De Chinese Wouden, woensdag 19 maart: EU-China, consumptie, Taiwan
In zowel Europa als China is een debat gaande over de manier waarop Europa zich moet verhouden tot China nu de Trumpisten de VS overnemen. Ik legde in een eerdere nieuwsbrief al uit dat Peking een Europese gang naar Canossa verwacht, later uitgeschreven op mijn weblog. Europeanen lijken daar anders over de denken.
Maandag deelde ik al de eerste berichten over de 30 consumptiemaatregelen die de centrale Chinese regering heeft aangekondigd. Belangrijkst is misschien wel het politieke signaal van focus op de vraagkant (demand side 需求侧). Begin vorig jaar schreef ik al over de neiging van leninistische systemen om zich blind te staren op aanbodkant (supply side 供应侧) van de economie.
Chinese economische maatregelen zoals belastingverlaging en steun voor fabrieken en ontwikkelaars werkten steeds minder, omdat je consumenten nodig hebt met geld om de producten te kopen. Dit nieuwe pakket praat over zaken als kinderopvang, pensioen, en vastgoed, dingen die zorgen dat de gemiddelde Chinese consument zoveel moet sparen. Als deze vraagkant-focus doorzet, dan kan dat goed uitpakken voor de Chinese economie.
Rondom Taiwan is het militair onrustig. De Chinese strijdkrachten waren met oefeningen bezig – naar verluid is het excuus deze keer uitspraken van de Taiwanese president en Amerikaanse websiteupdates.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Antwoord op vragen van het lid Flach (SGP) over het bericht ‘1,4 miljard pakketjes van buitenlandse webshops naar Nederland: “Onhoudbaar”’ – minister Beljaarts (namens PVV), Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal: „Gezien de grensoverschrijdende aard van deze problematiek is een gecoördineerde Europese aanpak belangrijk.” 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Europa’s herbewapening stuit nu al op Chinese restricties – NRC: „een land dat wordt aangevallen met heffingen kan reageren met contra-heffingen. De Chinese dominantie in grondstoffen geeft een heel ander soort macht.” 🇪🇺
5 charged, new raids in Huawei 华为 corruption scandal at EU parliament in Belgium – SCMP 🇪🇺🇧🇪
Qatargate reforms helped us identify Huawei 华为 bribery scandal, Parliament president says – POLITICO Europe 🇪🇺
Disinformation attacks by Russia and China rising, EU report says – AFP 🇪🇺
EU-China onder Trump
Europe between a rock and a hard place – Noah Barkin for Internationale Politik Quarterly: ‘the sudden collapse of the transatlantic relationship has not made the problems in Europe’s relationship with China any smaller.’
‘European de-risking from China, which remains piecemeal and incomplete, must move forward and be broadened to encompass the United States.’ 🇪🇺🇺🇸
Pekings Charmeoffensive in Europa: „Zu glauben, dass China für unsere Rechte einstehen wird, ist irre“ sagt Janka Oertel – Der Spiegel: „Zu glauben, dass China für unsere Rechte als Europäer einstehen wird, ist einigermaßen irre, wenn China zugleich Moskaus Krieg ermöglicht.“
„Mehr Handel mit China bedeutet im Klartext: mehr chinesische Turbinen in europäischen Windparks. Das für eine Lösung gegen die drohende De-Industrialisierung Europas zu halten, erfordert viel Feenstaub und Hokuspokus.“ 🇪🇺
Will Trump force Europe into China’s arms? – The Lowy Interpreter 🇪🇺
16 januari 2025: Trump and the Europe-US-China Triangle – Rhodium Group 🇪🇺
China willing to jointly uphold genuine multilateralism with France, says foreign minister Wáng Yì 王毅 – Xinhua: ‘when having a phone conversation with Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic adviser to the French President, at the latter’s request.’
‘In the current situation, it is of important and positive significance for China and Europe to resolve specific economic and trade frictions through consultation.’
