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/
KMT chair Cheng Li-wun allowed to meet with Xi Jinping but at a price, source says – Taipei Times: ‘around the Lunar New Year holiday next year on three conditions, including that the KMT block Taiwan’s arms purchases, a source said yesterday.’
KMT chair to meet with Xi, but at a price: source - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
December 7, 2025 at 7:06 PM
KMT chair Cheng Li-wun allowed to meet with Xi Jinping but at a price, source says – Taipei Times: ‘around the Lunar New Year holiday next year on three conditions, including that the KMT block Taiwan’s arms purchases, a source said yesterday.’
US Treasury Secretary Bessent says he divested from soybean farms after ethics office warning – The New York Times: ‘as he leads President Trump’s trade negotiations with China, including Beijing’s commitment to buying American soybeans.’
Bessent Says He Divested From Soybean Farms After Ethics Office Warning
www.nytimes.com
December 7, 2025 at 7:03 PM
US Treasury Secretary Bessent says he divested from soybean farms after ethics office warning – The New York Times: ‘as he leads President Trump’s trade negotiations with China, including Beijing’s commitment to buying American soybeans.’
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:
On the way back from his state visit to China, France’s President Macron proposes a mutual disarmament where Europe (sic) dismantles the blockade on semiconductor equipment (i.e. ASML machines) and China on rare earths.
[…] Emmanuel Macron – Les Échos: « le président propose ‹ le démantèlement mutuel de nos politiques agressives, telles que les restrictions à l’exportation de machines pour semi-conducteurs du côté européen et des limitations à l’export des terres rares en ce qui concerne la partie chinoise › »
www.lesechos.fr
December 7, 2025 at 3:33 PM
On the way back from his state visit to China, France’s President Macron proposes a mutual disarmament where Europe (sic) dismantles the blockade on semiconductor equipment (i.e. ASML machines) and China on rare earths.
[…] Emmanuel Macron – Les Échos: « le président propose ‹ le démantèlement mutuel de nos politiques agressives, telles que les restrictions à l’exportation de machines pour semi-conducteurs du côté européen et des limitations à l’export des terres rares en ce qui concerne la partie chinoise › »
www.lesechos.fr
December 7, 2025 at 3:24 PM
[…] Emmanuel Macron – Les Échos: « le président propose ‹ le démantèlement mutuel de nos politiques agressives, telles que les restrictions à l’exportation de machines pour semi-conducteurs du côté européen et des limitations à l’export des terres rares en ce qui concerne la partie chinoise › »
Chinese firms prepare for reopening of Russian market amid talks aimed at peace deal – SCMP: ‘The same was true for the Ukrainian market, he added. Other companies are also betting on reconstruction.’
Chinese firms gear up for Russia’s reopening amid talks aimed at peace deal
Many Chinese exporters expect the first wave of post-war demand in Russia to come from infrastructure.
www.scmp.com
December 7, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Chinese firms prepare for reopening of Russian market amid talks aimed at peace deal – SCMP: ‘The same was true for the Ukrainian market, he added. Other companies are also betting on reconstruction.’
China’s internet censorship tools exported along Belt and Road – Athena Tong and Yun-Ting Cai for Jamestown’s China Brief: ‘Over 600-gigabytes of leaked documents illuminate the connections between the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) Mesa Laboratory and the firm Geedge Networks.’
Internet Censorship Tools Exported Along Belt and Road - Jamestown
Executive Summary: In mid-November, the artificial intelligence (AI) firm Anthropic disclosed the first publicly documented case of a near end-to-end espionage operation orchestrated through a commerc...
jamestown.org
December 7, 2025 at 12:46 PM
China’s internet censorship tools exported along Belt and Road – Athena Tong and Yun-Ting Cai for Jamestown’s China Brief: ‘Over 600-gigabytes of leaked documents illuminate the connections between the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) Mesa Laboratory and the firm Geedge Networks.’
‘Unbearable imbalances’ cast shadow on Emmanuel Macron’s Beijing bonhomie – FT: ‘A senior European diplomat in Beijing said China was conducting a “campaign” to court individual EU member states while blaming Brussels for strains in its relations with the bloc.’
‘Unbearable imbalances’ cast shadow on Emmanuel Macron’s Beijing bonhomie
French president’s visit to China highlights growing fears about existential threat to European industries
www.ft.com
December 7, 2025 at 12:42 PM
‘Unbearable imbalances’ cast shadow on Emmanuel Macron’s Beijing bonhomie – FT: ‘A senior European diplomat in Beijing said China was conducting a “campaign” to court individual EU member states while blaming Brussels for strains in its relations with the bloc.’
Japan frustrated at Trump administration’s silence over row with China – FT: ‘Some people said the lack of US support was ironic given that Elbridge Colby, the under-secretary of defence for policy, had pushed Japan to make clear what role it would play if the US and China went to war over Taiwan.’
