De Chinese Wouden, woensdag 21 augustus: elektrische escalatie
De berichtgeving van Caixin Global dat de Europese Commissie met een beslissing zou komen voor invoerheffingen op elektrische auto’s uit China was gedeeltelijk juist. De Commissie heeft een nieuwe versie van het rapport vrijgegeven op weg naar de definitieve beslissing van de lidstaten later dit jaar.
Daarbij zijn de percentages toch nog wat aangepast. Grootse winnaars zijn Tesla en BYD. Hun tarieven blijven relatief laag. Deze bedrijven zullen geen moeite hebben om met deze heffingen nog winst te maken. Het staatsbedrijf SAIC heeft grotere problemen.
Peking neemt tegenmaatregelen. Nadat eerder Franse sterke drank al een doelwit werd van Chinese onderzoeken, komen nu ook Europese zuivelproducten in het vizier. Nog altijd geen wraak op high-tech producten. Maar de spanning neemt wel verder toe. Brussel hoopt er door overleg en redelijkheid uit te komen, maar ik vraag me af of Peking onder Xi hier open voor staat.
Ondertussen blijft het rommelen in de Zuid-Chinese Zee. Er was een botsing tussen kustwachtschepen van China en de Filipijnen bij een door China geclaimde atol in de Filipijnse EEZ. De opnames die de Chinese propaganda vrijgeeft als bewijs van de eigen onschuld laten toch duidelijk zien dat de Chinese boot van achteren de Filipijnse collega’s ramt. Peking wil blijkbaar nog altijd verder escaleren.
De nieuwsbrief is vandaag later, omdat ik de afgelopen dagen niet helemaal bij was.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
German warships await orders on crossing Taiwan Strait – Reuters: ‘“The decision has not been taken yet,” the commander of the naval task group, Rear Admiral Axel Schulz, told Reuters in a telephone interview, adding the weather would play a role.’ 🇩🇪
Weet niet hoe handig het is van Duitsland om dit debat zo publiek te voeren. Het midden van de Straat van Taiwan bestaat gewoon uit internationale wateren. Peking is echter juist bezig met een campagne om de indruk te wekken dat dit niet zo is (zie sectie Taiwan buitenland en defensie vandaag). Beter is om het om net als de Koninklijke Marine gewoon je normale route te volgen zonder te veel herrie. In een recent rapport schrijft de DGAP niets voor niets dat Berlijns voorzichtige aanpak niet langer verdedigbaar is.
German pharmaceutical industry warns of possible drug shortages from China – Euronews: ‘Four out of Germany’s 16 states have now cancelled routine quality control trips to China by their inspectors as they’re concerned they could fall foul of the [espionage] law.’ 🇩🇪
Chinese premier Lǐ Qiáng 李强 to chair regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government, and visit Russia and Belarus – Xinhua: ‘from August 20 to 23’ 🇷🇺🇧🇾
Future murky for Russia-China ‘Power of Siberia 2’ pipeline as Mongolia omits project from long-term plan – SCMP 🇷🇺🇲🇳
Russian pork producers target EU’s share of China's pork market – Reuters 🇷🇺
Handel 🚗⚡️
Tesla reaps benefits as EU cuts planned tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles – SCMP: ‘On Tuesday, the European Union’s secretariat announced a revision to its provisional duties, with a top-end rate of 36.3 per cent for companies that include state-owned SAIC. This was lowered from the initial proposal of 37.4 per cent following consultations with car makers.
Tesla will pay the lowest rate of 9 per cent after Elon Musk’s company asked for a separate investigation into the level of subsidies it had received from the Chinese government.’
‘EVs made by BYD, the world’s biggest-selling battery electric vehicle company, will face a tariff rate of 17 per cent rather than 17.4 per cent. For Geely-made EVs, the rate dropped from 20 per cent to 19.3 per cent.’
‘Behind the scenes, […], expectations of a deal are low, with EU officials pointing to China’s failure to even acknowledge there is a problem with subsidies.’ 🇪🇺
Commission discloses to interested parties draft definitive findings of anti-subsidy investigation into imports of battery electric vehicles from China – European Commission 🇪🇺
Elon Musk’s Tesla gets lower EU duties on made-in-China EVs – POLITICO Europe 🇪🇺
China auto body says EU draft on tariffs for Chinese EVs brings ‘enormous risks’ – Reuters 🇪🇺
China’s commerce ministry warns of countermeasures as EU updates EV probe – Nikkei Asia: ‘“The disclosure was based on the ‘facts’ unilaterally identified by the EC, rather than the facts recognized by both sides," the ministry said.’ 🇪🇺
China opens anti-subsidy probe into EU dairy imports in push back against EV tariffs – Reuters: ‘China will examine 20 subsidy schemes from across the 27-strong bloc, specifically those from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Ireland, and Romania, it said in a statement.’
