De Chinese Wouden, woensdag 26 februari: Xi belt Poetin
Maandag was het drie jaar geleden dat Rusland begon met de grootschalige invasie van Oekraïne. Terwijl de Europese leiders (zonder VS, mét Canada) in Kyiv stonden om dat herdenken, belde Xi Jinping met Vladimir Poetin. Hoe dicht Trump ook tegen Moskou aan wil schurken, Peking laat zien wie echt de sterke banden met Poetin heeft.
Xi stelt dat China en Rusland goede buren en echte vrienden zijn. Hij benadrukt dat de relatie niet tegen derden gericht is noch door derden beïnvloed wordt. Belangrijker is dat Poetin zijn buur en vriend Xi bijpraatte over de vredesgesprekken tussen Moskou en Washington in Riad over en zonder Oekraïne.
Hierop reageert Xi naar zijn eigen bijdrage aan oplossingen voor de ‘Oekraïne-crisis’. Hij begint met zijn ‘Vier Moeten (Four Shoulds)’, die deels neerkwamen op een veroordeling van wapenleveranties aan Oekraïne als ‘olie op het vuur’ en van maatregelen en sancties tegen Rusland als ‘spanningen verergerend’ en ‘destabiliserend voor de wereldeconomie’. Daarna komt het zespuntenplan dat China samen met Brazilië lanceerde, waar je bovenstaande veroordelingen in terug kunt vinden. Xi eindigt met te stellen dat China blij is met de positieve inspanningen van Rusland en relevante partijen (lees: VS) voor een oplossing van de crisis (sic).
Uit de herhaalde oproep voor een (politieke) oplossing spreekt ook Pekings afkeer voor de Westerse pogingen om Oekraïne te helpen de militaire strijd tegen Rusland te voeren. In de VN-veiligheidsraad riep de Chinese vertegenwoordiger Europa op om haar steen bij te dragen aan vrede en de ‘root cause’ op te lossen en „to find a balanced, effective and sustainable security framework” voor Europa. Over die woordkeuze schreef ik al kort na de grootschalige invasie, in maart 2022 in de Clingendael Spectator, dat hij duidde op een anti-Amerikaanse en Rusland-vriendelijke visie op de Europese veiligheidsorde in Peking.
WSJ schrijft over de hoop van sommigen in het kamp Trump op ‘reverse Nixon’. Dat verwijst naar het succes van de Amerikaanse president Nixon om China in 1972 medestander te maken bij het isoleren van de Sovjetunie. Los van het feit dat het nog maar de vraag is of Trump echt China wil bestrijden op ideologisch vlak, lijkt het vrij moeilijk om nu Rusland aan de kant van de VS te krijgen in het uitsluiten van China.
Rusland en China wantrouwen beide de VS meer dan elkaar. Ze zijn misschien geen bondgenoten, maar hebben grote gedeelde ideologische en strategische belangen. Nixons Washington was een betrouwbaardere partner dan Trumps Washington. Bovenal zie ik in mijn bovenstaande analyse dat Xi Jinping en Poetin wat betreft de oorlog in Oekraïne veel gemeenschappelijk hebben. De materiële rol die China speel in de Russische oorlogsmachine zegt ook veel.
Peking was nooit enthousiast over de oorlog, hoewel het de voordelen van de Europese chaos wel doorheeft. Chinese diplomaten en woordvoerders spraken onmiddellijk positief over de toenadering tussen Rusland en de Verenigde Staten. Een staakt-het-vuren waarbij de destabilisatie stopt maar Rusland niet omvalt zou Peking niet slecht uitkomen. Als Trump en Poetin daarbij ook nog het Westerse bondgenootschap om zeep helpen en grootmachtpolitiek normaliseren, dan is het helemaal een gouden uitkomst voor Xi.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Trump’s team seeks to toughen Biden’s chip curbs on China in escalating tech war – Bloomberg: ‘Trump officials recently met with their Japanese and Dutch counterparts about restricting Tokyo Electron Ltd. and ASML Holding NV engineers from maintaining semiconductor gear in China, according to people familiar with the matter.’
