De Chinese Wouden, woensdag 22 januari: terug uit Maleisië, Trump en TikTok
Eerder deze week keerde ik terug in Singapore van een weekje Kuala Lumpur, de hoofdstad van Maleisië. Nu probeer ik de draad weer wat op te pakken, maar het zal nog wel even duren voordat al het stof neerdaalt. Tussen de bezichtigingen door legde ik de laatste hand aan een stuk dat afgelopen vrijdag verscheen bij de China Brief van de Jamestown Foundation. Onder de titel ‘The Leninist Leash: How Beijing’s Answer to Global Demand for Choice Makes the World More Closed Off’ probeer ik uit te leggen hoe het unieke politieke systeem van de Volksrepubliek kleurt hoe Peking het internationale systeem vormt.
Mijn verblijf in Maleisië bood me ook de kans om te kijken naar en praten over de verhoudingen tussen dit multiculturele land en China. Net als Singapore heeft ook Maleisië verschillende etnische groepen met een sterke identiteit: Maleiers, Chinezen, Indiërs en anderen. Waar in Singapore de Chinezen dominant zijn, zijn dat in Maleisië de islamitische Maleiers.
In Maleisië is nationaal officieel de cultuur van de laatste groep ‘bumiputera’ leidend – de anderen zijn gekomen onder de Britten en worden door nationalisten en islamisten nog wel weggezet als buitenstaanders die zich meer aan zouden moeten passen. In tegenstelling tot unitaire stadstaat Singapore houden de groepen in de Federatie juist meer vast aan hun eigen identiteit. Dat geldt ook voor de Chinese groep. Hoewel er ook Maleissprekende en Engelstalige Chinezen zijn, is de dominante groep Chineestalig.
Daarbij horen ook eigen scholen, kranten en verenigingen – allemaal in het Mandarijn. Hierdoor staan Chinese-Maleisiërs veel meer dan doorgaans vooral Engelslezende Chinese-Singaporezen in verbintenis met de media- en entertainmentwereld van China. Daarnaast zijn de vele autonome Chinese verenigingen en tempels in Maleisië een belangrijk doelwit voor verenigd front-werk. De koepel van Chinese scholen doet ook elk jaar mee aan de CPPCC van de Twee Zittingen in Peking.
Pekings invloed op de Chinese gemeenschap in Maleisië heeft echter beperkingen. Er is een sterke eigen identiteit als Chinees los van China (华人 huárén) i.p.v. Chinees uit China (中国人 zhōngguórén). De Chinese invloed werkt vooral in de vorm van achtergrondstraling en zakelijke banden – onbewuste overname.
De belangrijkste Chinese invloed richt zich op de federale Maleisische politieke en zakelijke elite, die gedomineerd wordt door de Maleiers. Peking heeft altijd de strategie om zaken te doen door de machthebbers in te palmen – en de Chinese-Maleisiërs worden buiten het centrum van de macht gehouden.
Daar komt bovenop dat de huidige premier, de lang vervolgende en gevangen Anwar Ibrahim, zijn soms enigszins populistische stijl uit de jaren negentig sinds zijn aantreden in 2022 heeft doorontwikkeld in een wat anti-Westerse politiek. Israëls vernietiging van Gaza speelt daarbij een rol – ik zag veel Palestijnse vlaggen in Kuala Lumpur. Maar Anwar wekt ook de indruk erg graag bij de BRICS te willen horen. Dat zou zijn vriendelijke politiek richting Rusland en China kunnen helpen verklaren. Voor Nederland is dat ongemakkelijk, omdat MH17 nu een gevoelig onderwerp geworden is.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
ASML-export aan China wordt door Nederlandse regering bewust afgeschermd – BNR: „Dat de export van dual-usegoederen van ASML aan China niet in de database wordt opgenomen, zou al een besluit zijn geweest van het kabinet-Rutte IV.”
