Sense Hofstede
@sensehofstede.nl
Researcher and teacher of the Indo-Pacific. Studies China, Singapore, and Taiwan; nationalism, party-state & international relations. | 何森璱
https://sensehofstede.nl/
https://sensehofstede.nl/
India asks its citizens to be cautious while traveling to China after a national was subjected to additional checks, a development that has the potential to roil ties between the neighbours – Bloomberg: ‘India also sought assurances from Beijing that its citizens will not be selectively targeted’
India Advises ‘Discretion’ to Citizens Visiting China
India has asked its citizens to be cautious while traveling to China after a national was subjected to additional checks, a development that has the potential to roil ties between the neighbors.
www.bloomberg.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:03 AM
India asks its citizens to be cautious while traveling to China after a national was subjected to additional checks, a development that has the potential to roil ties between the neighbours – Bloomberg: ‘India also sought assurances from Beijing that its citizens will not be selectively targeted’
Beijing leans on German carmakers to help break Brussels tariff deadlock and fix Nexperia mess – SCMP: ‘Vice-Minister of Commerce Ling Ji made the appeal to German industry leaders, seeking to leverage their influence in Brussels.’
China leans on German carmakers to help break Brussels tariff deadlock
Commerce vice-minister urges German industry leaders to leverage their clout to push the European Commission towards a compromise on the anti-subsidy probe.
www.scmp.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Beijing leans on German carmakers to help break Brussels tariff deadlock and fix Nexperia mess – SCMP: ‘Vice-Minister of Commerce Ling Ji made the appeal to German industry leaders, seeking to leverage their influence in Brussels.’
Chinese carmakers beat South Koreans in Western Europe for first time – Nikkei Asia: ‘Chinese automakers’ market share in the region reached 8% in September, just overtaking their South Korean peers with 7.8%, according to data from Germany-based Schmidt Automotive Research.’
Chinese carmakers beat South Koreans in Western Europe for first time
Japanese are hardest-hit Asian competitor due to lack of EV offerings
asia.nikkei.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Chinese carmakers beat South Koreans in Western Europe for first time – Nikkei Asia: ‘Chinese automakers’ market share in the region reached 8% in September, just overtaking their South Korean peers with 7.8%, according to data from Germany-based Schmidt Automotive Research.’
EU missing Taiwan opportunity to avoid irking ‘big friend’ China, ex-envoy Roy Chun Lee says – Nikkei Asia: ‘“There is literally no trade agenda” between the two sides on securing supply chain resilience, coordination on economic security, technology competitiveness and autonomy, said Roy Lee’
EU missing Taiwan opportunity to avoid irking 'big friend' China: ex-envoy
Taipei's former representative in Brussels, Roy Lee, says US is 'investment black hole'
asia.nikkei.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:49 AM
EU missing Taiwan opportunity to avoid irking ‘big friend’ China, ex-envoy Roy Chun Lee says – Nikkei Asia: ‘“There is literally no trade agenda” between the two sides on securing supply chain resilience, coordination on economic security, technology competitiveness and autonomy, said Roy Lee’
China’s tax authorities warns internet platforms not to shift tax burden onto gig workers – SCMP: ‘while stepping up a crackdown on tax-dodging internet influencers.’
China warns internet platforms not to shift tax burden onto gig workers
Celebrities and high-profile influencers also under scrutiny, with regulators pursuing hundreds of such cases in recent years.
www.scmp.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:45 AM
China’s tax authorities warns internet platforms not to shift tax burden onto gig workers – SCMP: ‘while stepping up a crackdown on tax-dodging internet influencers.’
