De Chinese Wouden, woensdag 18 juni: houding EU verscherpt
De Financial Times schrijft dat Brussel heeft geweigerd om de terugkerende EU-China High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue te houden voor de aankomende Chinees-Europese top in Peking. Dat zou zijn vanwege het gebrek aan voortgang in de onderhandelingen over verschillende handelsdisputen. Eerder dreigt ambassadeur Toledo in Peking al met zoiets.
Dit was niet de enige stap. Op de G7-top in Canada deed Commissiepresident Ursula von der Leyen een paar stevige uitsprake over China. Zo sprak ze van een „new China shock” en beschuldigde ze Peking ervan zeldzame aardmetalen in te zetten als wapens. Von der Leyen stelde dat de Chinese toetreding tot de WTO in 2001 de bron is het grootste collectieve probleem in het internationale handelssysteem nu – iets wat haviken in de VS al langer stellen.
Beide signalen maken duidelijk, dat de EU haar houding t.o.v. China weer verscherpt, nadat de EU-leiders na Trumps inauguratie eerst hun woorden matigden. Nu is duidelijk dat van Peking geen serieuze inhoudelijke tegemoetkomingen te verwachten zijn. Dus richt men zich meer op de VS. Dit wordt bevestigd door een bericht in Handelsblatt dat Brussel bereid zou zijn om een algemene 10%-heffing van de VS te accepteren.
Feit is dat de realisatie van de aflopen dagen weer een fundamentele verschuivingen vormde in de EU-houding t.o.v. China. SCMP-correspondent Finbarr Bermingham beschrijft de Chinese beperkingen op zeldzame aardmetalen als een ‘Rubicon-moment’ voor Europa vergelijkbaar met de aankoop van Duitse robotmaker Kuka door het Chinese Midea en Pekings economische chantage van Litouwen na de opening van de Taiwanese vertegenwoordiging. Ik proef ook grote zorgen onder Europese diplomaten over de impact van de Chinese economische plannen op de Europese industriële basis.
Is het Brusselse antwoord nu om te proberen met de VS tot een gelijk te komen? Von der Leyen zei in de vrijgegeven bijdragen voor de G7-top twee keer expliciet dat ‘Donald’ gelijk had. Vraag is wel of een deal mogelijk is. De binnenlandse politieke situatie in de VS verslechtert rap. De Israëlische aanvallen op Iran zouden een bredere escalatie in het Midden-Oosten kunnen inluiden. Bovendien stelde Trump dat het aanbod van de EU nog niet goed genoeg is.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
谈践：计利天下，推动人工智能赋能禁化武履约（大使随笔） – 《人民日报》（2025年06月13日 第02版） 🇳🇱
Op WeChat herinnerde de Chinese ambassade in Den Haag me eraan dat ambassadeur Tan Jian op vrijdag 13 juni op pagina 2 in het Volksdagblad stond met een bijdrage voor de ambassadeurscolumn over de manier waarop kunstmatige intelligentie (AI) bij kan dragen aan de implementatie van het Verdrag chemische wapens.
中国与禁化武组织合作举办首届人工智能赋能化学安全与安保国际研修班 – 中国驻荷兰王国大使馆
In Shanghai organiseerde China samen met de OPCW de eerste veiligheidstraining verrijkt met AI, ambassadeur Tan was aanwezig.
Hoe de Nederlandse Niek 2 miljoen Iraanse olievaten probeerde te slijten aan Chinezen – Follow the Money: „China erkent de sancties niet, maar ze hebben wel effect op Chinese bedrijven.” 🇳🇱🇮🇷
Chinese government considers lifting sanctions on UK parliamentarians as relations warm – The Guardian: ‘It is unknown whether China is considering lifting all the sanctions it imposed on UK citizens and organisations four years ago’ 🇬🇧
Wereldhandelsoorlog 📉💥
EU spurns economic dialogue with China over deepening trade rift – FT: ‘The EU has refused to hold a flagship economic meeting [EU-China High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue] with Beijing ahead of a leaders’ summit next month because of a lack of progress on numerous trade disputes, according to four people familiar with the matter.’