„In een rapport dat het ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken in november naar de Tweede Kamer stuurde, meldde het kabinet dat China de zesde grootste bestemming was voor Nederlandse goederen voor die ook een militair nut hebben. […] China zou echter op de eerste plaats staan, […] als de verkoop van ASML voor dual-usegoederen was meegerekend, volgens berekeningen van Reuters.” 🇳🇱
Dutch government excludes most ASML sales to China from ‘dual use’ export data – Reuters 🇳🇱
Door China vervolgd dansgezelschap, dat eigen artiesten zou uitbuiten, trekt volle zalen in Den Haag – de Volkskrant 🇳🇱
EU challenges China at WTO on royalties for EU high-tech sector – European Commission: ‘also unduly interferes with the competence of EU courts for European patent issues.’ 🇪🇺
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平, in first talk with new European Council president António Costa, seeks more EU-China cooperation – SCMP: ‘The call breaks months of silence between Beijing and the EU’s top leadership.’ 🇪🇺
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 calls China-EU economic relations ‘symbiotic’ amid trade tensions with US – Reuters: ‘Costa also urged China to contribute to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, an EU official said.’ 🇪🇺
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 calls China-EU partnership one of mutual achievement – Xinhua: ‘There exists no clash of fundamental interests or geopolitical conflicts between China and the European Union (EU)’ 🇪🇺
Ambassador Cài Rùn 蔡润 met with the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič – Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the European Union 🇪🇺
China: Außenministerin Baerbock (Grüne) fordert härteren Umgang mit Peking – Handelsblatt: ‘Die Antwort sowohl auf ein „zunehmend aggressiver auftretendes China“ als auch auf „America first“ müsse ein geeintes Europa („Europe United“) sein’ 🇩🇪
Chinese ambassador Mǎ Shēngkūn 马升琨 visits Ukraine’s national music academy – Xinhua: ‘During the meeting, Ma emphasized the Chinese government’s commitment to fostering international collaboration in high-quality education’ 🇺🇦
Turkish railway, with Chinese upgrades, could bypass Russia on route to Europe – SCMP 🇪🇺🇹🇷🇷🇺
Taiwan: Statement by the Spokesperson on the recent execution – EU EEAS: ‘The EU therefore calls on Taiwan to apply and maintain a de facto moratorium, and to pursue a consistent policy towards the full abolition of the death penalty in Taiwan.’ 🇪🇺
Trump
Trumps tweede termijn betekent ook deel II van zijn handelsoorlog met China – de Volkskrant 🇺🇸
Trump says he is mulling 10% tariffs on imports from China, starting February 1 – SCMP: ‘The US president is framing the possible tariffs as a penalty for the flow of fentanyl from Canada and Mexico’ 🇺🇸
Donald Trump goes light on China on Day 1, except where the Panama Canal is concerned – SCMP 🇺🇸
By going soft on China on first day, Trump leaves room for deal making, Tsinghua’s Da Wei says – SCMP 🇺🇸
China and US need to tackle ‘growing pains’ together, People’s Daily says ahead of Trump 2.0 – SCMP 🇺🇸
Trump: US needs Greenland to combat Russia and China – POLITICO Europe 🇺🇸
US VP-elect Vance meets with visiting Chinese counterpart Hán Zhèng 韩正 ahead of inauguration – Reuters 🇺🇸
It’s necessary for high-level Chinese and American officials to maintain contact in appropriate way, foreign ministry spokesperson says – Xinhua: ‘when asked if China will consider dropping the sanctions against Secretary of State Marco Rubio’ 🇺🇸
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 tells Putin he wants to take ties to new heights, soon after Trump’s return to White House – SCMP: ‘Both leaders hailed achievements in bilateral energy ties, especially the China-Russia East-Route Natural Gas Pipeline.’ 🇷🇺
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 speaks with Putin, calling on China and Russia to uphold international fairness and justice – Xinhua: ‘China and Russia should take this as an opportunity to jointly defend the UN-centered international system and the outcomes of victory in World War II, promote all countries' adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, uphold the universally recognized basic norms governing international relations, and practice true multilateralism, Xi stressed.’ 🇷🇺
Quad foreign ministers meet in Washington in signal of Trump’s China focus – Reuters 🇯🇵🇮🇳🇦🇺
President Lai congratulates Trump on inauguration – Tapei Times
TikTok
Trump signs executive order to give TikTok extension – POLITICO: ‘Experts and some Republican lawmakers have said the measures could be legally dubious.’ 🇺🇸
TikTok says it’s ‘back in the US’, thanks Trump for his efforts – Nikkei Asia 🇺🇸
TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi plans to attend Trump inauguration – The New York Times: ‘invited to sit in a position of honor on the dais’ ‘went out from the Trump Vance Inaugural Committee’ 🇺🇸
TikTok to sponsor Trump inauguration party – POLITICO 🇺🇸
Chinese officials are evaluating a potential option that involves Elon Musk acquiring TikTok’s US operations if the company fails to fend off a controversial ban on the app – Bloomberg 🇺🇸
China weighs Elon Musk role in TikTok deal – FT: ‘According to the people familiar with official discussions, the plans may not be as straightforward as seeking to sell TikTok to Musk’ 🇺🇸
ByteDance 字节跳动’s TikTok says report of possible sale to Musk ‘pure fiction’ – BBC News 🇺🇸
Trump says he’d be open to billionaire supporter Elon Musk or Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison purchasing TikTok as part of a joint venture with the US government – Bloomberg 🇺🇸
Beiden extreemrechts.