Japan frustrated at Trump administration’s silence over row with China
Tokyo asks US to be more vocal in its support after Beijing reacted furiously to prime minister’s comments about Taiwan
www.ft.com
December 7, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Japan frustrated at Trump administration’s silence over row with China – FT: ‘Some people said the lack of US support was ironic given that Elbridge Colby, the under-secretary of defence for policy, had pushed Japan to make clear what role it would play if the US and China went to war over Taiwan.’
China and Russia militaries hold third joint anti-missile drills on Russian territory – Reuters: ‘The two countries held talks on missile defence and strategic stability last month and held artillery and anti-submarine drills in the Sea of Japan in August.’
China and Russia hold third joint anti-missile drills on Russian territory
China and Russia held their third round of joint anti-missile drills on Russian territory in early December, China's defence ministry said late on Saturday.
www.reuters.com
December 7, 2025 at 12:36 PM
China and Russia militaries hold third joint anti-missile drills on Russian territory – Reuters: ‘The two countries held talks on missile defence and strategic stability last month and held artillery and anti-submarine drills in the Sea of Japan in August.’
German FM Johann Wadephul (CDU) to visit China – Xinhua: ‘from Dec. 8 to 9’
German FM to visit China
english.news.cn
December 7, 2025 at 12:33 PM
German FM Johann Wadephul (CDU) to visit China – Xinhua: ‘from Dec. 8 to 9’
SCMP: ‘On the morning the Dutch government […] Nexperia, it wanted to give Berlin a heads-up. […] After trying all day to get in front of the right officials, an audience was finally granted after business hours, by which time the order had already been given’
The great slowdown: Germany at a standstill as ‘China shock’ hits
As Europe’s biggest economy is pummelled by structural problems and external threats, rocky China ties are compounding the dreary picture.
www.scmp.com
December 7, 2025 at 12:07 PM
SCMP: ‘On the morning the Dutch government […] Nexperia, it wanted to give Berlin a heads-up. […] After trying all day to get in front of the right officials, an audience was finally granted after business hours, by which time the order had already been given’
China is pursuing a ‘beggar thy neighbour’ growth model at everyone else’s expense – Greg Ip for WSJ: ‘Goldman sees China growing about 0.6 percentage point a year faster over the next few years, but that will reduce the rest of the world’s growth by 0.1 point a year.’
China’s Growth Is Coming at the Rest of the World’s Expense
China is swallowing up a growing share of the world’s market for manufactured goods, revealing an uncomfortable truth: Beijing is pursuing a “beggar thy neighbor” growth model at everyone else’s expen...
www.wsj.com
December 7, 2025 at 12:01 PM
China is pursuing a ‘beggar thy neighbour’ growth model at everyone else’s expense – Greg Ip for WSJ: ‘Goldman sees China growing about 0.6 percentage point a year faster over the next few years, but that will reduce the rest of the world’s growth by 0.1 point a year.’
Does Europe finally realise it’s alone? – Nathalie Tocci for Foreign Policy: ‘it is, at best, alone. At worst, it now faces two adversaries: Russia in the east and Trump’s United States in the west.’
Does Europe Finally Realize It’s Alone?
Washington’s new National Security Strategy ratifies an adversarial relationship.
foreignpolicy.com
December 7, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Does Europe finally realise it’s alone? – Nathalie Tocci for Foreign Policy: ‘it is, at best, alone. At worst, it now faces two adversaries: Russia in the east and Trump’s United States in the west.’
Das China-Problem der Journalisten – Handelsblatt: „Sogar Konferenzen werden restriktiver. Ein großes Tech-Event machte für die Akkreditierung zur Bedingung, alle Artikel vor Veröffentlichung vorzulegen, was für Handelsblatt-Reporter natürlich unverhandelbar ist.“
Morning Briefing Plus: Das China-Problem der Journalisten
Polizei-Anrufe, Einschüchterung, Hausbesuche: Nicht nur deutsche Unternehmen, auch unsere Korrespondenten spüren den Druck des Regimes. Dabei ist der Blick nach China unverzichtbar.
www.handelsblatt.com
December 7, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Das China-Problem der Journalisten – Handelsblatt: „Sogar Konferenzen werden restriktiver. Ein großes Tech-Event machte für die Akkreditierung zur Bedingung, alle Artikel vor Veröffentlichung vorzulegen, was für Handelsblatt-Reporter natürlich unverhandelbar ist.“
71-year-old first to be arrested over ‘prejudicing’ national security case – HKFP: ‘“I’ve been there to observe, and I think the situation was becoming more and more like that of ‘black-clad violence’,” said the chief superintendent of the police’s National Security Department Steve Li’
71-year-old HK man first arrest over 'prejudicing' nat. security case
The police and national security officers have arrested a 71-year-old man in Sheung Shui for alleged sedition.
hongkongfp.com
December 7, 2025 at 11:28 AM
71-year-old first to be arrested over ‘prejudicing’ national security case – HKFP: ‘“I’ve been there to observe, and I think the situation was becoming more and more like that of ‘black-clad violence’,” said the chief superintendent of the police’s National Security Department Steve Li’
Chinese military aircraft lock radar onto Japanese fighter jets southeast of Okinawa – Kyodo News: ‘Chinese J-15 aircraft from the aircraft carrier Liaoning intermittently locked radar onto the F-15s on two occasions, once from around 4:32 p.m. and again from around 6:37 p.m., the minister said.’