‘The omission of the talks will lower expectations for any concrete gains at the leaders’ summit, though another EU official who asked not to be named noted that the economic dialogue was held irregularly and did not always precede the summit.’ 🇪🇺
‘Donald is right’ and China is the problem, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen (EPP) says at G7 – POLITICO Europe: ‘accused China of “weaponizing” its leading position in producing and refining critical raw materials, and of ignoring global trade rules to undercut competitors.’ 🇪🇺
‘A new China shock’: von der Leyen revives hard line on Beijing at G7 summit – SCMP: ‘von der Leyen made a hawkish return to form, reversing a course of toned-down criticism of China spurred by the return of US President Donald Trump in January.’ 🇪🇺
Statement by President von der Leyen at Session I of the G7, ‘Global economic outlook’ – European Commission: ‘when we focus our attention on tariffs between partners, it diverts our energy from the real challenge – one that threatens us all. Because we agree: the current global trading system is not working as it should. Guardrails are clearly missing. On this point, Donald is right – there is a serious problem.’
‘the biggest challenges are not the trade between G7 partners. Rather – the sources of the biggest collective problem we have has its origins in the accession of China to the WTO in 2001.’ 🇪🇺
Statement by President von der Leyen at Session II - working lunch of the G7, ‘Economic growth, security and resilience’ – European Commission: ‘Today, China dominates the global market for rare earth permanent magnets.
China is using this quasi-monopoly not only as a bargaining chip, but also weaponizing it to undermine competitors in key industries.
We all witnessed the cost and consequences of China’s coercion through export restrictions.’
‘there are other distortions. We are seeing a new “China shock”. As China’s economy slows down, Beijing floods global markets with subsidized overcapacity that its own market cannot absorb.’ 🇪🇺
EU prepared to accept flat 10% US tariff with conditions, Handelsblatt reports – Reuters: ‘The EU has also offered to completely ban purchases of Russian natural gas, potentially creating more demand for U.S. producers.’ 🇪🇺🇺🇸
Trump says EU not offering fair trade deal, Japan being ‘tough’ too – Reuters 🇪🇺🇺🇸
Zeldzame aardmetalen zijn definitief deel van de strijd – NRC
Western nations will take years to develop enough rare earth processing capacity to limit China’s dominance over the critical ingredients, according to industry veteran and former Molycorp boss Mark Smith – Bloomberg
European truck-makers tackle rare-earths bottleneck with stockpiling and supply chain shifts – Reuters 🇪🇺
The head of VW-backed Scout Motors said the upstart automaker is engineering some components to reduce the need for rare earth materials – Bloomberg 🇺🇸
Battery makers sweat as antimony shortage hits after China’s export curbs – Reuters: ‘For the world’s makers of lead-acid batteries, China’s restrictions on critical mineral antimony that were put in place late last year have become a major headache – one that their customers also now have as sky-high procurement costs are passed on.’
VS-China 🇨🇳
After US-China talks in London: tight lips, concern and a tactical turning point? – SCMP: ‘As of Tuesday, no official announcements had been made regarding the June 9-10 talks in London’ 🇺🇸
As US urges foreign investment, Chinese firms look at Trump’s trade policy and hesitate – SCMP: ‘China, once the largest foreign delegation to the annual summit hosted by the US Commerce Department since 2011, sent only about 50 delegates this year.’ 🇺🇸
VS-wereld 🌏
US pushes Vietnam to decouple from Chinese tech, sources say – Reuters: ‘The ultimate objective is to speed up U.S. decoupling from Chinese high-tech while increasing Vietnam's industrial capacity, a second person said’ 🇻🇳🇺🇸
Japan and US fail to reach tariff deal at Ishiba-Trump summit – Kyodo News 🇯🇵🇺🇸
China sells coking coal to Indonesia in rare trade, sources say – Reuters: ‘encroaching on a market typically dominated by supplies from Australia and Indonesia.’ 🇮🇩
Chinese brands extend global reach – FT
Techoorlog 💽💥
China’s automakers aim for cars with 100% domestic chips from 2026 – Nikkei Asia: ‘The project is shepherded by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), which regularly calls on automakers, particularly the state-owned ones, to conduct self-assessments of their domestic chip adoption rates, the people said.
The latest policy target is to use 100% self-developed and made automotive chips by 2027, three people briefed on the matter said.’