Perplexity AI makes a bid to merge with TikTok US – CNBC 🇺🇸
Over half a million ‘TikTok refugees’ flock to China’s RedNote 小红书 – Reuters
Tech war: China’s TikTok sellers eye Amazon and Shein 希音 as US ban looms – SCMP
TikTok users’ move to Chinese app RedNote 小红书 alarms Beijing’s censors – The Information
Is Xiaohongshu 小红书 (RedNote) the next TikTok? 🤔 – Alec Odahara, LinkedIn
ByteDance 字节跳动’s TikTok, Shein 希音, Xiaomi 小米, and three other Chinese firms hit by EU privacy complaints – Reuters: ‘by Austrian advocacy group Noyb’ 🇪🇺🇦🇹
TikTok users posting cat videos do not threaten UK national security, minister says – The Guardian 🇬🇧
One-fifth of Taiwanese adults use TikTok or Douyin 抖音, survey says – Focus Taiwan 🇹🇼
German TikTokers like China and Russia more, poll shows – Reuters: ‘showed that only users of Elon Musk’s platform X came close to the same propensity for believing in conspiracy theories as TikTok users.’ 🇩🇪
Handel 🚗⚡️
Exclusive: Chinese buyers interested in unwanted German Volkswagen factories, source says – Reuters: ‘Building cars in Germany for sale in Europe would allow China’s EV makers to avoid paying EU tariffs on electric cars imported from China’ 🇩🇪
For Europe, China looms as 2025 economic threat, analysts say amid overcapacity concerns – SCMP: ‘as the country has the European Union market in its sights amid industrial-overcapacity issues at home and an economic-growth slowdown’ 🇪🇺
MERICS China Forecast 2025: Economic stress increases risk of domestic instability – MERICS 🇪🇺
China crisis looms as Europe’s gravy train stalls: ‘nobody is making money’ – SCMP: ‘Chinese customs data this week showed a 4.4 per cent drop in its imports from the EU in 2024 compared with the previous year.’ 🇪🇺
Handelsoverschot China stijgt tot bijna een biljoen dollar – de Volkskrant
French PM François Bayrou: China wants to dominate world via its trade surplus – POLITICO Europe 🇫🇷
EU should welcome Chinese car factories in Europe, says Mercedes chief, also president of EU car industry body Acea – FT: ‘as part of a deal to drop punitive tariffs on imported Chinese electric vehicles’ 🇪🇺
China’s EV sales stumble off the line in 2025, raising profit concerns for carmakers – SCMP: ‘Deliveries of pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars across mainland China plummeted 50 per cent to 206,000 units in the first 12 days of the year compared with the same period in December’
Porsche China deliveries drop 28% as competition intensifies – FT 🇩🇪
EU probe finds ‘unfair’ limits in China’s medical device market, adding to trade rift – SCMP 🇪🇺
Exclusive: US probe finds China unfairly dominates shipbuilding, paving way for penalties, sources say – Reuters 🇺🇸
EU can stand up to US and China with integrated energy market, IMF states – Reuters 🇪🇺🇺🇸
Tech War 💽💥
Afkicken van Chinese apps en apparaten? Dat is helemaal nog niet zo eenvoudig – de Volkskrant
China’s government slows supply chain shifts by Apple and other tech companies as Trump 2.0 looms – Nikkei Asia: ‘hampering their efforts to expand production in Southeast Asia and India, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.’
