Sepia

joined 1 week ago
 

cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/41967876

Archived link

Russia’s largest silicon plant will suspend operations from Jan. 1, 2026, its owner announced Monday.

Metals group Rusal said its decision to shutter the Kremniy plant in the Irkutsk region was prompted by a lack of demand, with imported silicon now significantly cheaper than domestic output and foreign production continuing to rise.

It added that Russian silicon is also struggling to find buyers on global markets.

Rusal said it has notified local authorities of the planned shutdown and expects support in mitigating the “social consequences.”

Its other silicon facility, the Silicon Ural plant, will keep operating at reduced capacity.

Rusal earlier said it would cut its 2025 silicon production to 35,000 tons due to competition from China, down 35% from its 2024 output of 53,400 tons.

...

[–] Sepia@mander.xyz 20 points 9 hours ago (2 children)

A similar case recently happened in Germany, where the country's authorities face heavy criticism after admitting that a 56-year-old Uyghur asylum-seeker was mistakenly put on a plane to China instead of to Turkey.

According to reports (one is here), the woman, Reziwanguli Baikeli, had fled China's Xinjiang region in 2017, lived in Turkey for several years and joined her daughter in Germany in 2024. Uyghurs are recognised by Germany as a group at extreme risk of persecution; informal guidance says they should not be returned to China.

Experts call for Germany (and possibly the whole of Europe) for a federal “white list” of countries to which deportations are categorically barred, similar to policies already used in Sweden and the Netherlands.

[–] Sepia@mander.xyz 3 points 9 hours ago

Yeah, mainland China - the other China, so to say - shows a similar stance. Despite critical voices of Beijing regarding Israel's war in Gaza, ties between China and Israel have in many ways proven resilient. Bilateral trade rose to USD 16.3 billion in 2024, up almost 12% from 2023, for example.

Despite Israel having banned Chinese suppliers from sensitive military procurement, commercial ties improved as trade data shows. In addition to U.S. companies, Chinese technology firms are a decisive supplier of Israel surveillance tech in Gaza and the West Bank (you'd easily find many reports on the web about that).

 

...

Dalia Energy recently signed planning, procurement and construction agreements with three Chinese companies, CHEC, HEI and THCC, for the construction of two power plants. The agreements include the construction of the Dalia 2 power plant at the Tzafit site, with a NIS 3.8 billion budget, and the Eshkol Avshel power plant at the Eshkol power plant site, with a NIS 3.3 billion budget.

On government tenders, a process is underway in which investments by Chinese companies are examined by the Foreign Investment Review Committee, which has blocked several investments by Chinese companies in Israel in recent years. However, they have found a back door to enter investments in critical facilities by signing agreements with private companies, such as Dalia.

China Harbor, part of the consortium that won the construction of the two Dalia power plants was previously disqualified from the tender to build a refinery port in Haifa. After Israel Ports Co. took this step "for national security reasons," the Chinese appealed to the courts. Last year, a judge in the Tel Aviv District Court explained that he intended to rule against China Harbor and dismiss the petition that was presented to him. The Chinese company subsequently withdrew the petition to avoid a ruling.

Dalia's ventures are not the first for China Harbor in the energy sector. Complaints were also raised about the company's involvement in the construction work of the Kesem power plant, but at that time the National Security Council found no problems with the project. "The foreign company is not establishing or operating the plant but rather performing contract work for the builder (work estimated to be very small in scope compared with the project)," the National Public Works Department wrote in response to a request from the Rosh Ha’Ayin Municipality.

...

There are also strategic infrastructures that have already been built with Chinese assistance. For example, in February 2025, the Kochav Hayarden pumped storage power plant, which was built with an investment of NIS 2 billion, began operations. PowerChina was the contractor and builder of the project. At the same time, there are Chinese companies that hold ownership: PMEC holds 33.3% of the Alon Tavor power plant, alongside Israeli partners Mivtach Shamir and Rapac.

...

Not a single word about China

Last week Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Eli Cohen responded to a question submitted by MK Moshe Tur-Paz (Yesh Atid) on China. "The State of Israel is a free market economy that wants there to be competition in all construction of infrastructure facilities. We are of course working with everyone," Cohen said, without the word "China" appearing in his answer.