‘The two sides exchanged in-depth views on the Ukraine issue.’ 🇫🇷
China maintains stable trade policies and welcomes foreign investment, commerce minister says – Xinhua: ‘during a meeting with Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury’ 🇪🇺
张健：“想做美国附庸而不得”的欧洲，其实还有另一条路可走 – 国际网：“欧洲这些政策措施的出台虽然有内部的推动因素，但美国的压力是主要原因。” 🇪🇺
Zhang Jian is onderzoeker bij het China Institutes for Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), een ‘denktank’ die onderdeel is van het Chinese ministerie van staatsveiligheid (MSS). Zhang schrijft dat de Europese ‘anti-Chinamaatregelen’ van de laatste tijd voornamelijk in zijn gegeven door de Verenigde Staten. Nu de VS duidelijk onbetrouwbaar blijkt, moet Europa volgens hem weer terugkeren naar samenwerking met China om zo strategische autonomie te verwezenlijken op de manier zoals Peking het begrip uitlegt.
overige
China seeks a role in Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction – SCMP: ‘The country would help “in accordance with the wishes of the parties”, Li Ming, a spokesman for the China International Development Cooperation Agency, also known as China Aid, told reporters.’ 🇺🇦
China’s commitment to increasing input into global development cooperation remains unchanged, China Aid spokesperson says – Xinhua: ‘Li’s comment came as the Trump administration unveiled plans to cut more than 90 percent of USAID's foreign aid contracts.’
‘Noting that development assistance from certain developed countries has continued to decline, […] counter to the commitments and obligations undertaken by the developed countries under the UN framework.’
M.a.w. rijke landen komen hun verplichtingen niet na. China zelf blijft natuurlijk nog een ontwikkelingsland. Verwacht niet dat Peking in het gat van USAID stapt.
Chinese delegation visits Austria for business cooperation – Xinhua 🇦🇹
UK energy minister Ed Miliband vows to engage with China on climate after Tory ‘negligence’ – The Guardian: ‘was in Beijing to announce a new annual UK-China climate dialogue.’ 🇬🇧
Ex-Danish PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen calls on Europe to enhance Taiwan ties at Yushan Forum in Taipei – Focus Taiwan 🇩🇰🇪🇺
consumptie
Chinese government’s new consumption policies cover stock and real estate stability for first time – Xinhua: ‘Previous consumption policies primarily focused on the supply side, emphasizing that supply drives demand creation. However, the latest policies also prioritize the demand side, aiming to boost household incomes and ease financial burdens, Li noted.’
China’s latest plan to boost consumption is ‘most comprehensive’ since 1970s – SCMP: ‘The 30-point plan, jointly released by top organs of the Chinese government and the ruling Communist Party, for the first time draws a direct link between consumption and issues such as access to affordable childcare and the country’s long-running property crisis.’
China’s central government plans to ‘vigorously boost consumption’ to shore up economy – The Guardian
China’s positie als fabriek van de wereld wordt aan alle kanten bedreigd – FD
Wereldhandelsoorlog 📉💥
Donald Trump says China’s Xi Jinping to visit the US in ‘not too distant future’ – FT: ‘One person familiar with the situation poured cold water on the notion that a trip by Xi would occur soon, saying there had been no discussions about such a meeting.
Ministerial-level talks with the US on a trade deal had not yet begun, said another person familiar with the matter in Beijing. Xi is unlikely to meet Trump without first agreeing some elements of a deal, analysts have said.’ 🇺🇸
Chinese leader Xi Jinping is angry about a Hong Kong company’s plan to sell Panama Canal ports to a US-led group – WSJ: ‘ in part because the company didn’t seek Beijing’s approval in advance, people familiar with the matter said. The Xi leadership had originally planned to use the Panama port issue as a bargaining chip’ 🇺🇸🇵🇦
Chinese authorities are scrutinising CK Hutchison 長江和記實業’s US$19 billion Panama port deal for any potential security breaches or antitrust violations – Bloomberg: ‘Several Chinese agencies, including the State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR), have been instructed by senior state leaders to study the deal for any potential security breaches or antitrust violations, said the people’ 🇺🇸🇵🇦
Hong Kong opposes ‘bullying tactics,’ says leader John Lee 李家超 after CK Hutchison 長江和記實業 sells Panama ports to US firm – HKFP: ‘Since the deal’s announcement, Chinese state-backed newspaper Ta Kung Pao has published two commentaries criticising CK Hutchinson’s sale’ 🇺🇸🇵🇦
US meat exports at risk as China lets registrations under ‘Phase 1’ trade deal lapse – Reuters 🇺🇸
US says ready to confer with China and Canada on WTO disputes – SCMP 🇺🇸
Profiel: Loyale heffingenkoning Navarro krijgt in Trumps tweede termijn wel zijn zin – FD 🇺🇸
TSMC’s C.C. Wei 魏哲家 one of ‘most respected’ people in business, Trump says – Focus Taiwan: ‘and is fully aware that his company should make large investments in the United States to avoid tariffs.’ 🇺🇸🇹🇼
GT Voice: With looming recession fears, US leverage in tariff policy weakens – The Global Times: ‘in response to US tariffs, its trading partners will not sit idly by.’ ‘greatly weakened its bargaining position.’ 🇺🇸
Chinese government caps grain imports to stop slide in prices – Dim Sums: ‘A clamp-down on China’s grain imports since last year has more to do with Chinese officials' anxiety about low grain prices than trade war posturing.’
