De Chinese Wouden, woensdag 26 juni: elektrische auto’s, tech war
Op het gebied van elektrische auto’s zijn we nu in een wat stillere periode beland. De gesprekken zullen druk bezig zijn. Ik zie wel al voordelen die Duitsland en Polen voorgehouden worden. Het is belangrijk om te weten dat China niet alleen maar werkt met straffen maar ook met (gericht) belonen.
Ik wijs ook op een serie optredens van de Chinese president, premier en vicepremier onder het kopje Tech War. Het moge duidelijk zijn hoe essentieel de Partij de strijd acht om de meest geavanceerde technologieën. Zoals Xi zegt, dit is het belangrijkste slagveld voor de rivaliteit tussen superpowers. Dat duidt op de VS, niet op Europa.
Enige consternatie over het feit dat Edinburgh plannen voor een stedenband met de Taiwanese stad Kaohsiung in de ijskast zet, uit angst voor onvoorziene gevolgen van Chinese vergelding. Dit zorgt voor enige verontwaardiging. Alleen nieuw is natuurlijk deze afweging niet. Veel organisaties houden al rekening met de kosten van een Chinese reactie op samenwerking met Taiwan. Pekings ‘politieke oorlogsvoering’ stuurt ons gedrag nu al. Wat nieuw is, is hoe openlijk men dit nu stelt en hoe slecht dat valt bij Taiwans groeiende schare supporters én bij mensen die niet zo gewend zijn aan de gebruikelijke gevoeligheden en modus vivendi waar China experts al niet meer zo van opkijken.
Er is nog meer Taiwan-nieuws als je verder scrolt. Zo is er interessante speculatie over een bijeenkomst die twee bezoekende Amerikaanse functionarissen met o.a. Europese formeel-geen-diplomaten zou hebben gehouden in Taipei over de Chinese verdraaiing van Resolutie 2758 van de Algemene Vergadering van de VN – het besluit dat de zetel van China aan Peking toekende. Ook is er de sensationele beschuldiging dat een Taiwanees televisiestation een Xinhua-correspondent de opnames en redactie van een politieke talkshow op locatie bij liet sturen om binnen de richtlijnen van Peking te blijven.
Nederland en Europa 🇳🇱🇪🇺
Singapore Navy leads multinational group sail with Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, and United States Navies – Singapore MINDEF 🇳🇱
De Indo-Pacific-reizen gaan juist vooral over veel meer dan enkel China.
China hopes EU will pursue a ‘rational, pragmatic’ policy towards the country, foreign minister says – Reuters: ‘in a phone call with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on Tuesday.’ 🇪🇺🇭🇺
Edinburgh halts deal with Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung over fears of China backlash – FT: ‘Some of these business groups had also been contacted by Chinese diplomats in Edinburgh, who work out of a large consulate in the Murrayfield area of the capital.’ 🏴
Revealed: China diplomat met Scottish Government minister before council scrapped Taiwan deal – The Scotsman 🏴
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 defends China’s ‘normal trade’ with Russia in talks with Polish president Duda – SCMP: ‘Xi pledged to open the Chinese market to more agricultural and food products from Poland’ 🇵🇱
China ready to push ties with Poland to higher level, Xi says – Xinhua 🇵🇱
China extends visa exemption to New Zealand, Australia, and Poland to improve personnel exchanges – Xinhua 🇵🇱🇦🇺🇳🇿
Deens varkensbedrijf in China failliet – Nieuwe Oogst 🇩🇰
Rusland 🇷🇺
Nieuwe EU-sancties voor China als ‘uitwijkland’ voor Russische handel – de Volkskrant 🇷🇺
China urges EU to revoke sanctions on Chinese firms over Russian links – Reuters 🇷🇺
India and China top buyers of Russian fuel oil in May, LSEG data shows – Reuters 🇷🇺
Elektrische auto’s 🚗⚡️
Beijing has suggested Germany’s luxury car manufacturers could benefit if Berlin convinces the EU to drop tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle exports, sources say – Bloomberg: ‘China floated lowering its existing tariffs on large-engine cars in return for scrapping planned EV levies’ 🇩🇪
China and Poland agree to boost cooperation on electric vehicles – SCMP: ‘“Both sides will support the growth of two-way investments in electric vehicles, green development, logistics and other sectors,” a joint action plan for 2024-27 said.’ 🇵🇱
Na EU en VS wil ook Canada importheffing op Chinese elektrische auto’s – de Volkskrant 🇨🇦
Nissan 日産 to make EVs for China’s Dongfeng Motor 东风汽车 – Nikkei Asia 🇯🇵
Tech War 💽💥
Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 calls for Chinese scientists to step up innovation in six key areas of the hi-tech sector forming ‘main battlefield’ in superpower rivalry – SCMP
China’s Xi calls to ‘seize high ground’ as satellite-image expert and quantum physicist take top science prize – SCMP
Senior Chinese official Dīng Xuēxiáng 丁薛祥 urges promotion of sci-tech advancement – Xinhua: ‘with focus on strategic objectives and key tasks.’