"Despite this, and I am not referring to any specific country, there is a body in the National Security Council that is responsible for examining foreign investments, and in any instance where there is concern that that entity has interests that could harm the national security of the State of Israel, then we forward the request, and any request for the construction of a power plant, which is an essential, strategic facility, reaches the National Security Council, is examined there, and without specifying cases of companies or projects or countries, there have been cases where projects have been stopped in the past."

...

[–] Sepia@mander.xyz 3 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Didn't you post a similar report today?

The pressure on car markets are not limited to the UK. China's BYD literally warned of a 'bloodbath' in its Chinese domestic market, and we have been watching mass layoffs and bankruptcies in China, Europe, the U.S. in recent years.

[–] Sepia@mander.xyz 24 points 10 hours ago

'PPC Land' (pay-per-click ?) is publishing solely AI-generated content.

[–] Sepia@mander.xyz 3 points 11 hours ago

According to a new report, the problem is that the capacity to build EV batteries far outstrips demand globally.

  • In North America, there is 1.9 times as much capacity as demand. In Europe, the capacity-to-demand ratio is 2.2.
  • It's worst in China with 5.6 times as much battery-building capacity as there is demand for batteries.
  • Material and production costs are still high, which means EVs often aren't cheaper than gas cars, reducing demand.
[–] Sepia@mander.xyz 2 points 13 hours ago

The pressure on car markets are not limited to the UK. China's BYD literally warned a 'bloodbath' in its Chinese domestic market, and we have been watching mass layoffs and bankruptcies in China, Europe, the U.S. in recent years.

 

cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/41958131

China has financed tens of billions of pounds' worth of investment in UK businesses and projects this century, some of which gave it access to military-grade technology, BBC Panorama has learned.

The spending spree - worth £45bn ($59bn) at 2023 prices - was at its height following a 2015 Chinese state directive, aimed at making the country a global leader in high-tech industries.

The UK has been the top destination among G7 nations for these investments, relative to the size of its population and economy, according to US-based research group AidData.

Panorama has investigated how this led to cutting-edge technology and skills being transferred to China. The UK was "far too free in allowing access to strategically important industries", according to a former head of GCHQ.

...

These objectives were laid out by China's communist leaders in a strategic plan 10 years ago, called "Made In China 2025". It set ambitious targets for the country to become the industry leader in 10 high-tech sectors, including aerospace, electric vehicles and robotics.

This was a far-sighted strategy, according to Prof Keyu Jin of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology: "It's the longer-term strategic thinking that China has always had, and I'd argue that many other countries also should have."

...

Imagination Technologies, a Hertfordshire-based firm, was one of the companies Panorama looked at.

It specialises in semiconductor design - in other words, designing the tiny electronic circuits inside chips that power devices such as computers and smartphones.

Exterior view of a modern white building with the Imagination Technologies logo on the wall, featuring a stylized circular and square design above the word ‘Imagination.’ Several bollards line the foreground, and parked cars are visible near the entrance.

...

In 2017, Imagination had recently lost its most important client, Apple, and had seen its share price fall dramatically. It was snapped up for £550m by a private equity firm, Canyon Bridge, based at that time in the US state of California.

The Canyon Bridge fund that bought Imagination had one investor - Yitai Capital, whose largest stakeholder is China Reform. This organisation reports to the State Council, the body responsible for carrying out party policies and laws.

...

In his first interview since leaving Imagination, the company's former CEO, Ron Black, says the UK government vetted the deal, and he was told "unequivocally" by Canyon Bridge that China Reform would be a passive investor, only interested in making money.

However, in 2019, Mr Black says he was summoned to a meeting in Beijing, where he was asked to work directly for China Reform, and oversee the wholesale transfer of Imagination's technology and expertise to China.

"I think [the China Reform representative] said specifically 'from the heads of the British engineers to the Chinese engineers, then lay off the British engineers and you'll make a lot of money'," says Mr Black.

He refused, but he says that several months later, China Reform tried to install four new directors "with no understanding of semiconductors" directly onto the board of Imagination Technologies.