China’s customs denies reports it plans to slow inspections of imported coal – Reuters
Techoorlog 💽💥
Volkswagen and its long-standing partner FAW Group 中国一汽 will launch 11 new models exclusively for the Chinese market as it seeks to shore up declining market share in the world’s biggest auto market – Bloomberg 🇩🇪
BMW to integrate Huawei 华为 smart-connect system into its China-made cars in 2026 – Reuters 🇩🇪
Xiaomi 小米, Geely Auto 吉利汽车, NIO 蔚来, and Xpeng 小鹏 will show how resilient China’s EV sector is to a stagnant domestic economy and tariffs in the US and European Union – Bloomberg
Windmolenbouwer EWT van Nederlandse oliemiljardair Van Poecke failliet – RTL Nieuws 🇳🇱
Minder winst Audi dankzij dalende vraag en Chinese prijsoorlog – BNR 🇩🇪
Siemens plans to reduce its global headcount by about 6,000 workers, with the majority of cuts planned in its factory automation business that’s suffering from weak demand – Bloomberg 🇩🇪
Japan to invest €100m in French EV rare-earth refining project to ease China reliance – Nikkei Asia: ‘France will support the project with over 100 million euros in subsidies and tax breaks.’ 🇯🇵🇫🇷
China set to tighten export curbs on battery and chip material tech – Nikkei Asia: ‘The new curbs will apply to production technology for gallium, an element used to make semiconductors, and cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.’
Cheap Chinese petrol-powered cars are taking over roads from Brazil to South Africa – Bloomberg: ‘Chinese automakers have found in those places a ready market for gas-powered cars that they can no longer sell at home in large volumes.’
Chinese EV maker BYD 比亚迪 says new fast-charging system could be as quick as filling up a tank – The Guardian
The world’s largest battery manufacturer, CATL, has agreed to invest up to US$346 million in building out a battery-swapping network across China in collaboration with EV maker Nio 蔚来 – Bloomberg
China’s CATL and BYD 比亚迪 targeted under US battery decoupling bill – Nikkei Asia 🇺🇸
South Korea’s semiconductor exports to China plunged last month, deepening concerns about a cooling in global demand – Bloomberg: ‘The decline at the beginning of this year coincides with the US implementing its export restrictions’ 🇰🇷
Ex-Meta executive claims censorship tool developed to monitor viral content in Hong Kong and Taiwan, according to report – HKFP: ‘when Facebook attempted to gain access to the Chinese market.’ 🇺🇸
Chinese vice premier Dīng Xuēxiáng 丁薛祥 calls for leap forward in higher education – Xinhua: ‘with the aim of establishing a strategic, pioneering force for Chinese modernization.’ ‘to transform university research achievements into real productive forces.’
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
Opinion: This moment of crisis demands closer UK-EU cooperation – David Lammy and Kaja Kallas in POLITICO Europe: ‘To respond to this moment we should go further. That means upgrading the EU-U.K. foreign policy and security relationship’ 🇪🇺🇬🇧
Foreign firms prop up China’s shipbuilders, CSIS report says – Taipei Times: ‘with Taiwan-based Evergreen Marine Corp (長榮海運) being one of them especially concerning’
Ship Wars: Confronting China’s dual-use shipbuilding empire – CSIS: ‘Foreign companies are inadvertently helping to propel China’s naval buildup by buying Chinese-made ships and sharing dual-use technologies with Chinese shipyards.’