‘The meetings come in addition to early discussions in Washington about sanctions on specific Chinese companies, other people said.’
‘The prior administration had reached a handshake agreement with [T]he Hague on limiting gear maintenance in China, but the Dutch demurred after Trump won the election, two senior Biden officials said.’ 🇳🇱🇯🇵🇺🇸
‘Thrilled to see the partnership between the Netherlands and Taiwan grow even stronger with the signing of the MoU between PhotonDelta, the Dutch photonics ecosystem accelerator, and #HiSPA, Taiwan’s Heterogeneous Integration Silicon Photonics Alliance […]’ – Marloes Smeets 施孟儒, LinkedIn 🇳🇱
China ready to work with new German government to develop ties, foreign ministry spokesperson says – Xinhua 🇩🇪
China trade team visits Germany to discuss cars after election and tariff spats and threats – SCMP: ‘A delegation led by the semi-official China Council for the Promotion of International Trade set off for talks with top auto-industry players’ 🇩🇪
Ist Merz ein China-Freund? – FAZ: „Auf dem Frühstück wusste ein Teilnehmer zu berichten, dass Merz‘ Rede in der Pekinger Führung eher als ,Populismus‘ im Wahlkampf abgetan wurde. Dagegen wurden jüngste Äußerungen, die für eine Distanzierung von den USA sprachen, wohlwollend aufgenommen.“
„Sollte es jetzt tatsächlich eine Koalition der Union mit der SPD geben, wären die zwei Parteien an der Macht, die die enge wirtschaftliche Verflechtung mit China maßgeblich vorangetrieben haben.“ 🇩🇪
Alles schuift nu, dus het is lastig voorspellingen te doen, maar Peking past beter op voor wensdenken.
Spain’s foreign minister calls for EU to forge China policy without US – FT: ‘“Europe must take its own decisions, on its own. And we have to decide when China can be a partner and when China is a competitor,” José Manuel Albares told the Financial Times.’ 🇪🇸🇪🇺
Volkswagen and CATL sign statement of intent to collaborate in China on lithium battery development – Reuters 🇩🇪
European Parliament members in Taiwan for first time in 2025 – Focus Taiwan: ‘The EP delegation, led by a vice-president of the Renew Europe political group, Ivars Ījabs from Latvia, also consists of Hannes Heide of Austria, Arkadiusz Mularczyk from Poland, and Vladimir Prebilič from Slovenia’ 🇪🇺
China wil per se die mega-ambassade in hartje Londen, Labour ziet vooral de voordelen – Trouw 🇬🇧
Oekraïne 🇺🇦🇪🇺
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 says bilateral ties show China and Russia good neighbours and true friends – Xinhua: ‘when having a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the latter’s request.’
‘China is happy to see Russia and relevant parties make positive efforts to defuse the Ukraine crisis, he said.’ 🇷🇺🇺🇸🇺🇦
China’s Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 affirms ‘no limits’ partnership with Putin in call on Ukraine war anniversary – Reuters: ‘a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, […] the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.’
习近平同俄罗斯总统普京通电话 – 新华网：“历史和现实昭示我们，中俄是搬不走的好邻居，是患难与共、相互支持、共同发展的真朋友。中俄关系具有强大内生动力和独特战略价值，不针对第三方，也不受任何第三方影响。”
„Geschiedenis en realiteit verduidelijken dat China en Rusland goede buren zijn die zich niet van elkaar kunnen verwijderen, en echte vrienden die lief en leed met elkaar delen, die elkaar steunen en die zich samen ontwikkelen. De betrekkingen tussen China en Rusland hebben een sterke endogene dynamiek en een unieke strategische waarde, en zijn niet gericht tegen een derde partij, noch beïnvloed door een derde partij.”