The US is imposing some of its strongest measures yet to limit Chinese advances in AI, aiming to block backdoors in other countries that Beijing could use to access technology – WSJ: ‘a broad category of more than 120 other countries, including U.S. allies in the Middle East and Asia, are set to face new hurdles in setting up huge AI computing facilities.’ 🇺🇸
Nederland is uitgezonderd.
US imposing new export controls on biotech equipment over China concerns – Reuters 🇺🇸
US finalises rule to effectively ban Chinese vehicles, which could include Polestar – The Verge: ‘under the auspices of blocking the “sale or import” of connected vehicle software from “countries of concern.”’ 🇺🇸
China’s 2024 chip imports surged 10.4% to US$385 billion amid tighter US tech sanctions – SCMP: ‘Chinese firms rushed to stockpile semiconductors in 2024’
Huawei 华为 seeks to grab market share in AI chips from Nvidia in China – FT: ‘by encouraging local companies to adopt its rival processors for “inference” tasks [rather than training].’
China makes inroads in DRAM chips in challenge to Samsung 三星 and Micron – Nikkei Asia: ‘Much of that growth is down to ChangXin Memory Technologies.’
Vocational education woes a hurdle for China’s hi-tech industry ambitions – SCMP
Singapore-based Chinese and US firms drive Thailand’s US$33bn FDI bounty – Nikkei Asia 🇸🇬🇹🇭
China’s BYD 比亚迪, Haier 海尔, and more expand in Thailand, eyeing new trade war – Nikkei Asia 🇹🇭
Chinese solar panel makers close plants, scale back production in Malaysia as US tariffs bite – The Straits Times 🇲🇾
Taiwanese government task force to promote chip diplomacy with with Japan and Europe – Taipei Times 🇪🇺🇯🇵
TSMC 台積電 2024 net profit hits new high, up almost 40% – Focus Taiwan
Taiwan launches overseas tech startup hub in Silicon Valley – Focus Taiwan 🇺🇸
Kantelpunt 🌍⏱️
Europe’s anxiety about Trump isn’t widely shared across the globe – Mark Leonard for POLITICO Europe 🇪🇺
Japan’s National Security Secretary head Akiba announces resignation; outgoing head calls for deeper ties between Japan and US – The Yomiuri Shimbun: ‘“Since my [American] counterpart, with whom I have closely cooperated, will be leaving his post, the timing seems right,” he said.’ 🇯🇵
China’s economy will never surpass US, Biden says in exit speech – Nikkei Asia 🇺🇸
China ‘will not admit defeat’ on US rivalry and its rise is unstoppable, Chinese analysts say – SCMP 🇺🇸
Malaysia ties fortunes to Singapore as US-China tensions mount – FT: [SEZ] part of a broader push by the former to use its chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year to forge stronger links with its nearest neighbours’
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
China adds 7 US companies to unreliable entity list – Xinhua: ‘for selling arms to China’s Taiwan region.’
‘Inter-Coastal Electronics, System Studies & Simulation, IronMountain Solutions, Applied Technologies Group, Axient, Anduril Industries and Maritime Tactical Systems.’
