China news roundup / Nachrichten 2025-07-03/04

China tells EU it can’t accept Russia losing its war against Ukraine

"Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the European Union’s top diplomat that Beijing can’t accept Russia losing its war against Ukraine as this could allow the United States to turn its full attention to China [...] The official said Wang’s private remarks suggested Beijing might prefer a protracted war in Ukraine that keeps the United States from focusing on its rivalry with China. They echo concerns of critics of China’s policy that Beijing has geopolitically much more at stake in the Ukrainian conflict than its admitted position of neutrality."

--- The only surprise here is that he talks about it quite openly.

China and Germany pledge closer economic cooperation and 'smooth supply chains'

"Both sides agreed to strengthen policy coordination and defend global financial security and global trade rules, according to a statement published by the Chinese finance ministry after the talks"

--- That's the Chinese side of things, via Yahoo. German news doesn't report much about Wang Yi's visit in the first place, & if so, with a focus on the rare earths issue. About the economic relationship only German FM Wadephul is quoted & again focusing on rare earths. China meanwhile shows how serious it is about trade rules:

China slaps 'anti-dumping' taxes of up to 34.9 percent on EU brandy

"China said it will impose "anti-dumping" taxes of up to 34.9 percent on brandy imported from the European Union starting from Saturday, adding to tensions between the major trading partners. Beijing launched an investigation last year into EU brandy, months after the bloc undertook a probe into Chinese electric vehicle (EV) subsidies"

--- Words versus deeds.

American bombs in Iran also reverberate in China and North Korea

"“The U.S. strike on Iran will be regarded as net plus by Pacific allies if it is seen to reinforce red lines, restore deterrence and is of limited duration, so as not to pull the administration off-course from its stated priorities in the Indo-Pacific,” he said. “China will take note that Trump is prepared to use force, at least opportunistically. ”In China, many who have seen Trump as having a “no-war mentality” will reassess that in the wake of the attacks, which were partially aimed at forcing Iran's hand in nuclear program negotiations, said Zhao Minghao, an international relations professor at China’s Fudan University in Shanghai. “The way the U.S. used power with its air attacks against Iran is something China needs to pay attention to,” he said. “How Trump used power to force negotiations has a significance for how China and the U.S. will interact in the future.”"

--- China will tread more carefully, maybe, but that won't change emperor Xi's determination to get Taiwan 'heim ins Reich'. After all, China has been preparing for a war with the USA, anyway.

"It also gives rise to a concern that Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, who in recent speeches has increased warnings about the threat from China, may be further emboldened in his rhetoric, said Lyle Goldstein, director of the Asia Program at the Washington-based foreign policy think tank Defense Priorities. Already, Lai's words have prompted China to accuse him of pursuing Taiwanese independence, which is a red line for Beijing. Goldstein said he worried Taiwan may try to take advantage of the American “use of force against Iran to increase its deterrent situation versus the mainland.”"

--- Oh my, Taiwan might increase its deterrence. How evil!

China's north and west on alert after sweeping rains trigger deadly floods

"Between June 30 and July 1, the Lengshui River which flows through Xinzhou experienced its worst flooding in records going back to 2005, said a separate local media report, citing the Ministry of Water Resources. The report also instructed readers on how to recognise early signs of flash flooding. Meanwhile, in Pingliu Village, some 80 km (50 miles) west of Xinzhou, 21 people from seven households were evacuated on Tuesday after a landslide collapsed two houses and damaged four others, other local media reported. In contrast, the national meteorological centre forecast scorching heat along the country's eastern seaboard."

--- Speaking of heat waves: Eastern China swelters under early heatwave, threatening crops and industry Which bodes well for Chinese crop yields this year. I'm sure the CCP will report new records at the end of the harvesting period.

Dalai Lama succession: China warns India against interfering in Tibet-related matters

Censor-busting dissident shines light on overworked Chinese students

--- China Uncensored features the weekend news variety again:

--- China Uncensored: "You weren't supposed to know"

Nach Treffen mit Chinas Außenminister: Wadephul kritisiert Pekings Handelspolitik

"Bei einem Besuch seines chinesischen Amtskollegen Wang Yi hat Bundesaußenminister Johann Wadephul (CDU) Peking wegen "marktverzerrender Praktiken" deutlich kritisiert. Insbesondere "einseitige und oft wenig transparente Exportbeschränkungen" für seltene Erden machten deutschen Unternehmen derzeit "große Sorgen", sagte Wadephul am Donnerstag"

--- Kritik an China? Wird bei chinesischen Medien mit keinem Wort erwähnt.

"Er habe daher Wang gegenüber unterstrichen, wie wichtige es sei, dass China "alles unternimmt", damit kriegswichtige Güter nicht "aus der Volksrepublik nach Russland gelangen und diesen Krieg am Ende unterstützen". Deutschland setze auf "glaubwürdige und konkrete Anstrengungen" Chinas und dessen "großen Einfluss auch auf Russland", um den Konflikt zu beenden."

--- Naive Spinnerei. Hat Wang Yi bei seinem Besuch selbst offenbar überraschend klar gesagt: China könne es sich nicht leisten, daß Rußland in der Ukraine verliert.