S. firms.’
China binnenland
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平’s article on building leading country in culture to be published – Xinhua
习近平：加快建设文化强国 – 《求是》2025/08：“这里最关键的，就是必须把党管宣传、党管意识形态、党管媒体、党管互联网原则落实到位，提升信息化条件下文化领域治理能力，在思想上、精神上、文化上筑牢党的执政基础和群众基础。”
„用马克思主义激活中华传统文化中的优秀因子并赋予其新的时代内涵，发展新时代中国特色社会主义文化”
Voor de liefhebber verwijs ik naar een eerdere opmerking van mij over de Twee Integraties van Xi Jinping, of direct naar de pagina’s uit het boek van Kevin Rudd over de vermenging van Chinese cultuur en marxisme.
Hong Kong
‘Arrogant, shameless’: Beijing’s top official in Hong Kong Xià Bǎolóng 夏宝龙 condemns US tariffs at National Security Education Day opening ceremony – HKFP: ‘“The US isn’t after our tariffs – it is after our very survival.”’ ‘“Let those American peasants wail before the 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation!” Xia said, in an apparent jab at US Vice President JD Vance’
Hong Kong chief secretary Eric Chan 陳國基 calls US tariffs ‘blackmail,’ links them to national security – HKFP
Hong Kong schools on ‘frontline’ of preventing ‘soft resistance,’ education minister says – HKFP: ‘Schools in Hong Kong should cultivate patriotism among students and step up training for teachers to prevent “hostile forces from infiltrating schools,”’
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
China’s CPTPP bid to block Taiwan’s application, foreign ministry argues – Focus Taiwan 🇨🇳
Taiwan’s military quiet on US participation in Han Kuang wargames – Focus Taiwan: ‘would not comment Monday on reports that a retired United States army general is serving as an advisor to Taiwan’s chief of the general staff’ 🇺🇸
Taiwan and Tuvalu to sign labor deal during Deputy PM’s visit, foreign ministry says – Focus Taiwan 🇹🇻
China turning Taiwan drills into invasion ‘not possible’, ex-navy chief turned KMT legislator Chen Yeong-kang 陳永康 claims – Nikkei Asia: ‘making a case that Taipei needs a broad national security strategy law with oversight by the legislature.’
‘Critics say Chen’s bill is merely an attempt to shift national security powers away from the presidency and into the hands of the opposition-controlled legislature.’
‘Chen said he believes the KMT will ultimately support a larger budget.’ ‘Other high-profile KMT lawmakers have sounded more skeptical of increased defense spending.’
Taiwan binnenland en economie
KMT Youth League members released on bail for signature fraud in recall campaign targeting DPP legislators – Taipei Times: ‘Prosecutors said several signatures on the recall petitions were submitted with a signature without the namesake’s knowledge or consent.’ ‘New Taipei City investigators […] searched […] KMT’s office[s]’
De beschuldigingen van KMT-parlementariërs dat dit juridische vervolging is, doen denken aan de jarenlange strategie van de Republikeinse Partij in de VS.
Taiwanese government to launch joint cybersecurity centre in August – Taipei Times: ‘The center is to oversee the nation’s “four pillars of cybersecurity” — societal resilience, defense of homeland and critical infrastructures, protecting crucial industries and supply chains, and safe AI use’
Taiwan’s education ministry to reinforce Taiwanese national identity and Chinese threat awareness – Taipei Times
DPP calls to tighten hiring process after spy incidents – Taipei Times