‘The weapon sales have also breached international law and posed a threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, the spokesperson said.’ 🇺🇸🇹🇼
US bans imports from 37 more Chinese companies over Uyghur forced labor, including Huafu Fashion 华孚时尚 – Reuters 🇺🇸
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the CIA, John Ratcliffe, is expected to urge more aggressive spying operations targeting Beijing – WSJ: ‘Ratcliffe would push for aggressive spy missions against high-level officials in China and for covert operations intended to counter Beijing’s growing influence around the world, a person close to him said.’ 🇺🇸
Chinese and Japanese ruling parties vow closer ties as they hold first talks in 6 years – SCMP: ‘the two sides said they would maintain close communication “regardless of the situation of China-Japan relations”.’ 🇯🇵
China and Japan eye rapprochement on eve of Trump’s 2nd term – Nikkei Asia 🇯🇵
Chinese and Japanese ruling parties agree to maintain close communication – Xinhua 🇯🇵
Chinese Premier Lǐ Qiáng 李强 welcomes visit by Japan PM Ishiba Shigeru 石破 茂 to China, lawmaker says – Kyodo News: ‘Moriyama said he handed Li a personal letter from Ishiba addressed to Chinese President Xi Jinping, with Li promising to swiftly deliver it.’ 🇯🇵
Chinese military delegation from PLA’s Eastern Theater Command to visit Japan mid-January – Xinhua 🇯🇵
Philippines files protest over Beijing’s ‘escalatory actions’ in South China Sea – Reuters 🇵🇭
ASEAN and China must start tackling thorny issues of South China Sea code, Philippines says – Reuters 🇵🇭
Philippines and US hold joint maritime exercises in South China Sea – Reuters 🇵🇭
Xi says China and Vietnam to build community with shared future of strategic significance – Reuters 🇻🇳
Chinese vice premier Dīng Xuēxiáng 丁薛祥 calls for multilateralism at Davos – Xinhua: ‘Ding recalled that eight years ago, in the same venue, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech’
Een verwijzing na de toespraak van Xi Jinping na de schok van Trumps overwinning, die verwachtingen schepte over Chinese openheid die niet waargemaakt werden.
China’s Vice Premier Dīng Xuēxiáng 丁薛祥 lunches with Dimon, Schwarzman, and other Davos financiers – Reuters
What China wants in Panama: More trade, projects and influence – The New York Times 🇵🇦
Trump ergert zich aan ‘Chinese bedrijfsvoering’ Panamakanaal, maar hoeveel is daarvan waar? – de Volkskrant 🇵🇦
China aims to deepen Caribbean ties, Grenada affirms one-China principle – Reuters 🇬🇩
Chinese investment bank CICC cleared to operate in Dubai financial centre – SCMP 🇦🇪
China confirms PLA Navy’s new Type 076 amphibious assault ship will be a drone carrier – SCMP
China economie
Chinese citizens’ doubts grow over official growth claims – FT
Most Chinese feel an uneasy ‘consumption downgrade’, according to survey – Nikkei Asia: ‘An 80% majority of Chinese consumers feel they have slipped into a “consumption downgrade,”’
China’s consumer sentiment approaches ‘tipping point’ to soar after stimulus barrage, UBS says – SCMP
China’s top exporting regions pare back GDP targets under shadow of tariff threats – SCMP
Chart of the Day: Over a dozen Chinese provinces set lower GDP targets – Caixin Global
China corporate profits set for third year of declines – FT: ‘greater than the 4 per cent drop seen during the whole of 2022 when the country was under pandemic lockdowns.’
At least eight major distressed Chinese firms, including an Evergrande 恒大 unit, are set to defend themselves in court cases relating to their debt problems over the next two weeks – Bloomberg
Chinese developer Country Garden 碧桂园 reveals CN¥178bn [€24bn] loss in delayed 2023 report – Nikkei Asia
Exclusive: China to cut pay by half for staff at top financial regulators, sources say – Reuters
China binnenland
Chinese leader Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 is intensifying a war on corruption that has purged officials in record numbers – WSJ: ‘To help his bureaucrats rediscover their mojo and revive a stagnating economy, Xi is also promoting the message that some mistakes are acceptable.’
‘The party elite approved a new economic plan that embedded Xi’s directive, dubbed the “Three Differentiates,” which calls for leniency for well-meaning officials who make honest mistakes, and differentiating them from those who willfully break the rules.’
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 chairs CCP leadership meeting to review reports and opinions – Xinhua
How China’s anti-corruption crackdown is driving a minor jobs boom – SCMP: ‘at least 15 provinces had such “caretaker” positions going at detention centres last year, with some provinces seeking to fill hundreds of vacancies.’
China vows to reunite scam victims with families, crack down on cross-border criminal gangs – Reuters
Myanmar junta says it deported over 50,000 scam centre workers to China – China Global South Project 🇲🇲
China deploys more security to try to reassure a country on edge – The New York Times: ‘The security push, which the authorities in some places have labeled “Operation Winter,” follows a string of recent attacks’
China executes 2 after back-to-back mass killings that shook the nation – SCMP
Uyghur woman sentenced to 17 years for teaching Islam to her kids and a neighbour – RFA
Earthquake shakes Tibetan monasteries, casualties among clergy unknown – Reuters
China’s state security forces given new powers to oversee key building projects – SCMP: ‘fresh powers to supervise and manage sensitive construction work on sites such as key government buildings and military facilities.’