Ook als de Chinese autofabrieken naar Europa komen, is het nog maar de vraag hoeveel technologisch geavanceerde stappen ze hier zullen (mogen) doen.
Chinese automakers build significant leads in zero-emission vehicle market, research finds – Reuters: ‘China-based automakers took the 5 top positions in ZEV class coverage, and 5 of 6 top positions for EV sales share’
US startup Pure Lithium is working on a testing facility to build a new type of lithium battery that’s completely manufactured domestically – Bloomberg 🇺🇸
China is relaxing import regulations on scrap, a move that will support recycling of battery metals and help speed the green transition in the steel market – Bloomberg
Italy regulator probes DeepSeek 深度求索 over false information risks – Reuters 🇮🇹
Baidu 百度 ramps up AI hiring as China faces talent crunch, joining other tech giants – SCMP
China’s spy agencies are investing heavily in AI, researchers say – The New York Times: ‘to create new tools to speed analysis, provide early warning of threats and potentially help shape operational plans during a war’
Artificial Eyes: Generative AI in China’s military intelligence – Insikt Group
Chinese router maker TP-Link 普联技术 cuts staff at Shanghai chip unit, retains Shenzhen facility – SCMP
China hails Nvidia supply chain expo appearance as ‘vote of confidence’ amid tensions – SCMP 🇺🇸
Trump says he will probably extend TikTok deadline again – Reuters 🇺🇸
Israëls aanval op Iran 🇮🇱🇮🇷
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 says China ‘deeply worried’ about Israel-Iran conflict, urges de-escalation – Reuters: ‘speaking on the sidelines of a summit with five Central Asian nations in the Kazakh capital of Astana’ 🇮🇱🇮🇷
Urgent: Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 says all related parties should work to de-escalate Mideast tension as soon as possible, avoid further escalation – Xinhua: ‘Xi said China is deeply worried as Israel's military operation against Iran has caused a sudden escalation of tensions in the Middle East, adding that China opposes any actions that infringe upon sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of other countries.’ 🇮🇱🇮🇷
China’s foreign ministry steps up efforts to ensure safety of Chinese citizens in Iran and Israel – Xinhua 🇮🇷🇮🇱
How Trump shifted on Iran under pressure from Israel – The New York Times 🇺🇸🇮🇱🇮🇷
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
De successieoorlogen van na de Amerikaanse wereldorde zijn al in volle gang – Arnout Brouwers in de Volkskrant 🇺🇸
De Trump-stresstest – Catherine de Vries in De Groene Amsterdammer 🇪🇺🇺🇸
Trump says he’d welcome China and Russia in G7, putting US at odds with bloc’s stance – SCMP 🇺🇸
China pushes SCO Development Bank as Russia pivots to Asia, analysts say – SCMP: ‘was now closer than ever to becoming a reality.’ ‘Russia had previously opposed the plan, preferring instead to expand its Eurasian Development Bank.’ 🇷🇺
China displays fifth-gen J-35A fighter scale model for first time at Paris Air Show in bid for foreign sales – SCMP: ‘The J-20 is prohibited from overseas export but was also on display at CATIC’s booth in the Paris Air Show’
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
China’s Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 signs treaty to elevate ties with Central Asia – Reuters: ‘Xi, lauding a milestone, signed a treaty of “permanent good-neighbourliness and friendly cooperation” with leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, China’s official Xinhua news agency reported. […]
“At present, the world is undergoing accelerating changes unseen in a century, entering a new period of turbulence and transformation,” Xinhua quoted Xi as saying in a speech at the summit.’ 🇰🇿🇰🇬🇹🇯🇹🇲🇺🇿
Xinhua Headlines: China and Kazakhstan to boost ties for regional, global peace, and development – Xinhua 🇰🇿
Xi says China-Kyrgyzstan cooperation holds great potential – Xinhua 🇰🇬
Xi calls on China and Tajikistan to expand scale of bilateral trade and investment – Xinhua 🇹🇯
Xi says China willing to work with Turkmenistan to fully unlock potential for cooperation based on win-win collaboration – Xinhua 🇹🇲
Xi calls on China and Uzbekistan to introduce more measures for trade liberalisation and facilitation – Xinhua 🇺🇿
China-Africa expo closes with bumper deals signed – Xinhua 🌍