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
NYC Mayor Adams’s associates under federal investigation over ties to China via fund-raisers – The New York Times 🇺🇸
Scam hubs on Thai-Myanmar border still have up to 100,000 people, Thai police says – Reuters 🇹🇭
Foreign ministers of South Korea, China, and Japan to meet in Tokyo, Seoul says – Reuters: ‘The last trilateral meeting of foreign ministers was held in the South Korean city of Busan in November 2023, the ministry said.’ 🇰🇷🇯🇵
Kiribati eyes deep-sea mining deal with China – AFP: ‘Beijing has been ramping up efforts to court Pacific nations sitting on lucrative seafloor deposits of cobalt, nickel and copper – recently inking a cooperation deal with Cook Islands.’ 🇰🇮🇨🇰
A river ‘died’ overnight in Zambia after an acidic waste spill at a Chinese-owned mine – AP: ‘China is the dominant player in copper mining in Zambia’ 🇿🇲
China and India should be partners contributing to each other’s success, foreign ministry spokesperson says – Xinhua: ‘when responding to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent positive remarks on China-India relations.’ 🇮🇳
Xinhua to enhance cooperation with Kyrgyz media – Xinhua 🇰🇬
China economie
Foreign investments into China’s onshore markets rose to a record high in February as DeepSeek 深度求索’s technology breakthrough and doubts over US exceptionalism helped offset trade-led concern over local assets – Bloomberg: ‘the net balance flipped to positive for the first time since September.’
China venture capitalists hold back on AI deals despite DeepSeek 深度求索 buzz – Nikkei Asia
Foreign CEOs to flock to China for key summit and Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 meeting, sources say – Reuters: ‘Xi is likely to meet a select group of foreign chief executives days after the summit, which could include European and British CEOs’
China retail sales pick up as Beijing turns to consumers to ease US trade pressure – Reuters
China’s industrial production maintains growth momentum on robust manufacturing – Xinhua
Toerisme in Azië herstelt niet van de pandemie: Chinezen blijven thuis – NRC
Geekvape, Lost Mary, Elf Bar, and other top vape brands all trace back to one man in China – Bloomberg: ‘To expand his businesses, Zhang paid almost no regard to regulations.’
Vapen is verboden in China, maar het is niet erg om geld te verdienen aan het vergiftigen van de jeugd in het Westen.
China binnenland
Corona kwam tóch uit lab, zegt geheime dienst. Maar virologen zuchten diep – de Volkskrant: „Nogal ironisch is dat er intussen bewijs is dat China juist de gebeurtenissen op de markt onder de pet probeerde te houden.”
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 inspects Guizhou, stresses high-quality development – Xinhua: ‘called on the province to firm up confidence, work hard, and take steady steps to advance Chinese modernization.’
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 stresses preserving distinctive culture in ethnic regions – Xinhua: ‘and let it shine through the integrated development of culture and tourism.’
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 praises distinctive Dong culture in ethnic village – Xinhua: ‘Xi watched a performance of the grand song of the Dong ethnic group’
Waarom moeten minderheden in China toch altijd maar dansen voor elke camera en delegatie?
China Focus: CCP launches education campaign to improve conduct – Xinhua: ‘to implement its central leadership’s “eight-point decision” on improving work conduct.’ ‘a set of rules adopted by the Party leadership in December 2012 to address chronic bureaucratic issues, including official privileges and extravagant banquets.’
Vorige week kwam een bijbehorend boek uit met uitspraken van Xi over dit onderwerp.
China’s dwindling marriage rate is fuelling demand for brides trafficked from abroad – Ming Gao for The Conversation
China’s local governments encourages babymaking with free milk and childcare subsidies – Reuters
Former senior national legislator Lǐ Yuèfēng 李钺锋 prosecuted for bribery – Xinhua
Hong Kong
Melbourne residents receive anonymous letters offering HK$1m [€120k] for information on Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Kevin Yam 任建峰 – The Guardian: ‘mailed from Hong Kong and delivered to some Melbourne homes on Friday’
‘Similar letters with the exact formatting were mailed to neighbours of former Hong Kong district councillor Carmen Lau, who lives in the UK, earlier this month.’