...

Fearful about the possible transfer of military-grade technology, Mr Black resigned. At that point, he says, the UK government started to take an interest, and China Reform halted its attempt to install new directors.

...

In 2017, the UK had fewer powers to stop the sale of a company such as Imagination to Chinese owners. Two years earlier, China's leader, Xi Jinping, had been welcomed on a state visit, with David Cameron's Conservative government hailing the start of a "golden era" in China-UK relations.

"We thought China was basically a very friendly power and there was lots of money to be made," says Sir Jeremy Hunt. In 2015 he was health secretary, and later held other government posts, including chancellor of the exchequer and foreign secretary. "But under the surface, we were beginning to sense a much more assertive China."

...

Europe as a whole and some US businesses were naive about China in 2017-18, according to John Bolton, former US national security advisor during the first Trump administration.

"There was a reluctance to think we were slipping back into some kind of Cold War," he says.

...

The high point for Chinese overseas investment was during 2016 and 2017, according to Dr Parks. After this point, he says, many countries started strengthening screening mechanisms on national security grounds.

The US, Germany and Italy tightened vetting on foreign investment by 2018. The UK followed suit in 2022.

Sir Jeremy Fleming is cautiously optimistic that lessons have been learned.

"We have a much stronger regime in place," he says. "But would I say the process is watertight? Absolutely not."

In 2024, a Labour government was elected, but it faced the same issue as its Conservative predecessor - namely, that the UK needed economic growth and China could help.

"One big problem in Europe, including the UK, is that there's not enough investment and funding," says Prof Keyu Jin. "China is very happy to finance some of these projects. And there are lots of areas where there's no real threat of national security."

...

But some Labour MPs are concerned the government has not published its China audit, which it carried out as part of an election manifesto commitment.

"I was promised by the foreign secretary that it would be published," says Dame Emily Thornberry MP, the chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee. "Then we hear that the China audit has happened but we're not going to be told about it, we're only going to get a few lines."

The Foreign Office has told Panorama it did not publish its full audit because of its security classification.

...

 

cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/41958131

China has financed tens of billions of pounds' worth of investment in UK businesses and projects this century, some of which gave it access to military-grade technology, BBC Panorama has learned.

The spending spree - worth £45bn ($59bn) at 2023 prices - was at its height following a 2015 Chinese state directive, aimed at making the country a global leader in high-tech industries.

The UK has been the top destination among G7 nations for these investments, relative to the size of its population and economy, according to US-based research group AidData.

Panorama has investigated how this led to cutting-edge technology and skills being transferred to China. The UK was "far too free in allowing access to strategically important industries", according to a former head of GCHQ.

...

These objectives were laid out by China's communist leaders in a strategic plan 10 years ago, called "Made In China 2025". It set ambitious targets for the country to become the industry leader in 10 high-tech sectors, including aerospace, electric vehicles and robotics.

This was a far-sighted strategy, according to Prof Keyu Jin of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology: "It's the longer-term strategic thinking that China has always had, and I'd argue that many other countries also should have."

...

Imagination Technologies, a Hertfordshire-based firm, was one of the companies Panorama looked at.

It specialises in semiconductor design - in other words, designing the tiny electronic circuits inside chips that power devices such as computers and smartphones.

Exterior view of a modern white building with the Imagination Technologies logo on the wall, featuring a stylized circular and square design above the word ‘Imagination.’ Several bollards line the foreground, and parked cars are visible near the entrance.

...

In 2017, Imagination had recently lost its most important client, Apple, and had seen its share price fall dramatically. It was snapped up for £550m by a private equity firm, Canyon Bridge, based at that time in the US state of California.

The Canyon Bridge fund that bought Imagination had one investor - Yitai Capital, whose largest stakeholder is China Reform. This organisation reports to the State Council, the body responsible for carrying out party policies and laws.

...

In his first interview since leaving Imagination, the company's former CEO, Ron Black, says the UK government vetted the deal, and he was told "unequivocally" by Canyon Bridge that China Reform would be a passive investor, only interested in making money.