“普京介绍了俄美接触最新情况和俄方在乌克兰危机问题上的原则立场，表示俄方致力于消除俄乌冲突根源，达成可持续和长久的和平方案。
习近平强调，乌克兰危机全面升级之初，我就提出解决危机的“四个应该”等基本主张。去年9月，中国同巴西一道，会同部分全球南方国家成立乌克兰危机“和平之友”小组，为推动危机政治解决营造氛围、积累条件。中方乐见俄罗斯及有关各方为化解危机作出积极努力。”
„Poetin introduceerde de laatste situatie van de Russisch-Amerikaanse contacten en het principiële standpunt van Rusland met betrekking tot de Oekraïne-crisis. Hij stelde dat Rusland zich inzet om de bron van het Russisch-Oekraïense conflict te elimineren en een duurzaam en langdurig vredesplan te bereiken.
Xi benadrukte: ik heb aan het begin van de grootschalige escalatie van de Oekraïne-crisis de ‘Vier Moeten [Four Shoulds]’ en andere basisideeën naar voren gebracht om de crisis op te lossen. In september vorig jaar hebben China en Brazilië met enkele landen uit het Mondiale Zuiden een groep ‘vrienden van de vrede’ opgericht voor de Oekraïne-crisis, om de atmosfeer te creëren en voorwaarden te scheppen voor een politieke oplossing van de crisis. China blij om te zien dat Rusland en betrokken partijen positieve inspanningen leveren om de crisis op te lossen.” 🇷🇺🇺🇸🇺🇦
Let op het incongruente gebruik van ‘ik’: benadrukt dat Xi Jinping persoonlijk oplossing heeft aangedragen.
Editorial: China-Russia ties more stable and mature amid complex international landscape – The Global Times 🇷🇺
President Trump’s abrupt and enthusiastic embrace of Russia and its authoritarian leader, Vladimir Putin, is propelled in part by a strategic desire to drive a wedge between Moscow and Beijing – WSJ: ‘Foreign-policy experts have dubbed the attempted maneuver a “reverse Nixon”’ 🇷🇺🇺🇸
China bezorgd over toenadering tussen Trump en Poetin – NOS 🇷🇺🇺🇸
Ik zie niet per se echt ‘zorgen’. Er lijkt geen serieuze kans op een ‘reverse Nixon’ en Peking weet dat. Zie ook mijn analyse aan het begin van de nieuwsbrief.
Bij herdenking van de invasie ontbrak in Kyiv één land: de VS. „We zijn in Kyiv, want Oekraïne is Europa” – NRC: „Maandag werd de scheuring in het westerse Oekraïne-bondgenootschap in de Algemene Vergadering nog eens helder onderstreept. De VS stemden tégen een resolutie die Oekraïne met Europese steun had ingediend en waarin de invasie wordt veroordeeld en Rusland wordt opgeroepen zich terug te trekken. Behalve de VS stemden onder andere ook Rusland, Hongarije, Israël, Nicaragua en Niger tegen de Oekraïense resolutie.” [China onthield zich.]
„‘We staan aan het begin van een historisch nieuw tijdperk’, zei minister van Buitenlandse Zaken Caspar Veldkamp (NSC) in Brussel voorafgaand aan een vergadering met collega-ministers. ‘Het tijdperk van na de val van de Muur is nu afgesloten.’” „Volgens Veldkamp zijn ‘we nu allemaal gaullisten geworden’.”