Chinese aircraft maker AVIC 航空工业 removes website profiles of top executives – SCMP: ‘Neither Hao Zhaoping, general manager of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, or Yang Wei, a deputy general manager at AVIC and lead engineer on the J-20, have been seen in public for months.’
‘It comes after former AVIC chairman Tan Ruisong was placed under investigation for corruption in August, having been removed from his post in 2023.’
National conference on tackling pornography and illegal publications held in Beijing – Xinhua: ‘The conference also stressed the importance of strengthening technological empowerment’
武警司令王春宁缺席政法委会议 – 星島日報
Hong Kong
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
President Lai Ching-te 賴清德 (DPP) meets with Taiwanese delegation to Trump’s inauguration led by Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu 韓國瑜 (KMT) – Focus Taiwan 🇺🇸
Taiwan’s digital affairs ministry says undersea cables to Matsu Islands are ‘disconnected’ – Reuters: ‘Two sources familiar with the situation told Reuters that one of two cables connecting Matsu with the main Taiwan island was completely disconnected and the other has seriously malfunctioned.’
China ramps up integration push with local Taiwan affairs offices in Fujian – SCMP: ‘Fujian will [also] roll out more supportive policies for Taiwanese people who seek to study or work in Fujian’ 🇨🇳
Fujian to extend ‘united front’ work, professor says – Taipei Times: ‘The Fujian Provincial Government’s “united front” work plan for this year showed a special interest in absorbing young or politically inexperienced Taiwanese’ 🇨🇳
Could visit to Taiwan by Chinese academics be first hint of a cross-strait thaw? – SCMP: ‘Yan Anlin, academic committee director at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, and Sheng Jiuyuan, director of the Centre for Taiwan Studies at Shanghai Jiao Tong University’ 🇨🇳
Taiwan to ramp up monitoring of ‘flags of convenience’ ships after severed undersea cable incident – The Straits Times
Suspected Chinese ship loiters off north Taiwan for 5 days – Taiwan News 🇨🇳
China building new mobile piers that could help possible Taiwan invasion – FT 🇨🇳
PLA’s special barges are to override mines, expert says – Taipei Times 🇨🇳
Fujian coast guard conducts routine patrols in waters near Kinmen – Xinhua 🇨🇳
Tuvalu embassy responds to Chinese ‘disinformation’ – Taipei Times 🇹🇻
After cable damage, Taiwan to step up surveillance of flag of convenience ships – Reuters
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Strong earthquake in Taiwan injures 27 and causes scattered damage – AP
Legislative Yuan slashes government budget by 6.6 percent – Taipei Times: ‘During a 20-hour continuous session from Monday until yesterday morning, they continued to slash the budgets of government agencies, bringing the total budget cuts to about NT$207.5 billion [€6.1bn].’
KMT and TPP pass budget with expansive cuts aimed at undermining Lai administration – New Bloom: ‘what is key to note is not the percentage of overall cuts, but what programs were cut. The cuts are clearly aimed at hollowing out entire sections of government’
Taiwan lawmakers risk alienating Donald Trump with defence funds freeze – FT: ‘Taiwanese government officials and ruling party lawmakers accused the Kuomintang, the largest opposition party, of helping China’
Opposition agree to freeze half of indigenous submarine budget pending report – Taipei Times
Taiwan’s premier Cho Jung-tai 卓榮泰 (DPP) says opposition’s budget cuts would cripple key government functions – Reuters
KMT to propose an ‘honesty’ act against lying officials – Taipei Times: ‘after Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) denounced opposition parties for cutting and freezing the central government’s total budget.’
KMT leans into pork barrel politics in attacking DPP over pensions – New Bloom
TPP to hold leadership election online February 15 – Focus Taiwan
Group of educators leading effort to recall KMT lawmakers – Taipei Times
KMT Legislator Yu Hao 游顥 proposes changes to Chinese spouse law – Taipei Times: ‘to allow Chinese spouses to obtain Taiwanese citizenship in four years instead of six.’
Domestic satellite PARUS-T1 launched in California – Taipei Times