However, in 2019, Mr Black says he was summoned to a meeting in Beijing, where he was asked to work directly for China Reform, and oversee the wholesale transfer of Imagination's technology and expertise to China.

"I think [the China Reform representative] said specifically 'from the heads of the British engineers to the Chinese engineers, then lay off the British engineers and you'll make a lot of money'," says Mr Black.

He refused, but he says that several months later, China Reform tried to install four new directors "with no understanding of semiconductors" directly onto the board of Imagination Technologies.

...

Fearful about the possible transfer of military-grade technology, Mr Black resigned. At that point, he says, the UK government started to take an interest, and China Reform halted its attempt to install new directors.

...

In 2017, the UK had fewer powers to stop the sale of a company such as Imagination to Chinese owners. Two years earlier, China's leader, Xi Jinping, had been welcomed on a state visit, with David Cameron's Conservative government hailing the start of a "golden era" in China-UK relations.

"We thought China was basically a very friendly power and there was lots of money to be made," says Sir Jeremy Hunt. In 2015 he was health secretary, and later held other government posts, including chancellor of the exchequer and foreign secretary. "But under the surface, we were beginning to sense a much more assertive China."

...

Europe as a whole and some US businesses were naive about China in 2017-18, according to John Bolton, former US national security advisor during the first Trump administration.

"There was a reluctance to think we were slipping back into some kind of Cold War," he says.

...

The high point for Chinese overseas investment was during 2016 and 2017, according to Dr Parks. After this point, he says, many countries started strengthening screening mechanisms on national security grounds.

The US, Germany and Italy tightened vetting on foreign investment by 2018. The UK followed suit in 2022.

Sir Jeremy Fleming is cautiously optimistic that lessons have been learned.

"We have a much stronger regime in place," he says. "But would I say the process is watertight? Absolutely not."

In 2024, a Labour government was elected, but it faced the same issue as its Conservative predecessor - namely, that the UK needed economic growth and China could help.

"One big problem in Europe, including the UK, is that there's not enough investment and funding," says Prof Keyu Jin. "China is very happy to finance some of these projects. And there are lots of areas where there's no real threat of national security."

...

But some Labour MPs are concerned the government has not published its China audit, which it carried out as part of an election manifesto commitment.

"I was promised by the foreign secretary that it would be published," says Dame Emily Thornberry MP, the chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee. "Then we hear that the China audit has happened but we're not going to be told about it, we're only going to get a few lines."

The Foreign Office has told Panorama it did not publish its full audit because of its security classification.

...

 

China has financed tens of billions of pounds' worth of investment in UK businesses and projects this century, some of which gave it access to military-grade technology, BBC Panorama has learned.

The spending spree - worth £45bn ($59bn) at 2023 prices - was at its height following a 2015 Chinese state directive, aimed at making the country a global leader in high-tech industries.

The UK has been the top destination among G7 nations for these investments, relative to the size of its population and economy, according to US-based research group AidData.

Panorama has investigated how this led to cutting-edge technology and skills being transferred to China. The UK was "far too free in allowing access to strategically important industries", according to a former head of GCHQ.

...

These objectives were laid out by China's communist leaders in a strategic plan 10 years ago, called "Made In China 2025". It set ambitious targets for the country to become the industry leader in 10 high-tech sectors, including aerospace, electric vehicles and robotics.

This was a far-sighted strategy, according to Prof Keyu Jin of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology: "It's the longer-term strategic thinking that China has always had, and I'd argue that many other countries also should have."

...

Imagination Technologies, a Hertfordshire-based firm, was one of the companies Panorama looked at.

It specialises in semiconductor design - in other words, designing the tiny electronic circuits inside chips that power devices such as computers and smartphones.

Exterior view of a modern white building with the Imagination Technologies logo on the wall, featuring a stylized circular and square design above the word ‘Imagination.’ Several bollards line the foreground, and parked cars are visible near the entrance.

...

In 2017, Imagination had recently lost its most important client, Apple, and had seen its share price fall dramatically. It was snapped up for £550m by a private equity firm, Canyon Bridge, based at that time in the US state of California.

The Canyon Bridge fund that bought Imagination had one investor - Yitai Capital, whose largest stakeholder is China Reform. This organisation reports to the State Council, the body responsible for carrying out party policies and laws.