Chinese vice premier Dīng Xuēxiáng 丁薛祥 encourages foreign experts to strengthen cooperation with China – Xinhua
Chinese premier Lǐ Qiáng 李强 at Summer Davos urges efforts to deepen scientific and technological exchanges, cooperation – Xinhua: ‘“The ‘small yard and high fence’ policy cannot stifle the development of opponents, but only shackle the hands and feet of themselves,” the premier added.’
China’s public sector accelerates AI adoption in 2024 as Zhipu 智谱 and iFlyTek 科大讯飞 emerge as winners –SCMP
Exclusive: US probing China Mobile 中国移动, China Telecom 中国电信, and China Unicom 中国联通 over internet and cloud risks – Reuters: ‘According to the FCC, there are “serious national security and law enforcement risks” posed by PoPs when operated by firms that pose a national security risk. In cases where China Telecom’s PoPs reside in internet exchange points, the company “can potentially access and/or manipulate data where it is on the preferred path for U.S. customer traffic,” the FCC said in April.’ 🇺🇸
Chinese companies seek assurances from Malaysia on avoiding US tariffs – FT: ‘The companies have asked Malaysian ministers and senior officials to lobby Washington against imposing tariffs on products made or assembled in Malaysia by Chinese groups’ 🇲🇾
Taiwanese Apple supplier Foxconn rejects married women from India iPhone jobs – Reuters 🇮🇳
India expects a surge in domestic solar cell-making capacity in the coming months, the country’s top renewable energy official says – Bloomberg 🇮🇳
BASF plans to discontinue a project with Eramet to spend as much as US$2.6 billion building a nickel-cobalt refinery in Indonesia – Bloomberg 🇮🇩🇩🇪🇫🇷
Kantelpunt 🌏⏱️
Chinese premier Lǐ Qiáng 李强 rebuffs ‘bloc confrontation’, talks up open markets in ‘Summer Davos’ address – SCMP: ‘Comparing the country’s post-pandemic recovery to that of a sick patient, the premier also emphasised the need to balance immediate and long-term goals.’
Chinese premier Lǐ Qiáng 李强 urges to approach development with broader horizon and mind – Xinhua: ‘The world economy lacks sufficient growth momentum over phased factors including shock from the COVID-19 pandemic, high inflation and worsening debt issue, and other deep-rooted contradictions and problems, he said.
If countries only think about maximizing their own interests without considering that of others, and even turn back the wheel of history by decoupling and cutting off industrial and supply chains with the “small yard and high fence” policy, it will only raise the cost of global economic operations, sever economic ties between regions and intensify contradictions and disputes, Li said.’
China to hold conference marking 70th anniversary of Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence – Xinhua: ‘Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the conference and deliver a speech, and Premier Li Qiang will preside over the conference, she said.’
Overige
China buitenland en defensie
China detains suspect in knife attack on Japanese school bus, police say – Reuters: ‘China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning called the attack an “isolated incident” that could have happened in any country in the world.’ 🇯🇵
UN envoy highlights China’s dedication to restoring Iranian nuclear plan – Xinhua 🇮🇷
Philippines’ ambassador to the US warns of region-wide conflict over South China Sea reef dispute – FT 🇵🇭
Philippines’ foreign minister says country wants to work with China to develop ‘confidence building measures’ to manage tensions in South China Sea – Reuters 🇵🇭
Philippines still seeking US clarification on anti-vax propaganda operation – Reuters 🇺🇸🇵🇭
In rare rebuke, US ambassador accuses China of undermining diplomacy – WSJ: ‘Beijing has been stirring up anti-American sentiment and preventing people from attending embassy events, Nicholas Burns says in an interview’ 🇺🇸
Senior CCP [security] official meets delegation of African chief justices – Xinhua
China economie
Economic Watch: China to create new consumption scenarios to tap consumer demand – Xinhua: ‘expand its visa-free transit policy, loosen vehicle purchase restrictions and spur intelligent, AI-powered electronics consumption.’