Former chief of China’s food and drug watchdog Bi Jingquan ousted from Communist Party – SCMP: ‘seen as a key figure in pushing for regulatory reform to make medicine more affordable’
Former chief of China’s food and drug watchdog ousted from Communist Party
Bi Jingquan, who received an international award for promoting innovation, has also been removed from public office over corruption charges.
www.scmp.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Former chief of China’s food and drug watchdog Bi Jingquan ousted from Communist Party – SCMP: ‘seen as a key figure in pushing for regulatory reform to make medicine more affordable’
China executed second ex-official of Huarong, as President Xi Jinping’s years-long crackdown on financial crime continues – Bloomberg
China Executes Second Ex-Huarong Executive Over Bribery Sentence
China executed an ex-official of China Huarong International Holdings Ltd. as President Xi Jinping’s years-long crackdown on financial crime continues unabated.
www.bloomberg.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:40 AM
China executed second ex-official of Huarong, as President Xi Jinping’s years-long crackdown on financial crime continues – Bloomberg
British universities’ reliance on Chinese fees fuelling self-censorship, say academics – FT
British universities’ reliance on Chinese fees fuelling self-censorship, say academics
Lecturers call for improved safeguards against Beijing’s influence on UK campuses
www.ft.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:37 AM
British universities’ reliance on Chinese fees fuelling self-censorship, say academics – FT
China soybean buying deadline now February, Bessent says – Farm Policy News
China Soybean Buying Deadline Now February, Bessent Says - Farm Policy News
China is on pace to meet its pledge to buy 12 million tons of US soybeans by the end of February, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday, appearing to extend an earlier deadline for Bei...
farmpolicynews.illinois.edu
December 9, 2025 at 9:31 AM
China soybean buying deadline now February, Bessent says – Farm Policy News
Trump grants Nvidia permission to ship its H200 AI chip to China in exchange for a 25% cut of the sales – Bloomberg: ‘Trump said he informed Chinese President Xi Jinping about the move and that Xi had responded favorably.’
Nvidia Wins Trump’s Approval to Sell H200 AI Chips in China
President Donald Trump granted Nvidia Corp. permission to ship its H200 artificial intelligence chip to China in exchange for a 25% surcharge, a move that lets the world’s most valuable company potent...
www.bloomberg.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Trump grants Nvidia permission to ship its H200 AI chip to China in exchange for a 25% cut of the sales – Bloomberg: ‘Trump said he informed Chinese President Xi Jinping about the move and that Xi had responded favorably.’
South Korea and Japan scramble jets as China and Russia warplanes enter Seoul’s defence zone – Reuters
S.Korea, Japan scramble jets as China, Russia warplanes enter Seoul's defence zone
South Korea scrambled fighter jets on Thursday when two Chinese and four Russian military planes entered its air defence zone, South Korea's military said.
www.reuters.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:15 AM
South Korea and Japan scramble jets as China and Russia warplanes enter Seoul’s defence zone – Reuters
Military hotlines with China are relatively useless, because Chinese counterparts do not dare speak with foreigners in crisis due to the political nature of the moment, and dialogue is something you have to ‘earn’ from Beijing due to good behaviour. In a crisis, you do not ‘deserve’ dialogue.
Chinese side did not respond to hotline regarding radar directed at Japan ASDF jets, Japanese government sources say – The Yomiuri Shimbun: ‘Chinese military aircraft, launched from the Liaoning, directed radar at ASDF jets twice that were conducting airspace intrusion countermeasures’
Chinese Side Did Not Respond to Hotline Regarding Radar Directed at Japan ASDF Jets, Japanese Govt Sources Say
<p>Chinese defense authorities did not respond when the Japanese side attempted to make contact using a dedicated hotline regarding Chinese military aircraft directing radar at Japanese Air Self-Defen...
japannews.yomiuri.co.jp
December 9, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Military hotlines with China are relatively useless, because Chinese counterparts do not dare speak with foreigners in crisis due to the political nature of the moment, and dialogue is something you have to ‘earn’ from Beijing due to good behaviour. In a crisis, you do not ‘deserve’ dialogue.
Chinese side did not respond to hotline regarding radar directed at Japan ASDF jets, Japanese government sources say – The Yomiuri Shimbun: ‘Chinese military aircraft, launched from the Liaoning, directed radar at ASDF jets twice that were conducting airspace intrusion countermeasures’
Chinese Side Did Not Respond to Hotline Regarding Radar Directed at Japan ASDF Jets, Japanese Govt Sources Say
<p>Chinese defense authorities did not respond when the Japanese side attempted to make contact using a dedicated hotline regarding Chinese military aircraft directing radar at Japanese Air Self-Defen...
japannews.yomiuri.co.jp
December 9, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Chinese side did not respond to hotline regarding radar directed at Japan ASDF jets, Japanese government sources say – The Yomiuri Shimbun: ‘Chinese military aircraft, launched from the Liaoning, directed radar at ASDF jets twice that were conducting airspace intrusion countermeasures’
KMT halts controversial stipends proposal – Taipei Times: ‘would give legislators and councilors the freedom to use their allowances without providing invoices for reimbursement.’
