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https://lnkd.in/g6pwgxsH continues to behave aggressively’: Biden caught saying in hot mic blunder US President Joe Biden was caught making behind-closed-door remarks about China because of a hot mic blunder at the Quad summit held on Saturday."China continues to behave aggressively, testing us all across the region," Biden was heard saying, as reported by AFP.Biden said that while Chinese President Xi Jinping is concentrating on "domestic economic challenges, "looking to buy himself some diplomatic space, in my view, to aggressively pursue China's interest."However, he insisted that recent "intense efforts" by the US, including a call with Xi in April, were aiding in reducing tensions.This comes amidst no direct reference to the Indian neighbour in the joint statement issued by the four attending nations. "We are seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas," the declaration said.Trying to downplay the error, a senior official said, "I don't think I have much to elaborate on that. It's consistent with what has been said before, and I don't think it'll be much of a surprise that our inside voice matches our outside voice.""I think it's not surprising that China would have been on the agenda. It's an Indo-Pacific convening. This is an Indo-Pacific partnership. China is a major country in the Indo-Pacific. But I think it's also fair to say that there were a number of other topics on the agenda," he added.China is involved in intense territorial disputes in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, asserting sovereignty over the entire South China Sea, which is challenged by Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, and Taiwan.The Quad promotes a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, while China contends that the coalition seeks to contain its growing influence. var mfq = window.mfq

It is always instructive to see how Chinese state media portray a visit like the one that German Chancellor Scholz just made to China. In this case, I would describe the coverage as ebullient, with echoes of the feel-good trip to China that French President Emmanuel Macron made one year ago. Here is how the Global Times described it in an editorial: "The scene of the two leaders taking a walk and chatting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in the spring has quickly garnered attention and positive reviews from media outlets around the world. Even some US and European media outlets that were initially skeptical of Scholz's visit have changed their tone accordingly, affirming the signal of continued cooperation conveyed by the leaders of China and Germany during the meeting." I'm not sure which US and European media they are referring to here. But clearly there is a sense that China dodged a bullet with this trip. Scholz played down differences, refusing to criticise China on trade or for its growing support of Russia, and played up business cooperation, particularly in green technologies, where Brussels has been pushing back hard. All in all, a very successful trip for China's leadership. I imagine Scholz's coalition partners, the European Commission and some of Berlin's European partners, including the French and Dutch, will be less pleased. https://lnkd.in/eNxMr27g

CNBC [excerpt]: Chinese President #XiJinping said Monday that no challenges can stop the country from moving forward and reiterated Beijing's reunification aims with #Taiwan. He was speaking at a reception commemorating the 75th anniversary of the People's Republic of #China, which was founded on Oct.1, 1949. The path ahead will definitely see challenges," Xi said, before calling on the country to overcome uncertainties and risks. "No challenges can stop China's progress." The comments were translated by CNBC from a Chinese state media broadcast. The brief speech, aired during the state broadcaster's daily evening news program, noted that Xi and other top Chinese leaders entered the reception shortly after 5 p.m. local time on Monday. About 3,000 people, including foreigners, attended the event in Beijing, according to state media. During his speech, Xi emphasized the need to unify under the Chinese Communist Party's leadership and reiterated Beijing's "firm opposition" to Taiwan "separatist" activities, while calling for both sides to increase economic and cultural cooperation. He cast reunification with Taiwan as an inevitable development of history — something he has said previously. Beijing considers the democratically self-ruled island as a part of its territory. No mention of trade tensions Tensions between China and the U.S. and Europe have increased over the last several years, with Western nations increasing tariffs and restrictions on Beijing's access to advanced technology. Xi did not mention specific countries or trade conflicts in his Monday speech, instead portraying China as upholding globalization. He broadly thanked "friendly" countries and supporters of China's development. He also emphasized Beijing's claim to Greater China by saying "national rejuvenation" was the hope of Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and all Chinese peoples. The Beijing leader added that China would "spur" the development of Hong Kong and Macao — both self-governed regions which are ruled by Beijing under the "one country, two systems" principle. In a 2019 speech commemorating the PRC's 70th anniversary, Xi had said that no force could sway China's development, amid festivities involving a military parade and large-scale celebrations. Events for the 65th anniversary were more subdued. Xi's speech comes at a time of uptick in Chinese markets in recent weeks, with major mainland Chinese and Hong Kong stock indexes recently surging to their highest in more than a year after authorities announced plans to support economic growth. On Thursday, a high-level meeting led by Xi called for halting the real estate decline, and for strengthening fiscal and monetary policy. While the People's Bank of China has cut rates in the last week, the Ministry of Finance has yet to announce additional fiscal support. #News #geopolitics

