Indonesia suspends its participation in Board of Peace
“Indonesian FM Sugiono said the decision to suspend participation was taken because of the latest military escalation in the region, which has directly affected the foreign policy priorities of countries involved in the initiative”
For the first time, the US sided with Russia and China in a dispute at the UN over dangers posed by attacks on Ukraine's nuclear power
www.wsj.com/world/for-th...
I should rewatch. Have been watching Shifty, really great
Luis Suarez chuckling as Trump jokes about invading Cuba.
It's like we're living in a live version of an Adam Curtis documentary
Yes
Found this old drone pic I took of Kennedy Town swimming pool in Hong Kong in 2018... what a place
The current industry was too “small, fragmented and weak”, which was “dispersing numerous public resources”, according to an article co-authored by the co-founder of SMIC and leaders of Empyrean,YMTC, Naura Technology, and academics.
China’s top semiconductor executives have called for a nationwide push to build a domestic alternative to Dutch chip-equipment giant ASML, urging the industry to “abandon illusions and prepare for struggle” amid US sanctions.
"An international conference of left-leaning voices expected to take place in Barcelona next April debating topics from democracy, tech oligarchs and reactionary movements... goal is to present a forum that can rival the CPAC, the largest gathering for conversatives, only this time for progressives"
Sanchez quest to be Europe's anti trump gathers pace
"Madrid looks to organize an international progressive gathering in April to counter global MAGA."
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
Mark Carney is on a bit of a journey this week.
Sat: "Canada supports the US acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon"
Wed: The attacks “appear, prima facie... to be inconsistent with international law"
Thurs: "One can never categorically rule out participation"
China no longer buys US exports. Drawing the right lessons for the next Trump-Xi deal
MY LATEST [1/6]
👉 www.piie.com/blogs/realti...
Radicalism with EU characteristics
And a salient point by @etiennehoera.d-64.social at the end - it's only going to get picked apart from here.
So it would have been better if it had been more ambitious before EP / council got their hands on it...
Agree with this - why keep robotics out, for instance? Isn't that one area where German companies are competing tooth and nail with Chinese ones?
"It’s an open question now among industry: what if we lose the systemic competition?"
In Berlin last December, a senior biz figure told me that executives used to laugh at China's 5-year plans, now they quite fancy them...
"Now, with the EU rolling out proposals around tech transfer, buy Europe & subsidies, they observe parallels with Beijing...
Again, the comparisons have their limits because the plans will undoubtedly be watered down further and have so many carve-outs and caveats, but after decades of wish-casting that globalisation would make China more like the West, it's fair to wonder if the opposite is happening
Séjourné yesterday when asked if IAA is anti-China
"This isn't something against certain countries, it is FOR certain countries. It's not about being negative - Europe is just doing what other partners have been doing for years now"
Séjourné yesterday:
"In China it's not possible to enter the market without a Chinese partner. You need a JV and you're a minority stakeholder. These are criteria which are pretty much standard in international business..."
I posted a thread yesterday on IAA. A lot of comments were about EU "copying Communist China" - the comparison has limits given how watered down provisions are, but with things like the "Reverse Deng", Séjourné basically admitted they are taking a leaf out of Beijing's playbook
EU businesses: "One point of concern is this year’s report contains a specific call for FIEs to further expand production locally.... localisation requirements or desire to obtain equal treatment in procurement procedures, are driving decisions to further onshore manufacturing"
Chinese businesses: "We regret to observe the proposal, through the introduction of extensive “Made in Europe” localisation requirements, mandatory technology transfer provisions, stringent scrutiny of foreign investment, would significantly reshape market access rules within EU"
On the left you have a statement from the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU complaining about the EU's Industrial Accelerator Act
On the right, EU Chamber in China complaining about Beijing's work report - neither likes the other sides push to manufacture locally
Political leaders shelved a long-awaited report on EU-US relations after parties failed to agree on its contents
The sticking point was language US Israeli war against Iran. S&D & Greens pushed for stronger references to international law, while EPP argued for softer formulation
Meanwhile, top trade lawmakers in the European Parliament decided — again — to keep the EU-U.S. trade agreement frozen amid volatile transatlantic relations.
Center-right European People’s Party, right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists Group and far-right Patriots for Europe blocked a request by the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats to add a plenary debate next week on US trade threats
Albares on Merz failure to defend
"This government has interacted with three German chancellors — Chancellor [Angela] Merkel, Chancellor [Olaf] Scholz, Chancellor Merz — and I can't imagine Merkel or Scholz standing by like this," he said."
www.politico.eu/article/whit...
Spanish foreign minister Albares refutes Leavitt claims that Madrid now backs US / Israeli attacks on Iran
"She may be the White House press secretary, but I’m the foreign minister of Spain and I’m telling her that our position hasn’t changed at all.”
China in the crosshairs as EU launches sweeping plans to save its industrial future
My report on all today's goings on
www.scmp.com/news/china/d...