China to continue to play constructive role in resolving Ukraine crisis, foreign ministry spokesperson says – Xinhua 🇺🇦
China’s envoy calls on UN Security Council to play constructive role in promoting peace talks on Ukraine – Xinhua: ‘Fu urged Europe to play its part for peace, to jointly address the root causes of the crisis, and to find a balanced, effective and sustainable security framework, so as to achieve long-term security and stability on the European continent.’ 🇺🇦🇪🇺
Taiwanese government pledges continued aid to Ukraine on 3rd anniversary of war – Focus Taiwan 🇺🇦
Taiwan watches Trump undercut Ukraine, hoping it won’t be next – The New York Times 🇺🇸
Wereldhandelsoorlog 📊💥
Noodlijdende elektrische bussenbouwer Ebusco sluit miljoenenlening om financiële problemen – NRC: „Met de maandag aangekondigde lening wil Ebusco de Chinese productie verder uitbreiden.” 🇳🇱
A modest pickup in consumer spending couldn’t offset a steep slump in exports that was chiefly responsible for another contraction in Germany’s economy at the end of 2024 – Bloomberg: ‘its outsized manufacturing sector struggles to adapt to new realities, Russia’s war in Ukraine upends a business model built on cheap energy and Chinese demand falters.’ 🇩🇪
China bedrängt die deutsche Baumaschinen-Branche – FAZ 🇩🇪
Macron to Trump: Make trade war with China, not with us – POLITICO Europe 🇫🇷🇪🇺
US targets China ships and operators with millions of dollars in new port charges – Freightwaves: ‘A charge of $1 million per call would be assessed on China-based vessel operators including Cosco, the world’s fourth-largest container line.’ 🇺🇸
China logistics firms bolster US warehouse ops amid trade uncertainty – Nikkei Asia 🇺🇸
Malaysia intends to engage with the US on Trump’s planned tariffs on chip imports, cautioning that such duties could hurt firms based in the Southeast Asian nation – Bloomberg: ‘The US is Malaysia’s third-largest market for semiconductor exports.’ 🇲🇾🇺🇸
Vietnam will impose anti-dumping tariffs on steel from China, joining other nations in fighting back against surging supplies – Bloomberg: ‘China’s sent the most steel overseas in nine years in 2024, as its producers turned to global markets to offset a deep construction slowdown at home.’ 🇻🇳
Chinese investment surge into Vietnam raises risk of Donald Trump retaliation – FT: ‘The surge in Chinese investments in Vietnam and its dependence on Chinese raw materials could attract renewed scrutiny from the Trump administration’ 🇻🇳🇺🇸
Majority of Taiwanese oppose TSMC 台積電 tech transfer to US, [KMT-linked] poll shows – Taipei Times 🇹🇼🇺🇸
Techoorlog 💽💥
Global tech industry braces for ‘China shock’ in mature chips – Nikkei Asia
DeepSeek 深度求索 werkt aan nieuw model, „willen momentum behouden” – BNR
Dankzij het grote succes van DeepSeek 深度求索 is tech-innovatie in China nu topprioriteit – NRC
De gesnelde kop is nonsens, het stuk relevant.
Nvidia’s H20 chip orders jump as Chinese firms adopt DeepSeek 深度求索’s AI models, sources say – Reuters: ‘Tencent, Alibaba, and ByteDance have “significantly increased” orders of the H20 — a chip specific to China due to U.S. export controls’
Dit contrasteert met de in NRC geciteerde Chinezen die juichen dat ze het zonder Amerikaanse chips zouden kunnen.
ASM International posts lower than expected fourth-quarter orders – Reuters: ‘Last week BE Semiconductor Industries forecast an unexpected sales drop for the first quarter, with strength in AI-related orders more than offset by the slowdown in the industry’s traditional markets.’ 🇳🇱
Huawei 华为 improves production of AI chips in breakthrough for China’s tech goals – FT: ‘The Chinese conglomerate has increased the “yield” […] of its latest AI chips to close to 40 per cent, […]. That represents a doubling from 20 per cent about a year ago.’
‘The improved yield means that Huawei’s production line for Ascend chips has become profitable for the first time’
Apple wil minder afhankelijk van China zijn en investeert 500 miljard dollar in VS – de Volkskrant 🇺🇸
China’s industry struggles to master high-end machine tools – FT: ‘China’s particular challenge has been building the hardware and software that operate high-precision computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools, a corner of the industry long dominated by Germany’s Siemens and Japan’s Fanuc.’