🎯🏆💯 Atlantic Council [excerpt]: Chinese leader #XiJinping paid a much-touted visit to #Europe on May 5-10, visiting three countries on the continent whose leaders have, in different ways, advocated for better relations with Beijing in recent years: #France, #Serbia, and #Hungary. Xi’s mission was to sow division in Europe and rally the countries that may help reverse the continent’s recent push toward “de-risking” against #China. The timing of his trip was crucial. #EuropeanUnion (EU) #voters will go to the polls in early June to elect the new European Parliament, which will determine the bloc’s general direction on many issues, including its orientation toward China. Only after the parliamentary #elections, the appointment of a new #EuropeanCommission, and Hungary’s takeover of the EU presidency in July will it become clear whether Xi’s visit achieved his goals of creating disunity in Europe and reversing the EU’s de-risking push. The visit’s timing and destinations show that the Chinese leadership realizes its fortunes in Europe have turned. While the EU has not taken as tough an approach toward China as the United States has since the Trump presidency, European thinking on Beijing has changed in the past few years. Especially since #Russia’s full-scale invasion of #Ukraine in February 2022, Europe has toughened its approach to China, moved its policies closer to those of the United States, and launched its de-risking strategy. Several Western European countries that previously championed greater trade with China have since moved more toward a balancing and de-risking approach. Many Central and Eastern European countries, too, have turned against greater cooperation with China. Russia’s war in Ukraine and the region’s political turnover have pushed #Czechia, #Slovakia, #Latvia, #Lithuania, #Estonia, and #Slovenia to take a more skeptical stance toward China. This has left Hungary and Serbia as the remaining champions of China’s interests in the region and, not surprisingly, two destinations of Xi’s visit. Of course, Hungary, as a member of the EU and #NATO, is the more useful of the two for Beijing’s bid to expand its influence in Europe. To better understand where China-Europe relations go from here, it is worth looking at each stop on Xi’s trip. Each had a very different choreography and emphasis. #news #geopolitics

Europe and China, What now?Chinese President Xi Jinping just visited Europe for the first time in five years. His visit to France, Hungary, and Serbia this week is seen as a defining moment for relations between China and the EU, following German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit to China last month. #china #eu #europe #euchina #chinaeurope #france #germany #xijinping #eueconomy #economy #politics

There is no fundamental conflict of interests between China and Australia, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday. Xi made the remarks when meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. Xi said that as long as the two sides adhere to mutual respect, treat each other as equals, and seek common ground while shelving differences, China-Australia relations will surely develop well. In his meeting with Albanese, Xi also called on China and Australia to strengthen coordination and cooperation and oppose protectionism. Noting that both China and Australia are supporters and defenders of economic globalization and free trade, he urged the two sides to promote the sharing of opportunities and benefits among various countries via opening up, so as to realize common development. Xi also said he is ready to work with the Australian side to build a more mature, stable, and fruitful comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Australia to inject more stability and certainty into the region and the world. https://lnkd.in/gQNKcC5Y