...

In his first interview since leaving Imagination, the company's former CEO, Ron Black, says the UK government vetted the deal, and he was told "unequivocally" by Canyon Bridge that China Reform would be a passive investor, only interested in making money.

However, in 2019, Mr Black says he was summoned to a meeting in Beijing, where he was asked to work directly for China Reform, and oversee the wholesale transfer of Imagination's technology and expertise to China.

"I think [the China Reform representative] said specifically 'from the heads of the British engineers to the Chinese engineers, then lay off the British engineers and you'll make a lot of money'," says Mr Black.

He refused, but he says that several months later, China Reform tried to install four new directors "with no understanding of semiconductors" directly onto the board of Imagination Technologies.

...

Fearful about the possible transfer of military-grade technology, Mr Black resigned. At that point, he says, the UK government started to take an interest, and China Reform halted its attempt to install new directors.

...

In 2017, the UK had fewer powers to stop the sale of a company such as Imagination to Chinese owners. Two years earlier, China's leader, Xi Jinping, had been welcomed on a state visit, with David Cameron's Conservative government hailing the start of a "golden era" in China-UK relations.

"We thought China was basically a very friendly power and there was lots of money to be made," says Sir Jeremy Hunt. In 2015 he was health secretary, and later held other government posts, including chancellor of the exchequer and foreign secretary. "But under the surface, we were beginning to sense a much more assertive China."

...

Europe as a whole and some US businesses were naive about China in 2017-18, according to John Bolton, former US national security advisor during the first Trump administration.

"There was a reluctance to think we were slipping back into some kind of Cold War," he says.

...

The high point for Chinese overseas investment was during 2016 and 2017, according to Dr Parks. After this point, he says, many countries started strengthening screening mechanisms on national security grounds.

The US, Germany and Italy tightened vetting on foreign investment by 2018. The UK followed suit in 2022.

Sir Jeremy Fleming is cautiously optimistic that lessons have been learned.

"We have a much stronger regime in place," he says. "But would I say the process is watertight? Absolutely not."

In 2024, a Labour government was elected, but it faced the same issue as its Conservative predecessor - namely, that the UK needed economic growth and China could help.

"One big problem in Europe, including the UK, is that there's not enough investment and funding," says Prof Keyu Jin. "China is very happy to finance some of these projects. And there are lots of areas where there's no real threat of national security."

...

But some Labour MPs are concerned the government has not published its China audit, which it carried out as part of an election manifesto commitment.

"I was promised by the foreign secretary that it would be published," says Dame Emily Thornberry MP, the chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee. "Then we hear that the China audit has happened but we're not going to be told about it, we're only going to get a few lines."

The Foreign Office has told Panorama it did not publish its full audit because of its security classification.

...

[–] Sepia@mander.xyz 5 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

It will be solved in the long-term as the Nexperia crunch sees carmakers asking for ‘China-free’ supplies as I have read in this community.

[–] Sepia@mander.xyz 3 points 13 hours ago

I fully get the point of Ms. Kostyuchenko. It's a big issue not easy to solve. I don't see this as a "morally righteous punishment for the citizens of a state terrorizing the continent and making war in Ukraine," though. No measure should ever be made to punish people, let alone as some form of 'guilt by association' what the linked report's framing appears to suggest.

The EU's move can also be seen as a necessary security measure. As a recent example: There is the case of Igor Rogov, a former employee of the Open Russia pro-democracy movement, which is banned in Russia as “undesirable.” Mr. Rogov has been living with his wife in Poland.

In the meantime, Mr. Rogov is in Polish detention and charged for spying for the Russian intelligence Federal Security Service (FSB).

The Moscow Times reports by citing Polish sources on Mr. Rogov's testimony in court:

“I was supposed to do what I liked — climb the ranks of Russian oppositionists, meet new people and eventually report everything to the [Russian] Federal Security Service."

The Moscow Times also reports:

When the couple moved to Poland after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Igor had told his wife [Irina] that he had been recruited by the FSB ...