World Insights: How China-Africa industrial chain drives continental growth – Xinhua 🌍
FCC says China Mobile 中国移动 could face US fines for failing to cooperate in probe – Reuters 🇺🇸
De Chinese gemeenschap in Panama weet: Trump heeft haast, maar China de langste adem – de Volkskrant 🇵🇦
China urges US to stop coercing other countries into taking sides – Xinhua 🇵🇦🇺🇸
Japan, the Philippines, and US step up coast guard cooperation amid China pressure – Nikkei Asia: ‘The three countries will conduct a search and rescue exercise Friday off the coast of southern Kyushu’ 🇯🇵🇵🇭🇺🇸
Scarborough Shoal a growing flashpoint between China and Philippines, think tank says – Stars and Stripes 🇵🇭
Malaysia’s silent military build-up on Borneo – Abdul Rahman Yaacob for The Diplomat: ‘Malaysia’s government rarely makes public pronouncements about its territorial disputes with China.’ 🇲🇾
Integrating new immigrants is one priority of Singapore government’s Chinese Community Liaison Group, minister Chee Hong Tat 徐芳达 says – CNA: ‘Asked about foreign interference and the role of clan associations in strengthening Singaporean Chinese identity, he noted that Singapore is a “very open” society in which interference can come from different sources.’ 🇸🇬
Why China is eating its tiny neighbour, Bhutan – Big Think: ‘By annexing strategic parts of Bhutan, China wants to place its foot firmly on India’s so-called “Chicken’s Neck” — the narrow Siliguri Corridor’ 🇧🇹🇮🇳
Bangladesh looks to China for help in India disinformation fight – Nikkei Asia: ‘In late May, China’s ambassador to Bangladesh extended an offer to train Bangladeshi officials in countering disinformation, which the government has accepted’ 🇧🇩
New Zealand PM to discuss trade, tourism and security on first visit to China – Reuters 🇳🇿
Unilateral coercive measures must end, Chinese envoy to UN says – Xinhua: ‘disregard the authority of the Security Council's collective decision-making mechanism and replace dialogue and consultation with coercion and power politics’ 🇺🇳
China hints Fujian aircraft carrier may soon be commissioned – SCMP
China economie
Chinese consument profiteert van prijzenoorlog, maar Peking vreest verdere deflatie – FD
China’s domestic consumption surprisingly jumped in May, offering a confidence boost to Beijing – Bloomberg: ‘the momentum may not last as a housing market slump shows signs of deepening and deflationary forces persist.’
‘While the subsidies have proved an effective tool for boosting domestic spending, economists contend a lasting rebound in consumer sentiment demands broader fixes.’
China’s factories slow, consumers unexpectedly perk up – Reuters: ‘All up, the numbers failed to convince investors or analysts that anaemic growth would pick up anytime soon with Chinese blue chip erasing very brief gains on Monday.’
China’s home prices dip in May, extending two-year slump – Reuters: ‘Separately, official data on Monday showed property investment fell 10.7% year-on-year, while sales by floor area dropped 2.9% in the January-May period.’
China ‘stepping in’ as property concerns mount, but no ‘treading the old path’ – SCMP: ‘A State Council meeting convened by Li on Friday set a more definitive tone on supporting China’s property market’
The myth of the suppressed Chinese consumer – Ruchir Sharma for FT: ‘The myth rests in good part on the consumption share of China’s GDP, which is just 40 per cent — well below the global norm. But the reason for this anomaly is not that consumption has grown slowly, it is that the other big component of GDP, investment — in infrastructure, real estate, export industries — has grown even faster, averaging 10 per cent a year in this century.’
‘The argument has always been that consumption and household income have grown much more slowly than GDP because of a series of explicit and implicit transfers from households that subsidized growth in investment, especially investment in manufacturing and infrastructure.’ – Michael Pettis, Bluesky
China’s private firms back in driver’s seat as regulations ease: Goldman Sachs – SCMP
China wheat prices sinking despite drought impact on new crop – Dim Sums: ‘Several years ago, Chinese officials made farmers tear up fruit trees and cash crops so more food grains could be planted. Now farmers are seeing low yields and bad prices for the wheat officials forced them to plant.’