China opens tit-for-tat probe into imported EU dairy products – SCMP: ‘France was the top source, shipping products worth US$115 million in the period, with Italy second with US$43 million.’ 🇪🇺
Analyse: Waarom klaagt China alleen over EU-heffingen op e-auto’s? – FD 🇪🇺
Tech War 💽💥
EU akkoord met miljardensubsidie voor bouw van chipfabriek TSMC 台積電 in Duitsland – NRC: „Von der Leyen woonde vervolgens zelf de openingsceremonie in Dresden bij, samen met onder meer de Duitse bondskanselier Olaf Scholz en TSMC-topman C.C. Wei.” 🇪🇺🇩🇪
TSMC starts building first fab in Germany alongside European partners – Focus Taiwan: ‘TSMC holds a 70 percent stake in the venture, known as European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (ESMC). Robert Bosch GmbH and Infineon Technologies AG, both based in Germany, and Netherlands-based NXP Semiconductors N.V. each hold a 10 percent share, according to Reuters.’ 🇪🇺🇩🇪🇳🇱
Germany ties itself to Taiwan on chips. It comes with risks. – POLITICO Europe: ‘“Germany has really done its utmost to keep this Dresden investment as business-like, [as] non-political as it can,” said Mathieu Duchâtel’ 🇩🇪
Oud-Eurocommissaris Oettinger (CDU) gaat lobbyen voor fastfashiongigant Shein 希音. Wie is deze beruchte draaideurpoliticus? – de Volkskrant 🇪🇺
Chip war: China is 5 years behind global leading-edge production, ITIF report says – SCMP: ‘continues to fall behind in semiconductor manufacturing equipment, although Chinese companies have made progress in other areas’
China gets creative to boost lending to tech start-ups – FT: ‘intellectual property-pledged financing loans’
US clinical trials in China questioned by US lawmakers – Reuters 🇺🇸
China-Mexico flights reopen amid manufacturers’ Latin American push – Nikkei Asia 🇲🇽
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
Zuid-Chinese Zee
Chinese and Philippine ships collide near disputed Sabina Shoal in South China Sea – AFP: ‘The confrontation “resulted in collisions causing structural damage to both Philippine Coast Guard vessels”, Manila said.’ 🇵🇭
New flashpoints are emerging in the volatile South China Sea following collisions between Chinese and Philippines' coast guard ships – WSJ 🇵🇭
Chinese embassy urges US and certain countries to stop provoking confrontation in South China Sea – Xinhua 🇵🇭
Philippines accuses China of violating 2002 pact – Business World 🇵🇭
Integrated patrols signal Beijing ‘asserting claims’ in Taiwan Strait and South China Sea – SCMP
China and Vietnam pledge renewed diplomacy over South China Sea disputes – SCMP 🇻🇳
overige
China’s ties with Vietnam are a diplomatic priority, Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 tells Tô Lâm on state visit – SCMP: ‘Lam is Vietnam’s first leader since its founding revolutionary Ho Chi Minh to visit China as president and party chief.’ 🇻🇳
‘Complete success’: China to work with Vietnam on rail upgrade, security, and defence – SCMP: ‘The communist countries would also ramp up their information exchange and experience sharing on “anti-interference … and prevention of ‘colour revolutions’ to jointly maintain political security”, it said.’ 🇻🇳
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 holds talks with Vietnam's top leader Tô Lâm in Beijing – Xinhua 🇻🇳
Philippines says probing escape of ex-mayor accused of Chinese crime links – Reuters: ‘investigating how Alice Guo, a former town mayor accused of ties with Chinese criminal syndicates, managed to flee the country.’ 🇵🇭
‘Heads will roll’: Marcos after Alice Guo, ex-mayor with alleged China crime links, flees Philippines – The Straits Times 🇵🇭
US President Biden approved secret nuclear strategy refocusing on Chinese threat – The New York Times: ‘for the first time, reorients America’s deterrent strategy to focus on China’s rapid expansion in its nuclear arsenal.’