After Irina reportedly discovered her husband’s affair, she began revealing in private conversations with other Russian emigres that Igor had been cooperating for years with an FSB officer named Yevgeny.

Rogov allgedly also received a courier shipment containing components for a bomb, including liquid explosives, fuses and a power source.

[–] Sepia@mander.xyz 2 points 14 hours ago

If you look at OP's post history you'll see almost 2,000 posts in 5 months, and all of them fit into anti-European and anti-democratic, but pro-China propaganda.

Very often, bold headlines are not backed by the content as it is the case also here.

The reduction of Chinese overcapacity in sectors such as steel and electromobility are of great importance for the economy and jobs in Germany," Klingbeil said.

The very brief article also mentions that China's influence in the Ukraine war will also be a topic of discussion.

The article only briefly mentions that German foreign minister postpones China trip amid rising tensions just a couple of weeks ago.

"We are postponing the journey to a later time," the spokesperson told a regular news conference," [a spokesperson from Germany's government said]. Wadephul has struck an increasingly tough stance on China since he took office as foreign minister in May, highlighting Beijing's support for Russia's war in Ukraine, its "increasingly aggressive behaviour" in the Indo-Pacific region, and its export curbs on rare earths and semiconductors.

In doing so, he has gone further still than his predecessor Annalena Baerbock, who was already known for being outspoken, labelling Chinese President Xi Jinping a "dictator".

Mr. Wadephul has also maintained his support for Taiwan, stressing, for example, that Germany and Japan have common security interests in the Indo-Pacific region.

Of course, Germany and other Western states will attempt to get market access to China, although I personally feel this won't happen anytime soon. German and other Western carmarkers are already beginning to diversify their supply chains away from China amid heightened security risks and the threat of further economic constraints as demonstrated by the recent conundrum over Nexperia. And similar moves of Western companies turning their back on China in its value chains are visible in other sectors as reports (also here on Lemmy as I've read) and data shows.

China has been protecting its domestic market even more since Xi Jinping took power. A meaningful access to Chinese markets for non-Chinese companies are not realistic in the near future imho (but I'd be happy if history proves me wrong). I personally think that Mr. Klingbeil knows that, too, but as a government official it's absolutely fair that he is trying his best.

 

cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/41908954

Archived

...

The [European] Commission "strongly urges" member states to comply with its recommendations and adopt "appropriate measures" to "restrict or exclude Huawei from their 5G networks," a spokesperson said, emphasizing that Brussels considers the Chinese company to pose "significantly higher risks than other suppliers." "A lack of swift action exposes the entire EU to a clear risk," the spokesperson insisted.

To date, only 13 member states have taken steps to restrict Huawei's access to their networks. France was among the first, passing a law in August 2019 to reduce Huawei's footprint in the country: SFR and Bouygues Telecom, the two operators using its services, had to dismantle thousands of Chinese antennas, especially those located near sites deemed strategic, whether factories, military bases or government facilities.

...

Long more welcoming to Huawei, Germany – the company's largest market in Europe – is now taking a tougher stance. In Berlin on Thursday, conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared his determination to replace certain 5G network components with parts that Germany produces itself, Bloomberg reported. "And we won't allow any components from China in the 6G network," he added.

Berlin already took steps in summer 2024 to exclude Huawei from sensitive 5G Core Network infrastructure, where all communications transit by the end of 2026. The aim was to protect "the central nervous systems of Germany as a business location – and we are protecting the communication of citizens, companies and the state," said Nancy Faeser, then Germany's interior minister, on July 11, 2024.

But for Brussels, "this is not enough." Some countries, such as Spain, have opened their doors wide to Chinese investment. And the Commission viewed Madrid's July decision to entrust Huawei with management of court-ordered phone surveillance data storage as alarming.

...

 

cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/41905956

Archived link

Ukraine has identified about 400 locations in Russia where Russians have transported kidnapped Ukrainian children.

This was reported by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a telegram.

It is estimated that about 19 500 abducted Ukrainian children are currently in the Russian Federation. More than 1 600 children have been returned home.

The deportation of Ukrainian children is one of Russiaʼs war crimes, for which the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin and the Russian Childrenʼs Ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova.