Fake pamphlets accusing former Hong Kong legislator Ted Hui 許智峯 of being a pro-Israel lawyer ‘provid[ing] assistance to local Jews’ sent to Adelaide mosques – The Guardian: ‘carry images of Hui and the name and contact details of his Adelaide law firm’
Ex-Hong Kong lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting 林卓廷 appeals against conviction over Yuen Long riot – SCMP
Next ‘patriots only’ Hong Kong legislative elections to be held December 7 – HKFP
Property tycoon Lee Shau-kee 李兆基, Henderson 恒基兆業 founder, dies aged 97 – HKFP
Taiwan en China
Taiwan holds five days of combat-readiness drills in response to PLA ‘grey-zone provocations’ – SCMP: ‘The exercises started on Monday, coinciding with the People’s Liberation Army sending 68 warplanes along with navy vessels to carry out combat patrols near Taiwan’ 🇨🇳
China’s military drills aim to sabotage Taiwan-US ties, Taiwanese foreign ministry says – Taipei Times 🇨🇳🇺🇸
China’s foreign ministry says military exercises near Taiwan punishment for ‘separatism’ – Reuters: ‘Taiwan’s defence ministry said China had carried out “joint combat readiness patrols”’ 🇨🇳
China’s PLA sends 59 warplanes and 9 vessels near Taiwan – Focus Taiwan 🇨🇳
PLA drills a ‘just and necessary’ move to safeguard peace in Taiwan Strait, Chinese spokesperson says – Xinhua: ‘also a resolute countermeasure to Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te’s act to propagate separatist fallacies aimed at “Taiwan independence” and his act to escalate tensions and confrontation across the Strait’ 🇨🇳
Military drills in Taiwan Strait serious warning to Taiwan separatist forces, foreign ministry says – Xinhua: ‘the DPP authorities have been trying to break the international community’s adherence to the one-China principle [sic] and expand the so-called international space’ 🇨🇳
Related military activities taken by China necessary and justified, says Chinese foreign ministry on inquiry of military exercises around Taiwan Straits Monday – The Global Times: ‘some believed are related to the recent changes in the US State Department's wording on its Taiwan policy and the provocative actions of “Taiwan independence” forces’ 🇨🇳🇺🇸
China’s state security ministry names four Taiwanese defence ministry officials in cyberattack and fake news accusations online – SCMP: ‘published the names and photographs of the leaders and staff of ICEFCOM’s internet analytical centre’
‘It was the first time the MSS has published such detailed information about individuals from Taiwan, with the social media post also featuring their dates of birth, Taiwanese identity numbers and specific job titles.’ 🇨🇳
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office warns of stern punishment for Taiwan’s cyberattackers – Xinhua 🇨🇳
Taiwan’s ICEFCOM denies China ‘cyberattack’ allegation – Focus Taiwan 🇨🇳
Taiwan’s immigration agency probes two more Chinese influencers over ‘unification’ comments – AFP: ‘The two women posted videos on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.’ 🇨🇳
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Security official at Raisina says Taiwan expects President Trump’s administration to continue to support it – along with supplies of US weaponry – in case of hostilities with China – Bloomberg: ‘“We don’t expect the US or anyone else to fight our war, we will fight our own war,” he said.’ 🇺🇸
Taiwan’s no. 2 diplomat François Wu 吳志中 seeks higher-level ‘unofficial’ Japan meetings as ties grow – The Japan Times: ‘“We are now being invited regularly to the emperor’s birthday celebrations, something that didn't happen several years ago,” Wu said.’ 🇯🇵
Anti-dumping duty extended for China and South Korea – Taipei Times 🇨🇳
Taiwan must leverage tech capabilities to deepen cooperation, President Lai tells Yushan Forum – Focus Taiwan: ‘emphasized the importance of leveraging Taiwan's strengths in semiconductor manufacturing and technology to enhance its economic and political cooperation with the international community’
St. Kitts and Nevis foreign minister visits Taiwan – Focus Taiwan 🇰🇳
Taiwan binnenland en economie
KMT says it will launch two referendum campaigns – Taipei Times: ‘opposing the abolition of the death penalty and what he alleged was a push toward martial law and war by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’
KMT’s referendum drive is meant to deceive, DPP says – Taipei Times: ‘Some legal experts said the KMT’s proposals could not be valid, as the government did not abolish capital punishment or impose martial law.’
De doodstraf is niet afgeschaft, maar slechts ingeperkt, en door een uitspraak van het grondwettelijk hof en niet door de regering.
De DPP is helemaal niet van plan om naar een staat van de beleg te gaan of een oorlog te beginnen.
Control Yuan seeks court measures to resolve budget hitch – Taipei Times: ‘as drastic cuts by the Legislative Yuan have left it with hardly any money to investigate or review government anomalies or public petitions, or even to pay utility bills.’
Taiwan’s cultural ecology at risk due to legislature’s budget cuts – Wu Chieh-Hsiang for Taiwan Insight
Tech firm AnyTech 認和科技 faces NT$2.17 million [€60k] fine over Chinese funding – Focus Taiwan: ‘found by an MOEA investigation to be partly funded by the Chinese state, despite the company being based in Singapore.’ ‘AnyTech had established a subsidiary in Taiwan based on its Singaporean credentials and took on a project to upgrade the bank's core credit card system in Taiwan.’ 🇸🇬