De Chinese Wouden, woensdag 17 januari: Davos, Taiwan, leesmateriaal Xi Jinping
Terwijl premier Li Qiang in het Zwitserse Davos weer vanouds als koopman de Chinese markt en (vermeende) economische groei aanprees als onmisbaar, was Xi Jinping in China zelf aan het praten over economische en financiële soevereiniteit. Het was niet ik die dit contrast als eerste stelde, maar de oorsprong ben ik helaas vergeten. Peking praat nog altijd met twee stemmen – eentje voor de buitenlanders en eentje de eigen partijkaders – net als bijvoorbeeld wat betreft afhankelijkheden in leveringsketens.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Deontologische klacht over Chinese contacten Dewinter (Vlaams Belang) wellicht ontvankelijk – De Standaard 🇧🇪
Liz Truss secretly lobbied UK ministers to ‘expedite’ defence exports to China – POLITICO Europe 🇬🇧
Georgia’s ruling party leader visits China in push for deeper ties – Reuters 🇬🇪
Davos 🇨🇭🏔️
China’s Lǐ Qiáng 李强, at Davos, reveals GDP grew beyond target at 5.2% – Nikkei Asia
Chinese premier Lǐ Qiáng 李强 says China always be staunch supporter of multilateralism – Xinhua: ‘Li made a five-point proposal on rebuilding trust, strengthening cooperation and promoting global economic recovery’
China vs. EU in Davos: Duelling speeches display global divisions – POLITICO Europe: ‘Chinese Premier Li Qiang made what amounted to an unabashed sales pitch to multinational companies to invest in a Chinese economy that looks increasingly shaky; while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen responded with a staunch defense of democracy and the West’s geopolitical interests.’
A big Chinese delegation to Switzerland unnerves US diplomats in Davos – POLITICO Europe
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Chinese Premier Lǐ Qiáng 李强 raised their respective EV and liquor investigations during a meeting in Davos Tuesday – Bloomberg: ‘Even though they broached the issue, there was no further discussion on either investigation, according to a person familiar with the meeting.’
China edges closer to upgrading free trade agreement with Switzerland for deeper collaboration – Xinhua
Taiwan verkiezingsuitslag 🇹🇼🗳️
‘We congratulate the people of Taiwan on the successful conduct of the elections.’ – Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Twitter 🇳🇱
Nederland volgt de voor BZ gebruikelijke weg bij voor China gevoelige onderwerpen door de Europese Dienst voor Extern Optreden (EDEO) de reposten, in dit geval wel met een eigen zinnetje erbij.
Nauru to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of China – The Guardian
Nauru’s financial demands key to breaking ties with Taiwan, official says – Focus Taiwan: ‘The source believed that was when China finalized its offer on the RPC project, which was accepted by the Nauru side, and they were simply waiting for the right moment to announce the switch.’
AIT chair disappointed by UN-resolution distortion in Nauru move – Focus Taiwan
Japan ruling party lawmaker Furuya Keiji 古屋 圭司 (LDP) congratulates Taiwan President-elect Lai Ching-te 賴清德 (DPP) in Taipei – Kyodo News: ‘Furuya also held talks with President Tsai Ing-wen’
Philippines reaffirms ‘One China policy’ after President Marcos congratulates Taiwan’s Lai Ching-te 賴清德 – Reuters
Australia cautions Beijing to ‘respect’ outcome of Taiwan elections – Nikkei Asia
Beijing reminds Singapore of its ‘one-China’ position on Taiwan in a rare show of public disapproval after the city-state congratulated Vice President Lai Ching-te 賴清德 – Bloomberg
In de regio is er iets meer durf.
Taiwan premier Chen Chien-jen 陳建仁 says Cabinet will resign in accordance with past practice – Reuters
TPP caucus calls on speakership hopefuls to push for reforms – Focus Taiwan
A ‘State of the Nation’ address by President to legislature required, says KMT – Taipei Times
KMT Chairman Eric Chu 朱立倫 must resign, [pro-Beijing] party veteran Chang Ya-chung 張亞中 says – Taipei Times
Tech War 💽💥
Zweedse batterijfabrikant Northvolt krijgt ‘grootste groene lening’ in Europa – NRC
China’s chip imports suffered their steepest drop on record last year, falling 15.4% to US$349.4 billion – Bloomberg
Why China-South Korea trade drop-off may persist as US influence weighs on chips and tech – SCMP
Nieuw leesmateriaal
China’s Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 lays out road map for becoming ‘financial superpower’ – but warns risk can throw efforts off-track – SCMP
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 stresses boosting high-quality development of China’s financial sector – Xinhua
Communist Party must ‘win the hearts’ of people in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, says Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 in article to be published by Qiushi – SCMP
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平’s article on Party’s united front work to be published – Xinhua
习近平:完整、准确、全面贯彻落实关于做好新时代党的统一战线工作的重要思想 – 《求是》2024/02
China holds moral high ground as global leader, top diplomat Wáng Yì 王毅 says in push for alternative world order – SCMP
王毅:深入贯彻中央外事工作会议精神 不断开创中国特色大国外交新局面 – 《求是》2024/02
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
North Korea’s Kim calls for South to be seen as ‘primary foe’ and warns of war – Reuters: ‘North Korea should also plan for “completely occupying, subjugating and reclaiming” South Korea in the event of a war, and South Koreans should also no longer be referred to as fellow countrymen, Kim added, calling for the severing of all inter-Korean communication and the destruction of a monument to reunification in Pyongyang.’