‘Chinese companies now dominate the industry’s middle and low end, according to analysts.’
Chinese premier Lǐ Qiáng 李强 called on the country’s top three telecom companies to step up research and development in the aid of broader innovation and economic growth – Bloomberg
Chinese premier Lǐ Qiáng 李强 stresses advancing sci-tech innovation in frontier and emerging areas – Xinhua
Trump orders new tariff probe into US copper imports – Reuters 🇺🇸
Cobalt stocks rose in China on Tuesday as a surprise export ban in the Democratic Republic of Congo lifted the near-term outlook for the material used in alloys and batteries – Bloomberg 🇨🇩
Tesla moves one step closer to self-driving cars in China – The New York Times 🇺🇸
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
Japan to provide radar system for Mongolian air force as security aid – Kyodo News 🇯🇵🇲🇳
Japan and Philippines defence minister approve strategic talks between armed forces amid China rise – Kyodo News: ‘Japan has exported air defense radars to the Philippines since 2023 and decided to provide coastal surveillance radars under its “official security assistance” framework’ 🇯🇵🇵🇭
Russian security official Sergei Shoigu visits Indonesia and Malaysia to talk defence, Russian agencies report – Reuters 🇷🇺🇮🇩🇲🇾
DPRK supplying half of Russia’s munitions with more arms to come, Ukraine says – NK News 🇷🇺🇰🇵
Foreign ministry says China’s defence spending ‘entirely necessary’ after Russia’s Putin backs mutual cuts – AFP: ‘Putin said Monday in a televised interview that Trump’s proposal for 50 percent cuts to the three countries’ defence budgets was “a good idea”, adding that he could not speak for China.’ 🇷🇺🇺🇸
How China is filling void left by France and US with stronger military ties in Africa’s Sahel – SCMP: ‘Beijing’s backing of Niger’s military junta is not an isolated policy.’ 🇫🇷🇺🇸
Foreign Affairs Council: press remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas upon arrival – EU EEAS: ‘If [we] look at the messages that come from the United States, then it is clear that the Russian narrative is there, very strongly represented.’ 🇪🇺
Europe should be flattered by Maga’s attacks: A central goal of Trump’s henchmen is to defang the EU’s regulatory power for the benefit of American Big Tech – Martin Sandbu in FT 🇪🇺
The transatlantic relationship is crumbling, says an ex-head of NATO – Anders Fogh Rasmussen in The Economist 🇪🇺
Geen stoel voor Europa: De onmacht van een zachte mach – Catherine de Vries in De Groene Amsterdammer: „Het is duidelijk geworden dat Europese landen individueel te klein zijn om de strijd met de VS en China aan te gaan.” 🇪🇺
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
Chinese hackers infiltrated the US Republican National Committee’s email system during the election campaign last year, according to people familiar with the matter – WSJ: ‘RNC officials believed the hackers wanted inside information about how the GOP was planning to address Taiwan in its party platform, the people said.’ 🇺🇸
US imposes new sanctions on Chinese and Indian firms for helping Iran oil sales – SCMP 🇺🇸🇮🇷
Piloot passagiersvliegtuig komt per toeval te weten dat oorlogsschepen uit China met scherp schieten tijdens oefeningen in Tasmaanse Zee – VRT NWS 🇦🇺🇳🇿
Chinese navy drill in Tasman Sea forced 49 flights to change paths, Australian official says – Reuters: ‘A Virgin Australia pilot alerted Australian authorities about a live-fire drill by Chinese naval ships last week in the Tasman Sea’
‘Pilots are typically alerted to military drills, rocket launches and other issues that can affect airspace through Notices to Airmen, or NOTAMs, which are usually filed at least 24 hours in advance of such an event.’ 🇦🇺🇳🇿
Chinese warships re-enter Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone and head closer to Tasmania – ABC News 🇦🇺
US Coast Guard ship in Tasman Sea did not interact with Chinese navy, commander says – Reuters 🇺🇸🇦🇺
New Zealand foreign minister Winston Peters to question Chinese naval activity in Beijing visit – Reuters 🇳🇿
Stel je het diplomatieke lawaai uit Peking voor, wanneer de marine van een Westers land dit had gedaan in de buurt van China.