Chinese military aircraft lock radar onto Japanese fighter jets
Chinese military aircraft locked radar onto Japanese Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets southeast of Okinawa's main island on Saturday, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said.
english.kyodonews.net
December 7, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Chinese military aircraft lock radar onto Japanese fighter jets southeast of Okinawa – Kyodo News: ‘Chinese J-15 aircraft from the aircraft carrier Liaoning intermittently locked radar onto the F-15s on two occasions, once from around 4:32 p.m. and again from around 6:37 p.m., the minister said.’
Top US official Christopher Landau says EU regulation ‘undermines’ NATO ties – POLITICO Europe: ‘policies that he described in a separate post on Saturday as adverse to U.S. interests and a form of “civilizational suicide”’
Top US official says EU regulation ‘undermines’ NATO ties
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said Europe’s policy agenda was hurting its credibility in Washington.
www.politico.eu
December 7, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Top US official Christopher Landau says EU regulation ‘undermines’ NATO ties – POLITICO Europe: ‘policies that he described in a separate post on Saturday as adverse to U.S. interests and a form of “civilizational suicide”’
Chinese vice premier He Lifeng holds video call with US treasury secretary Bessent and trade representative Greer – Xinhua
Chinese vice premier holds video call with U.S. treasury secretary, trade representative
english.news.cn
December 6, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Chinese vice premier He Lifeng holds video call with US treasury secretary Bessent and trade representative Greer – Xinhua
Chinese delegation on human rights visits Indonesia and Malaysia – Xinhua: ‘organized by China Society for Human Rights Studies, focused on explaining China’s practice of respecting and protecting human rights and the key principles of the contemporary Chinese perspective of human rights.’
Chinese delegation on human rights visits Indonesia, Malaysia
english.news.cn
December 6, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Chinese delegation on human rights visits Indonesia and Malaysia – Xinhua: ‘organized by China Society for Human Rights Studies, focused on explaining China’s practice of respecting and protecting human rights and the key principles of the contemporary Chinese perspective of human rights.’
Chinese premier Li Qiang chairs State Council meeting on carbon reduction and administrative law enforcement – Xinhua
Chinese premier chairs meeting on carbon reduction, administrative law enforcement
english.news.cn
December 6, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Chinese premier Li Qiang chairs State Council meeting on carbon reduction and administrative law enforcement – Xinhua
‘Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations, Yermekbayev said leaders of the member states of the SCO issued a statement in this regard on Sept. 1 during the SCO Tianjin Summit.’
Taiwan is inalienable part of China’s territory, SCO Secretary-General says – Xinhua: ‘when asked to comment on Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan and the dangerous sign of Japanese right-wing forces attempting to revive militarism.’
english.news.cn
December 6, 2025 at 12:41 PM
‘Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations, Yermekbayev said leaders of the member states of the SCO issued a statement in this regard on Sept. 1 during the SCO Tianjin Summit.’
A WSJ analysis of satellite images shows clear evidence of the Chinese military’s expanding footprint through a network of facilities that dot the Tibetan plateau – WSJ
Chinese Forces Battle Dizzying Altitudes to Expand Military Footprint
A Wall Street Journal analysis of more than 100 satellite images shows clear evidence of the country’s expanding air power and reach.
www.wsj.com
December 6, 2025 at 12:16 PM
A WSJ analysis of satellite images shows clear evidence of the Chinese military’s expanding footprint through a network of facilities that dot the Tibetan plateau – WSJ
Are Singapore’s investment giants being left behind? – FT: ‘the two state-owned investment groups are among the weakest performers among 50 similar global organisations over a 10-year period, according to Global SWF data, despite being among the largest and best resourced.’
Are Singapore’s investment giants being left behind?
Temasek and GIC are integral to the finances of the south-east Asian city-state. But recent returns have compared unfavourably with many global peers
www.ft.com
December 6, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Are Singapore’s investment giants being left behind? – FT: ‘the two state-owned investment groups are among the weakest performers among 50 similar global organisations over a 10-year period, according to Global SWF data, despite being among the largest and best resourced.’
Taiwan will not allow authoritarian forces to undermine it, President Lai says – Focus Taiwan: ‘at an event at the Jing-mei White Terror Memorial Park attended by former political prisoners and their descendants.’
Taiwan will not allow authoritarian forces to undermine it: President - Focus Taiwan
Taiwan will not allow anyone or any authoritarian force to strip away its freedom and democracy, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) vowed on Saturday ahead of Human Rights Day on Dec. 10.
focustaiwan.tw
December 6, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Taiwan will not allow authoritarian forces to undermine it, President Lai says – Focus Taiwan: ‘at an event at the Jing-mei White Terror Memorial Park attended by former political prisoners and their descendants.’