‘amid reports that several legislators face possible charges of embezzling fees intended to pay assistants’
‘amid reports that several legislators face possible charges of embezzling fees intended to pay assistants’
KMT halts controversial stipends proposal - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:07 AM
KMT halts controversial stipends proposal – Taipei Times: ‘would give legislators and councilors the freedom to use their allowances without providing invoices for reimbursement.’
‘amid reports that several legislators face possible charges of embezzling fees intended to pay assistants’
‘amid reports that several legislators face possible charges of embezzling fees intended to pay assistants’
Taiwan soldier arrested, dozens investigated in fraud case – Taipei Times: ‘The army’s Matsu Defense Command yesterday said that more than 60 servicemembers from the command and its subordinate units allegedly conspired with a scam ring to collect bank accounts from fellow soldiers for illegal use.’
Soldier arrested, dozens investigated in fraud case - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Taiwan soldier arrested, dozens investigated in fraud case – Taipei Times: ‘The army’s Matsu Defense Command yesterday said that more than 60 servicemembers from the command and its subordinate units allegedly conspired with a scam ring to collect bank accounts from fellow soldiers for illegal use.’
China-made rocket among triggers for Thai airstrikes into Cambodia – Reuters: ‘The Southeast Asian neighbours engaged in their worst fighting since a five-day clash in July, with both sides accusing each other of breaching a ceasefire’
China-made rocket among triggers for Thai airstrikes into Cambodia
Surveillance signalled that rockets could be used to hit civilian areas, a Thai military official said.
www.reuters.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:57 AM
China-made rocket among triggers for Thai airstrikes into Cambodia – Reuters: ‘The Southeast Asian neighbours engaged in their worst fighting since a five-day clash in July, with both sides accusing each other of breaching a ceasefire’
Taiwanese legislature adopts extended penalty range for damaging subsea cables and pipelines – Focus Taiwan
Taiwan extends penalty range for damaging subsea cables, pipelines - Focus Taiwan
Taiwan's Legislature on Tuesday approved amendments to several laws that will include penalties for damaging undersea power cables, natural gas pipelines or water pipelines and allow for equipment use...
focustaiwan.tw
December 9, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Taiwanese legislature adopts extended penalty range for damaging subsea cables and pipelines – Focus Taiwan
ASML supplied product to military research institute in China – Nieuwsuur: ‘Last year, ASML sold an essential chip machine part to a military research institute of CETC, one of China’s key defence companies. A Chinese quantum institute was also a customer.
ASML supplied product to military research institute in China
Nieuwsuur discovered that ASML supplied components for chip machines to Chinese military and quantum institutes. Experts warn that this technology could be crucial for military applications.
nos.nl
December 9, 2025 at 8:23 AM
ASML supplied product to military research institute in China – Nieuwsuur: ‘Last year, ASML sold an essential chip machine part to a military research institute of CETC, one of China’s key defence companies. A Chinese quantum institute was also a customer.
ASML leverde product aan militair onderzoeksinstituut in China – Nieuwsuur: „ASML heeft vorig jaar een essentieel onderdeel voor een chipmachine verkocht aan een militair onderzoeksinstituut van één van China’s belangrijkste defensiebedrijven, CETC. Ook een Chinees quantum-instituut was klant.”
ASML leverde product aan militair onderzoeksinstituut in China
Nieuwsuur ontdekte dat ASML onderdelen voor chipmachines leverde aan Chinese militaire en quantuminstituten. Experts waarschuwen dat die technologie cruciaal kan zijn voor militaire toepassingen.
nos.nl
December 9, 2025 at 8:21 AM
ASML leverde product aan militair onderzoeksinstituut in China – Nieuwsuur: „ASML heeft vorig jaar een essentieel onderdeel voor een chipmachine verkocht aan een militair onderzoeksinstituut van één van China’s belangrijkste defensiebedrijven, CETC. Ook een Chinees quantum-instituut was klant.”