China conducts live fire drills in Tonkin Gulf as Vietnam draws sea border – RFA: ‘Though neither side linked their action to that of the other, it was unlikely to be a coincidence, some observers said.’ 🇻🇳
Thousands in limbo on Thai-Myanmar border after scam centre crackdown – Reuters: ‘The majority of these workers are Chinese, with about 1,000 from other foreign countries, according to the aid workers.’ 🇹🇭🇲🇲
Thailand helped to shut down scam centers that scared away tourists. Is it enough to bring Chinese visitors back? – Bloomberg 🇹🇭
More Pogo raids in Philippines stoke fears about a ‘cottage industry’ of scam activities – SCMP: ‘Of the 450 people arrested, 137 were Chinese nationals.’ 🇵🇭
Analysis: Twists and turns abound for Chinese-built railways in Southeast Asia – Caixin Global 🇻🇳🇹🇭🇱🇦
On Chinese tuna boats, North Koreans trawl for cash for Kim Jong-un 金正恩 – The New York Times: ‘The group discovered at least 12 Chinese-flagged tuna longliners using North Korean labor between 2019 and last year, and four of them were authorized to export fish to Europe and the United Kingdom, it said.’ 🇰🇵
Trapped at Sea: Exposing North Korean forced labour on China’s Indian Ocean tuna fleet – EJF 🇰🇵
‘Good start’: China bids to reset ties with Japan amid Trump tariff storm – SCMP: ‘Vice-Premier He Lifeng met with a group of visiting Japanese business leaders in Beijing.’ 🇯🇵
Typische ‘people’s diplomacy’ uit het verenigd front-repertoire.
China’s foreign minister Wáng Yì 王毅 calls for post-war Gaza plans to be sped up in talks with Egypt – SCMP: ‘during talks with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty. In a phone call on Saturday, Wang also reaffirmed Beijing’s continued support for Palestinians to govern Gaza and the two-state solution.’ 🇵🇸🇪🇬
No passengers, no planes, no benefits. Pakistan’s newest airport is a bit of a mystery – AP: ‘Entirely financed by China to the tune of $240 million, it’s anyone’s guess when New Gwadar International Airport will open for business.’ 🇵🇰
Son of Chinese journalist jailed for espionage Dǒng Yùyù 董郁玉 calls for his father’s release – AP
China economie
China’s jobseekers face laborious 2025 as businesses pull back on hiring – SCMP: ‘19.08 per cent plan workforce reductions, up from 12.47 per cent year on year.’
China is increasing scrutiny of outbound investments by domestic companies as well as their use of proceeds from Hong Kong share sales, people familiar with the matter said, after record capital outflows – Bloomberg: ‘Officials have become concerned after a record $168 billion of investment outflows last year, the people said.’
Chinese state-backed developers are starting to buy land at a premium again after the government eased limits on home prices – Bloomberg: ‘The renewed interest in land deals signals some state-backed developers are betting on an eventual rebound in the housing market, even as sales and prices continue to slide on weak consumer confidence.’
China’s office property market outlook bleak as foreign firms leave in droves – SCMP
China’s local governments are rushing to issue bonds to refinance hidden debt, further tightening liquidity in the financial system – Bloomberg: ‘Regional authorities are set to sell 1.69 trillion yuan ($233 billion) of bonds in the first two months of 2025, an unprecedented amount for the period’
China’s home prices to drop further, recovery not expected until 2026, according to Reuters poll – Reuters
How the state is propping up China’s housing market – FT: ‘Before the downturn, the majority of residential auctions in Beijing were won by private or mixed state-private groups. But since 2022 the trend has reversed, with state-owned developers winning 60 per cent of the bids.’
