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Dear Reader,
Two incidents, two shocks and two very different responses from Beijing. News of Hsiao Bi-khim’s surprise address at – but not to – the European Parliament prompted the indignation, protests and solemn representations that Beijing usually reserves for the crossing of its red lines. But the rhetoric soon cooled to dismiss the event as attention-grabbing, theatrics and doomed to fail. So far, so calm on the Taiwan Strait. Not so with Sanae Takaichi’s suggestion to her country’s legislature that the use of military force in the strait could be a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan. For that, Beijing rolled out accusations of hostility, revived the ghosts of Tokyo’s colonial past and warned of “consequences” for the unretracted remarks. The red line got realer.
For a close look at China’s most advanced weapons, explore our multimedia project, The Red Arsenal. And dive into our series After the War on how World War II reshaped modern China.
We welcome feedback. You can email me at globalimpact@scmp.com and if you enjoy this issue, let us know.
The Big Picture
We’ve only just begun
China’s decades of playing military catch-up have started to pay off with a barrage of equipment launches.
We’re not gonna take it
Beijing reserves special anger for the new Japanese prime minister’s talk to the Diet on Taiwan.
And finally, the stranded astronauts are coming home. ETA? ASAP.
With more than 100 comments and counting, this story on the diplomatic friction between Beijing and Brussels has clearly struck a nerve. We’ve seen your debates on sovereignty and economic consequences, and this week we highlight one comment that captures the strategic nuances of this developing rift.
Yee Teck T. “The West goes on about how China is always weaponizing trade against the West. What do you expect when you keep taking actions that are against its interests? And to single China out for it when America has been the world leader in weaponizing its financial and economic muscle…”
Our response: You raise a point about double standards that resonates with many of our readers in the Global South. The concept of “economic statecraft” – or weaponising trade – is indeed a standard tool in the great power arsenal, used by both Washington and Beijing. As the EU tries to “de-risk” without “de-coupling”, it finds itself caught in the crossfire between these two economic superpowers, forced to decide whether its values align with its economic interests.
The conversation is still active. Don’t forget to check out and take part in the comments section to share your views on EU-China relations.
Wins and Fails
Ma Weiming gets his moment in the sun for the Fujian’s electromagnetic aircraft launch system
Cui Yuzhong moves a big step closer to becoming the Chinese navy’s new commander
Comac looks to secure more US-French Leap-1C engines for its C919 passenger jets
Big Numbers
7 – the number of minutes European foreign ministers gave to a meeting on its Indo-Pacific plan
10 – the number of critical minerals added to the US’ strategic list, taking the total to 60
0.2% – the rise in consumer inflation in October
US$83.5 billion – the record-high value of import deals reached at an expo in Shanghai
Direct Quote
“It is also important not to look through the lens of the China-US tensions when assessing the European position, but to start from the basic nature of China-EU relations.”
Jens Eskelund, president of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China, says Europe needs to reinvent itself and address vulnerabilities.
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