‘also newly seeks to prepare the United States for possible coordinated nuclear challenges from China, Russia and North Korea.’ 🇺🇸
China says it is ‘seriously concerned’ about US nuclear strategic report – Reuters 🇺🇸
Turkey lauds improvement in relations with China after long stagnation – Nikkei Asia 🇹🇷
China is using 2+2 talks with South Korea and Indonesia to ‘get its plans back on track’ – SCMP 🇰🇷🇮🇩
China’s most advanced amphibious assault ship spotted near Japanese waters – SCMP 🇯🇵
Japan broadcaster apologises after disputed Senkaku/Diaoyutai Islands called ‘Chinese territory’ on air by contractor on Chinese-language show – The Guardian: ‘The reference to Chinese ownership of the islands came immediately after the presenter, who has not been named by Japanese media, read a report about the discovery of anti-Japanese graffiti at Yasukuni’ 🇯🇵
China promises to help Fiji tackle climate change as Beijing seeks greater Pacific role – SCMP 🇫🇯
Xi meets Fijian PM in Beijing, pledging to strengthen development cooperation – Xinhua 🇫🇯
China’s Xinjiang party chief Mǎ Xìngruì 马兴瑞 meets top Temasek executives from Singapore – SCMP: ‘One focus of the talks was the energy sector’ ‘Temasek also hopes to strengthen cooperation with Xinjiang in cultural exchanges and tourism’ 🇸🇬
Chinese cement firms look for boom in African construction to make up for woes at home – SCMP
Laser weapon spotted on Chinese navy ship as PLA and US race to develop drone defences – SCMP
China launches its most sophisticated submarine to date – Naval News
China economie
Chinese premier Lǐ Qiáng 李强 stresses solid work to meet annual development goals – Xinhua: ‘Chairing the fifth plenary meeting of the State Council, Li underscored the need to strengthen the effectiveness of reform with economic structural reform as the spearhead’
Distressed Chinese developer Kaisa 佳兆业 gets breather from major creditors – Nikkei Asia
Luxury properties defy China’s slumping home sales as big-city buyers splash out – SCMP
China’s CN¥500bn [€63bn] property rescue plan limps off starting line – FT: ‘The latest figures from the PBoC show that banks have lent only Rmb24.7bn under the scheme’
China’s rising youth unemployment breeds new working class: ‘Rotten-tail kids’ – Reuters: ‘forced to accept low-paying work or even subsist on their parents’ pensions’
China Telecom 中国电信 and China Mobile 中国移动 hike dividends under Beijing pressure – Nikkei Asia
China targets cryptocurrencies and online game coins in intensified money-laundering crackdown – SCMP
PwC loses major client Bank of China 中国银行 amid regulatory probe – Reuters
China binnenland
China plans ‘bigger, stronger’ social security fund to aid ageing society – Reuters: ‘Over the next decade, roughly 300 million Chinese will retire’
China’s courier industry warned over spy threat amid national security drive – SCMP
Xi Jinping praises China’s Olympians for winning ‘glory for the country and people’ – SCMP
De sporters waren nogal druk met klappen voor Xi zelf.
Former Chinese football vice president gets 11 years jail for bribery – Reuters
Chinese cartoon campaign warns village clans against hindering Communist Party – SCMP
China goes ape over culture-boosting ‘Black Myth: Wukong’ video game – Reuters
Hong Kong
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Taiwan’s former envoy to France François Wu 吳志中 takes office as deputy foreign minister – Focus Taiwan
China’s authoritarian ambitions will not stop with Taiwan, President Lai tells Ketagalan Forum – Focus Taiwan: ‘“Democratic countries must come together and take concrete action,” Lai said’
Ex-Japan admiral urges trilateral dialogue with Taiwan and US to counter China – Focus Taiwan 🇯🇵
President Lai urges collaboration with Japan in face of authoritarian threats – Focus Taiwan: ‘during a meeting at the Presidential Office with the ruling Japanese Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) youth division’
‘Lai will also meet with another Japanese delegation led by former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda later this week to discuss Taiwan-Japan relations and other regional issues.’ 🇯🇵
Chinese patrol and law enforcement operation in the Taiwan Strait to close jurisdictional gap, experts says – Taipei Times: ‘an attempt to turn the Strait into “quasi-internal waters.”’ 🇨🇳
Integrated patrols signal Beijing ‘asserting claims’ in Taiwan Strait and South China Sea – SCMP 🇨🇳
PRC ships crossed median line during rescue efforts, DPP says – Taipei Times 🇨🇳
Conference on promoting China’s peaceful reunification held in Hong Kong – Xinhua 🇨🇳
Taiwan foreign ministry lauds US Democrats’ listing of ‘Six Assurances’ in party platform for first time – Taipei Times 🇺🇸
Taiwan launches Sky Bow and PAC-IIs in rare public missile drills – Focus Taiwan: ‘Multiple local media also speculated that the military also test-launched the expanded version of Hsiung Feng II-E or “Brave Wind II-E” from the same site earlier Tuesday.’
Foreign ministry in contact with Taiwanese citizens in Israel – Taipei Times 🇮🇱
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Donovan’s Deep Dives: The TPP careening towards catastrophe – Courtney Donovan Smith for Taipei Times: ‘The question now is if they will have any future as an electable party or not.’
TPP continues to be embroiled in scandal – New Bloom
Accounting had ‘unimaginable errors’, TPP legislator says – Taipei Times: ‘Ko on Sunday said he has asked Huang, who was his campaign manager, to head the party’s task force to deal with the political donation disclosure issues and to hold daily news conferences for the public.’
TPP’s Ko Wen-je 柯文哲 denies Control Yuan’s report – Taipei Times
Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao 高虹安 (TPP) handed 10 months over false defamation accusation – Taipei Times
Transportation minister Li Men-yen 李孟諺 (ind.) resigns after extra-marital affair revealed – Focus Taiwan