Chinese developer Shimao 世茂 secures creditor backing for US$11 bln offshore debt revamp – Reuters
China Evergrande 恒大’s EV unit to sell 20% stake in Swedish firm for tax needs – Reuters 🇸🇪
Chinese draft law prohibits arbitrary fines on private enterprises – Xinhua
China binnenland
Chinese leader Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 has launched a campaign to remould hearts and minds in one of the world’s largest armed forces – WSJ: ‘The campaign is meant to boost discipline and patriotic fervor as Xi presses ahead with his sweeping purge, which has battered morale and raised questions about China’s ability to build a modern fighting force.’
Chinese aerospace executive Tan Ruisong expelled from Chinese Communist Party for graft – Reuters: ‘The move comes after 14 military delegates were expelled from China’s national legislative body in the past two years, as part of a purge of the world’s largest military unprecedented in size and scale.’
China’s top legislature concludes standing committee session – Xinhua: ‘Lawmakers approved in principle the work report of the NPC Standing Committee.’
‘They adopted the draft agenda of the NPC session and the draft name list of the session’s presidium and secretary-general’
Chinese government aims to eliminate severe air pollution this year – Reuters
Onderzoekers in Wuhan melden opnieuw coronavirus dat mens kan bedreigen – NRC
China Focus: China outlines key tasks to deepen rural reforms and advance rural revitalisation – Xinhua: ‘It emphasizes the importance of developing new quality productive forces in agriculture in light of local conditions.’
China’s blockbuster hit Ne Zha 2 gets push from domestic businesses and Beijing – SCMP: ‘Chinese companies rally behind film by booking entire cinemas while state media outlets herald box office success as a sign of soft power’
In Depth: Rule change leaves some Chinese charities starving for funding – Caixin Global
Chinesisches Gesundheitssystem: Besser nicht krank werden – Zeit Online
China counts over 1,000 snow leopards in largest ever survey – Sixth Tone
Hong Kong
Hong Kong may legalise basketball betting to tap estimated HK$52.5 billion [€6.5bn] turnover – SCMP
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Togo-registered ship and Chinese crew detained after Taiwan-Penghu undersea cable severed – Focus Taiwan 🇨🇳
Taiwan’s coast guard catches Chinese-owned ship in act of cutting subsea cable – FT: ‘The Taiwan coastguard boarded and seized the ship and brought it and its crew, which was entirely Chinese, back to port.’ 🇨🇳
Kaohsiung High Court acquits four indicted in spying case on grounds of insufficient evidence – Taipei Times: ‘The four were accused of receiving financial assistance from Beijing, after traveling to China, where they allegedly agreed to work with Chinese officials to develop spy networks in Taiwan.’ 🇨🇳
Taiwan removed from online post about Cobra Gold 2025 military exercise – Taipei Times: ‘Taiwanese military personnel, along with 200 others from the US, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia, yesterday attended [in Thailand]’
DPP proposes change to national defence act – Taipei Times: ‘to require technology transfers to Taiwan in cases of international cooperation on weapons research and development’
Taiwan binnenland en economie
Premier Cho’s administrative report to Legislature boycotted by KMT lawmakers – Focus Taiwan: ‘In a rare move for administrative addresses by Taiwan’s premier, Cho departed from his written comments while briefing the legislature on new infrastructure projects for fiscal year 2025, to criticize the opposition parties’
TPP lawmaker Wu Chun-cheng 吳春城, accused of using position for private gain, steps down – Focus Taiwan: ‘The Taipei District Prosecutors Office has opened an investigation into the case.’
Effort to recall DPP legislator halted after forgery claim – Taipei Times
Health Ministry seeks to ease ‘unprecedented’ emergency unit pressure – Focus Taiwan
Number of foreign students in Taiwan at five-year high – Taipei Times
Taiwan’s gender pay gap widens slightly in 2024 – Focus Taiwan