Tencent enlisting American cloud hosting providers to enforce censorship – Great Fire: ‘This summer, via a number of intermediaries, Tencent recruited Vultr, a Florida-based cloud hosting company owned by The Constant Company, into its global effort to censor our FreeWeChat project.’
Tencent enlisting American cloud hosting providers to enforce censorship
The Chinese company Tencent has used the American cloud hosting company Vultr to censor FreeWeChat around the world.
en.greatfire.org
December 8, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Tencent enlisting American cloud hosting providers to enforce censorship – Great Fire: ‘This summer, via a number of intermediaries, Tencent recruited Vultr, a Florida-based cloud hosting company owned by The Constant Company, into its global effort to censor our FreeWeChat project.’
Reposted by Sense Hofstede
After President Macron‘s state visit and before Foreign Minister Wadephul goes to China after all, I have quickly thrown together a rough overview comparing the diplomatic interactions between China and the two major EU powers based on the Chinese MFA data.
📊 Summary:
📊 Summary:
Comparing French and German diplomatic visits to China
Just after French president Emmanuel Macron returns from his state visit to China, the German foreign minister Johann Wadephul will make his delayed visit to Beijing after all. This is as good an occa...
sensehofstede.nl
December 7, 2025 at 6:19 PM
After President Macron‘s state visit and before Foreign Minister Wadephul goes to China after all, I have quickly thrown together a rough overview comparing the diplomatic interactions between China and the two major EU powers based on the Chinese MFA data.
📊 Summary:
📊 Summary:
Reposted by Sense Hofstede
The EU has quietly renewed its sanctions on four Chinese officials and one organisation for their role in human rights violations in Xinjiang - procedural move, done last week without fanfare along with other sanctions rollovers - via @engineroglu_fw
December 8, 2025 at 1:11 PM
The EU has quietly renewed its sanctions on four Chinese officials and one organisation for their role in human rights violations in Xinjiang - procedural move, done last week without fanfare along with other sanctions rollovers - via @engineroglu_fw
CCP Politburo holds meeting on Monday on 2026 economic work and regulations on law-based governance – Xinhua
CPC leadership holds meeting on 2026 economic work, regulations on law-based governance
english.news.cn
December 8, 2025 at 9:23 AM
CCP Politburo holds meeting on Monday on 2026 economic work and regulations on law-based governance – Xinhua
China Coast Guard conducts first rescue drill in Taiwan Strait’s strategic choke point – SCMP: ‘large-scale drills on Saturday centred around the Taiwan Shoal – a shallow, hazardous stretch in the southern end of the strait.’
‘jointly with an ocean rescue body under Beijing’s Ministry of Transport’
‘jointly with an ocean rescue body under Beijing’s Ministry of Transport’
Chinese coastguard conducts first drill in Taiwan Strait’s key choke point
‘Unprecedented’ exercise simulating rescue mission involving a fire aboard a cargo vessel centres on shallow, treacherous Taiwan Shoal.
www.scmp.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:18 AM
China Coast Guard conducts first rescue drill in Taiwan Strait’s strategic choke point – SCMP: ‘large-scale drills on Saturday centred around the Taiwan Shoal – a shallow, hazardous stretch in the southern end of the strait.’
‘jointly with an ocean rescue body under Beijing’s Ministry of Transport’
‘jointly with an ocean rescue body under Beijing’s Ministry of Transport’
China’s exports rebounded in November after an unexpected drop the previous month, pushing the trade surplus past US$1 trillion for the first time in any year – Bloomberg: ‘sales to regions like the European Union and Africa more than offset the [29%] slump [of exports to the US].’
China’s Trade Surplus Tops $1 Trillion After Exports Rebound
China’s annual trade surplus exceeded $1 trillion for the first time despite a deepening plunge in shipments to the US, risking a backlash from markets flooded by goods from the world’s biggest manufa...
www.bloomberg.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:11 AM
China’s exports rebounded in November after an unexpected drop the previous month, pushing the trade surplus past US$1 trillion for the first time in any year – Bloomberg: ‘sales to regions like the European Union and Africa more than offset the [29%] slump [of exports to the US].’