Is Kim Jong Un 金正恩 preparing for war? – Robert L. Carlin and Siegfried S. Hecker for 38 North: ‘The situation on the Korean Peninsula is more dangerous than it has been at any time since early June 1950. That may sound overly dramatic, but we believe that, like his grandfather in 1950, Kim Jong Un has made a strategic decision to go to war.’
Net als met China en Taiwan is ook in dit geval de disclaimer van toepassing dat het aannemen van een beleid van oorlogsvoorbereiding wat anders is dan het besluit die oorlog ook daadwerkelijk te ontketenen.
Ik zie dit meer als een koerswijziging weg van de onderhandelingsweg die in Singapore met Trump en elders met Moon Jae-in open lag en naar een confrontationele strategie in de wereld van Russische invasie en een conservatieve Yoon Suk Yeol.
North Korea lauds ‘comradely’ ties with Russia, Putin to meet Kim’s foreign minister – Reuters
Japan and Australia in talks on cooperation in military contingencies – Kyodo News
Philippines hopes to sign troops pact with Japan in first quarter – Nikkei Asia
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
Tunisia and China oppose interference in internal affairs under pretext of human rights – Xinhua: ‘Tunisia will uphold the one-China principle, abide by UN General Assembly Resolution 2758’
Bij Nauru dook hij ook al op: China lijkt gecoördineerd bezig te zijn Pekings leugens over resolutie 2758 van de Algemene Vergadering van de VN over Taiwan te pushen.
Thirty Pacific nations meet in China to discuss updating rules on unexpected naval encounters – Reuters: ‘such as Japan, Russia and the United States’
Philippines to develop islands in South China Sea, says military chief – Reuters
Laos’ ASEAN chairmanship faces Chinese reality check – Nikkei Asia
Canada clamps down on researchers with ties to China, Iran, and Russia defence universities – Reuters
China economie
Chinese city named and shamed for ‘white elephant’ tram as spending put under microscope – SCMP
China binnenland
Why China’s government is hushing up court rulings: Xi Jinping’s fresh attack on the rule of law – The Economist
China appoints Hú Hǎifēng 胡海峰, son of ex-president Hu Jintao, to ministerial role – AFP: ‘vice-head of China’s Human Resources and Social Security Ministry’
‘It’s difficult to survive’: China’s LGBTQ+ advocates face jail and forced confession – The Guardian
Hong Kong
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
China may be losing its sway over Taiwanese business – The Economist
Taiwanese firms slashed investment into China last year to the lowest since 2001, a sign the companies are moving to protect themselves as tech disputes between Washington and Beijing escalate – Bloomberg
Voor de marxisten-leninisten-maoïsten in Peking is de economie het fundament. Toenemende Chinese economische overmacht en economische vervlechting van China met Taiwan zijn redenen waarom de Partij denkt het tijd van de geschiedenis aan zijn kant te hebben als het op het Taiwan-vraagstuk aankomt. Dit soort structurele veranderingen zijn van belang voor het Chinese oordeel of het nog de juiste richting uit gaat.
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Former DPP Chairman Shih Ming-teh 施明德 dies at age 83 – Focus Taiwan: ‘one of the main leaders of Taiwan’s democracy movement, who spent more than 25 years of his life in jail for defying Taiwan’s authoritarian regime in the late 20th century’
‘He would later split with the DPP’
Shih Ming-teh 施明德: A life dedicated to Taiwan’s democracy – Focus Taiwan
President Tsai Ing-wen and other politicians mourn former DPP Chairman Shih Ming-teh 施明德 – Focus Taiwan
CDC publishes Medigen 高端 Covid-19 vaccine deal – Taipei Times
Two men indicted for signature buying for Terry Gou 郭台銘 in Pingtung County – Focus Taiwan
TSMC 台積電’s Q4 profit to slide 23%, focus on rebounding demand this year – Reuters