🇨🇳 The choice of stops on Chinese president Xi Jinping’s tour last week of Europe were no accident... 🚨 Aside from geopolitical reasoning for each visit to France, Serbia and Hungary, the three countries have another thing in common: high levels of recent Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI). 📊 Between 2021 and 2023, China-based companies made $12.1bn of investment pledges in Hungary, according to fDi Intelligence data, more than in any other European country and an increase from $1.05bn during the previous three years. 🥈 Meanwhile, Serbia was the European country with the second highest Chinese FDI at $6.84bn during the last three years, more than double the figure between 2018 and 2020. France also attracted its highest Chinese FDI in 2023 alone since 2016. 👉 https://lnkd.in/ewDy-3kR ⁉ What do observers think about this ⁉ 1️⃣ These investments are broadly reflective of China’s stranglehold on critical supply chains, including electric vehicles (EVs) and the batteries, components and critical minerals that underpin them. Hungary, Serbia and France have all attracted Chinese investment in these sectors. 2️⃣ Abishur Prakash, founder of The Geopolitical Business, Inc, says Xi's trip is an “indicator of how different the world is today” and reveals a shift in China’s strategy in Europe towards smaller economies which are “willing to stand shoulder to shoulder” with Beijing. 3️⃣ Max J. Zenglein, chief economist at Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) gGmbH, says the choice of stops reflects China's intentions to "keep Europe as open as possible" amid concerns in Beijing that the EU will "take a more aggressive stance" similar to the US. ❓ What do you think ❓What does Xi's visit to Europe tell us about China's view and strategy of dealing with Europe ❓ #data #graphtime #fdi #china #europe #hungary #serbia #france #evs #battery

Spoke to Thompson Chau's for this Nikkei Asia story: While China is using its influence to shrink Taiwan’s international presence, India is actively becoming part of the solution for Taiwan. Mongolia is closely aligned with China’s interpretation of the One China policy and, like South Africa, views China as more important than Taiwan. Therefore, it’s expected for them to ask Taiwan to minimise its presence. This is one of the reasons why Taiwan should appreciate India more. India is now more open to Taiwan. In terms of consulates, trade, and tourism offices, Taiwan has a greater presence in India than China. This underappreciated aspect of India’s outreach to Taiwan highlights the untapped potential of their partnership, which only requires concerted efforts from the Modi and Lai administrations.

CNN [excerpt]: When #XiJinping arrived in #Italy for a state visit in 2019, he was given a lavish welcome, with private tours of Roman landmarks and a dinner serenaded by opera singer Andrea Bocelli, topped with a crowning flourish – Italy’s decision to join Xi’s signature Belt and Road infrastructure initiative. Five years later, on his first return to the continent since then, the Chinese leader will land in a very different climate. While the pomp and ceremony may remain as Xi begins his six-day European tour in France on Sunday, views on #China across the continent have shifted dramatically. In the past weeks alone, the #EuropeanUnion has launched #trade probes into China’s wind turbines and procurement of medical equipment, and raided offices of Chinese security equipment maker Nuctech as part of an investigation into subsidies. #Germany and the #UnitedKingdom in recent days also arrested or charged at least six people for alleged espionage and related crimes linked to China. And in March, Italy formally exited the #BeltandRoad, costing the program its only G7 member country, in a blow to China and its leader. Behind these developments are mounting economic grievances that have the #EU preparing for a potential major trade confrontation with China – as well as growing suspicions about Beijing’s global ambitions and influence driven by alarm over China’s deepening ties with Russia as it wages war against Ukraine. “China is seen increasingly as a multi-faceted threat in many European capitals. But there are divisions within Europe over how fast and far to go in addressing concerns about China, both in the economic and security spheres,” said Noah Barkin, a Berlin-based visiting senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Now, Xi’s trip – with stops in #France, Serbia and Hungary – is an opportunity to woo his critics, but also showcase that even as views are hardening in some parts of Europe, others still welcome China with open arms. Beijing is keen to dampen #Europe’s push to address alleged trade distortions, which would come at a bad time for its flagging economy. It also wants to ensure Europe doesn’t draw any closer to the US, especially amid uncertainty over the outcome of the upcoming US election. Major breakthroughs with China’s toughest critics will be hard to come by unless Xi is ready to make surprise concessions. And the trip could instead serve to underscore divisions – not only between Europe and China – but those within Europe that could play to China’s favor, analysts say. #News #geopolitics