China has been preparing for a global energy crisis for years. It is paying off now
"China, the world’s second-largest economy, appears to be in a very different position to much of the continent.
Its energy system has “significant buffers”, Michal Meidan, the head of China energy research at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, an independent research institute, explained in a recent paper – from huge reserves of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to a robust domestic supply, including alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar."
--- That robust domestic supply doesn't seem to be that robust, though, considering how long the lines are at petrol stations in China. Which should not exist in the first place because, as we all know, China is world champion in EV adoption.
China no longer buys US exports
"Everyone is having a harder time exporting their industrial goods to China. Ignore China’s 2025 response to Trump’s latest tariff barrage. While US exports of manufactured products to China in 2024 remained 3 percent lower than 2021 levels, China’s real manufacturing imports from the world over that same period were 12 percent lower.
[...] with Chinese companies becoming more competitive in higher-tech industries, longstanding concerns about the country’s excessive, state-led investment model mean its negative spillovers now show up in new sectors. (The Chinese system tends to encourage the build out of production capacity that is untethered to market demand, even when the latter is slowing.) One result is what Chinese policymakers now refer to as “involution.” What the western policymakers are worried about is “overcapacity.”
[...] Beijing has also made nonpublic requests to local governments and state-owned enterprises to “replace foreign products with domestic alternatives” in sectors like information and communications technology, aerospace, and energy"
--- It is not just Trump's trade war. It is China's trade war against the whole world. That's why it is stupid, if Trump wants the USA to go at it alone.
"Increasing US exports to China is a laudable goal. But any short-term deals where President Xi orders a few more American soybeans, tankers filled with oil and gas, or even AI chips from Nvidia would fall woefully short of the bigger victory Trump could achieve by leading a cooperative, multinational engagement with China over the most vexing trade issue of our time"
--- The USA and other countries need to understand that China is planning world domination, at least in an economic sense, so they need to work together.
U.S. soy ships pile into China as Trump summit delay clouds trade
"after meeting an initial 12-million-ton pledge, China’s purchases have recently stalled."
--- What a surprise. The USA is distracted and China forgets suddenly all commitments.
Will China’s Stalinesque Purges Sabotage Its Military Ambitions?
"Xi Jinping’s wholesale removal of patron-client networks, while seemingly centralizing political control unto himself, might create strategic deficiencies by depriving the PLA of much-needed operational experience and expertise. With the removal of the battle-hardened Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli as well as their followers, informational and institutional memory in the Chinese military system could gradually diminish. That could pose an obstacle to the PLA’s goal of becoming a world-class military by mid-century.
[...] Any aversion to making mistakes would only be detrimental to this work, if officers were to fabricate reports and exaggerate the efficacy of their follow-up measures – in turn, stymying the progress of the PLA’s training and operational readiness. Lest we forget, the phenomenon of faking combat capabilities in the Chinese system is not new."
--- It could also lead to a greater probability of the Taiwan war because it removed anyone who would oppose or criticize Emperor Xi's plans to invade.
"In the PLA, the wholesale purges of the high command now may yet result in longer-term operational benefits, but still come with short- to medium-term strategic risks. Xi seems to be convinced, however, that China’s political stability depends on him ruling unopposed for the foreseeable future."
--- Considering Emperor Xi's age, this foreseeable future might not be too long. If Emperor Xi sees his end coming, though, he might hurry the Taiwan invasion. Whether that is positive or negative remains to be seen.
South Africa imposes steep tariffs on structural steel imports from China, Thailand
"The steel industry in Africa's most advanced economy is battling weak local demand and an influx of imports, mainly from China. Companies such as ArcelorMittal South Africa have shut some of their mills in response to the challenges.
Imports make up about 36% of South Africa's total steel consumption and China accounts for 73% of that, according to the South African Iron and Steel Institute."
--- The tariffs against Thailand may just be South Africa signalling: "Look, big brother, we are not singling you out. It's not against China. We are still friends, aren't we?"
Trio charged over alleged plot to smuggle Nvidia chips from US to China
Philippines accuses China of ‘provocative’ target tracking on ship
--- China Uncensored featured the usual weekend news variety again:
Chinas maritime Kronjuwelen
"Die Nachrichtenagentur Reuters veröffentlichte kürzlich Schätzungen taiwanischer und amerikanischer Militärfachleute, denen zufolge die Volksbefreiungsarmee lediglich über so viele Schiffe und Landungsboote verfüge, dass sie in einer ersten Landungswelle rund 20.000 Soldaten samt Ausrüstung über die Taiwanstraße befördern könnte. Nötig für eine erfolgreiche Invasion wären indes viele hunderttausend Soldaten. Für Nachschub und Versorgung müsse China daher auch zivile Schiffe nutzbar machen."
--- Was China schon seit Jahrzehnten plant, deswegen ist ein Großteil der chinesischen Fähren, die in angeblichem Privatbesitz sind, auch darauf ausgelegt, Militärmaterial transportieren zu können.
Europas Autohandel mit China kippt
"Die stark gestiegenen Exporte der Volksrepublik sind allerdings nicht nur ein Zeichen wachsender Stärke chinesischer Marken. EY verweist darauf, dass auch deutsche Hersteller und Zulieferer in China produzieren und Fahrzeuge oder Teile von dort nach Europa exportieren."
--- Stimmt. Was aber auch bedeutet, dass man sich ganz bewusst ins eigene Fleisch schneidet. Denn die Produktion in Europa wird dadurch weniger wichtig und man braucht weniger Arbeiter in Europa.