China’s ‘combat’ tax operations rattle firms already under pressure amid economic slowdown – SCMP: ‘Media reports on the opening of a series of joint task forces between police and tax authorities have sent ripples across Chinese businesses’
China’s Kaisa 佳兆 gets seven-week stay on liquidation petition; adjournment likely its last – Reuters
China’s energy security drive rolls on as offshore oilfield hits 100 million tonne milestone – SCMP
China binnenland
China ponders modification of law on public security penalties – Xinhua: ‘concerning acts against the public security administration on foreign ships and aircraft’
‘on citizens’ defense against unlawful infringements’
China’s Chang'e-6 lunar probe returns world’s first samples from far side of the moon – The Guardian
Record rains paralyse China’s southern city Changsha – Reuters
Hong Kong
29-year-old charged under Hong Kong’s new security law over ‘seditious’ bus graffiti – HKFP
Police set up media zones away from Hong Kong’s top court as detained democrats arrive for hearing – HKFP
Political reform to realise direct elections ‘not a priority,’ Hong Kong’s leader John Lee 李家超 says – HKFP
Taiwan buitenland en defensie
Chinese hackers have stepped up attacks on Taiwanese organisations, cybersecurity firm Recorded Future says – AP: ‘this is the first time that activity was seen at such a scale, a Recorded Future analyst said’ 🇨🇳
Chinese state-sponsored RedJuliett intensifies Taiwanese cyber espionage via network perimeter exploitation – Recorded Future Insikt Group: ‘The group likely operates from Fuzhou, China, aligning with its persistent targeting of Taiwan.’ 🇨🇳
Regulator NCC probes Taiwanese broadcaster over alleged Chinese direction – Taipei Times: ‘Zhao’s replacement as [Xinhua’s] special Taiwan correspondent was related to a leak about his work at the channel, the source said.’
傳某政論節目 中媒記者棚內盯梢 – 自由時報:「有資深媒體人向本報爆料,國內某電視台所製播的政論節目,主題、談話腳本均有中國新華社駐台記者高度參與,直接在錄影棚盯梢,確認節目有達到國台辦要求,發揮『以台制台』效果。」 🇨🇳
美2副助卿:聯大2758決議 無關一中 – 自由時報:「據指出,近期兩位美國國務院副助卿低調來台,出席台美工作階層會議,還罕見安排與駐台的廿多國外交使節與官員會談,討論如何深化與台灣合作。」
「美國這次同時派出兩位國務院副助卿來台,於週四(廿日)與駐台外交官會談。據指出,除了台灣十二個邦交國駐台大使館均派員外。其他出席國家官員有澳洲、日本、紐西蘭、加拿大、捷克、波蘭、英國、盧森堡、比利時、芬蘭、法國及歐盟等。」 🇺🇸
Donovan’s Deep Dives: The international diplomatic war over Taiwan’s status just escalated sharply – Courtney Donovan Smith for Taipei Times: ‘A diplomatic war is now underway over UN Resolution 2758, and it is bigger, more complex and more advanced than we knew. And it just escalated in a big way.’
Two US deputy assistant secretaries of state visited Taiwan on Thursday last week, without attracting the media’s attention, and met with representatives from Taiwan’s 12 allies, as well as those from other like-minded nations, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, the EU, Finland, France, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Poland and the UK. As far as I know, a meeting of 23 countries and the EU being held in Taipei with two top American State Department officials is unprecedented.
The meeting was called to discuss how to increase the Taiwan’s international participation and boost collaboration with countries in the region. The report cites multiple sources as saying that the two officials were here to underscore the point that “UN Resolution 2758 does not involve Taiwan nor should it be conflated with China’s ‘one China’ principle.”
Taiwan monitored four China Coast Guard vessels in restricted waters off Kinmen – Focus Taiwan 🇨🇳
As drones transform warfare in Ukraine and Gaza, Taiwan is accelerating efforts to build a fleet of them for its defences – WSJ: ‘But the island democracy has a problem: The overwhelming majority of the types of small, inexpensive drones that are having the greatest impact on battlefields are made in China, the very country that poses a threat to it.’
Taiwan binnenland en economie
KMT and TPP slam President Lai over plan to seek constitutional ruling on reform bills – Focus Taiwan: ‘KMT Legislator Lo Chih-chiang […] claim[ed] that the court’s grand justices were appointed by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and so are likely to rule in favor of the current government.’
Control Yuan to seek Constitutional Court ruling on oversight amendments – Focus Taiwan: ‘arguing they would allow the Legislature to usurp its powers.’
柯文哲舉希特勒為例 影射賴清德為瘋狂領導人 – 聯合報:「柯文哲指出,歷史上沒有一個國家是因為天災瘟疫滅亡的,會滅亡常是因為瘋狂的領導人,希特勒就是一個例子。」
TPP-leider Ko Wen-je reageert door President Lai Ching-te (DPP) te vergelijken met Adolf Hitler.
Chief of staff should not have face questioning by lawmakers, former chief Lee Hsi-min 李喜明 says – Focus Taiwan: ‘responding to a reporter's request for comment on Chief of the General Staff Mei Chia-shu’s (梅家樹) scheduled appearance at the Legislature on Wednesday’
TPP’s Huang Kuo-chang 黃國昌 questions history of government contracted egg importer – Taipei Times
控國民黨立委洪孟楷索台積電機密挨告 民進黨立委吳沛憶:歡迎提告 – 中央社
Taiwan’s gay politicians have broken ground — but their battle isn’t over – BBC News