Chinese vice premier Zhāng Guóqīng 张国清 urges improved industrial innovation and sound development of platform economy – Xinhua: ‘during an investigation and research tour in south China's Guangdong Province’
Will China’s ‘emergent’ jobs help its youths find stable work? – SCMP
China internet pioneer urges students to skip graduate school, defer start-up plans – SCMP
China churned out a lot less steel in May compared to the previous year as mills responded to the government’s pledge to cut production – Bloomberg: ‘Steelmakers are wrestling with a protracted slump in the property market’
China binnenland
China’s top security official Chēn Wénqīng 陈文清 warns against separatism moves during Qinghai trip ahead of Dalai Lama’s expected succession decree – SCMP: ‘“Qinghai is a strategic stronghold for maintaining stability in Xinjiang and Tibet,” Chen said’
China’s top legislature schedules session for late June – Xinhua: ‘lawmakers will review draft revisions to the Public Security Administrative Penalty Law, the Law against Unfair Competition, the Maritime Law, the Fisheries Law, and the Civil Aviation Law, as well as draft laws on responding to public health emergencies, and promoting publicity and education on the rule of law.’
China’s civil servants banned from dining out in groups under Xi’s austerity drive – Reuters
Want to file for divorce in China? You might need a booking agent – Reuters
China’s state security agency warns of phishing emails sent by foreign spies – SCMP
Explosion at fireworks factory in southern China kills 9, injures 26 – Reuters
Hong Kong
Beijing official Xià Bǎolóng 夏宝龙 to visit Hong Kong ahead of fifth anniversary of national security law – HKFP: ‘Lee also said on Tuesday that a total of 332 people had been arrested for national security offences since the national security law was enacted on June 30, 2020.’
‘Constructive criticism not amounting to sedition’, justice secretary Paul Lam 林定國 says – RTHK: ‘so long as there’s no intent to incite hatred or contempt. He also said the law does not require proof of intention to incite violence, when it comes to the offence of seditious intention.’
Hong Kong and Shanghai to tighten financial ties with alliance at Lujiazui Forum – SCMP
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Taiwan and US to outmatch China militarily in 2027, ex-Pacific Command chief Dennis Blair says – Focus Taiwan: ‘was in Taipei for a series of civilian-held tabletop exercises’ 🇺🇸
President Lai welcomes delegation of US lawmakers – Taipei Times 🇺🇸
Costa Rica sends officials to Taiwan for national security training – Taipei Times: ‘the first exchange between the two nations’ governments since Costa Rica severed official diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 2007.’ 🇨🇷
Taiwan seals Ukraine combat-tested drone software deal to help deter China – Reuters: ‘a partnership deal on Tuesday with U.S. and German-based Auterion for drone software battle-tested in Ukraine’
Taiwan hosts sea drone exhibition, urges global participation – Focus Taiwan
Sea trials begin for Taiwan’s indigenous defence submarine prototype – Focus Taiwan
Taiwanese military to establish HIMARS army unit next month – Taipei Times
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Four KMT staff and one activist charged for recall vote forgeries in Taipei – Focus Taiwan: ‘including senior staff from the party’s Taipei branch’
DPP and citizen groups hold meeting about recall votes targeting KMT lawmakers – Taipei Times
KMT and TPP decline to attend President Lai’s national security briefing – Taipei Times: ‘Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said that the office thanked the KMT for its efforts and willingness to continue talks, and that the office would strive to create a platform for dialogue.’
TPP agressief, KMT klinkt iets welwillender.
High Court upholds ex-DPP lawmaker Chen Ou-po 陳歐珀’s detention over alleged bribery – Taipei Times
Law passed imposing life sentence for deadly sports lottery violations – Focus Taiwan
Celebrities among 28 Taiwanese indicted over draft dodging fraud – Taipei Times
Legislature confirms establishment of ocean research centre – Taipei Times
Taiwanese financial institutions’ China exposure falls to record low – Taipei Times: ‘As of the end of April, local banks’ exposure accounted for 17.2 percent of the sector’s net worth, the lowest level since the data became available in the third quarter of 2013’ 🇨🇳