Ukraine also has evidence that Belarus is participating in the deportation of Ukrainian children.

In September, researchers found out more than 200 Russian institutions for the "re-education" of Ukrainian children — where they assemble drones and undergo airborne training. In the detention centers, some of the children were involved in the Russian program of forced upbringing and adoption, after which they were transferred to Russian families and granted Russian citizenship.

...

Several countries, including the UK, Canada, Norway, Finland, Austria, Latvia, Estonia, Switzerland and Sweden are involved in the scheme, which was launched by Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian president’s chief of staff, reports The Times.

Official figures suggest that 19,546 children have been taken from their homes against their will by Russia since the conflict began. However, earlier this year, a team of experts from Yale University estimated that about 35,000 Ukrainian children listed as missing may be in Russia, or Russian-occupied territories. Some were taken from orphanages, others from their homes, schools, or shelters.

[–] Sepia@mander.xyz 3 points 1 day ago

Many apparently don't even read the paraphrased summary before engaging in whataboutism. Is this good?

[–] Sepia@mander.xyz 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I'd say it's more Xi Jinping as European providers are also banned in China, no?

[–] Sepia@mander.xyz 9 points 1 day ago (2 children)

What about avoiding whataboutism?

The industry should discuss what can be done not only to become more independent from China, but also from the USA and the major technology companies, Merz is further quoted as saying.

 

cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/41894619

Archived link

Wherever possible, only components from our own production – this is the federal government's plan for German telecommunications networks, which Chancellor Friedrich Merz surprisingly announced on Thursday at the congress of the German Retail Association in Berlin.

"We have decided within the government that we will replace components wherever possible – for example in the 5G network – with components that we produce ourselves," according to consistent media reports citing Merz, including the Handelsblatt. "And we will not allow components from China in the 6G network." Merz did not provide a more precise classification, for example, what is considered "self-produced" according to this standard. The statement is said to have been made during a Q&A session and is not to be found in the transcript of his speech.

...

The industry should discuss what can be done not only to become more independent from China, but also from the USA and the major technology companies, Merz is further quoted as saying. However, Merz ruled out a complete decoupling from China.

...

Just at the beginning of the month, the Federal Network Agency tightened its rules for components of the 5G network. The regulator argues that 5G networks represent the future backbone of digitized economies, connect billions of systems, and process sensitive information in critical infrastructures (Kritis). According to the Handelsblatt, the CDU, CSU, and SPD last week also agreed on new legislation also agreed on new legislative tightening last week to ban equipment from German telecommunications networks deemed insecure.

...

According to the legally anchored "Huawei Clause", the federal government can prohibit the use of "critical components" in cases of "potential threats to public safety and order." The federal government and the mobile network operators reached a fundamental agreement last year to no longer use technology from Huawei or ZTE for critical components of the radio networks by 2029.

 

cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/41894619

Archived link

Wherever possible, only components from our own production – this is the federal government's plan for German telecommunications networks, which Chancellor Friedrich Merz surprisingly announced on Thursday at the congress of the German Retail Association in Berlin.

"We have decided within the government that we will replace components wherever possible – for example in the 5G network – with components that we produce ourselves," according to consistent media reports citing Merz, including the Handelsblatt. "And we will not allow components from China in the 6G network." Merz did not provide a more precise classification, for example, what is considered "self-produced" according to this standard. The statement is said to have been made during a Q&A session and is not to be found in the transcript of his speech.

...

The industry should discuss what can be done not only to become more independent from China, but also from the USA and the major technology companies, Merz is further quoted as saying. However, Merz ruled out a complete decoupling from China.

...

Just at the beginning of the month, the Federal Network Agency tightened its rules for components of the 5G network. The regulator argues that 5G networks represent the future backbone of digitized economies, connect billions of systems, and process sensitive information in critical infrastructures (Kritis). According to the Handelsblatt, the CDU, CSU, and SPD last week also agreed on new legislation also agreed on new legislative tightening last week to ban equipment from German telecommunications networks deemed insecure.

...

According to the legally anchored "Huawei Clause", the federal government can prohibit the use of "critical components" in cases of "potential threats to public safety and order." The federal government and the mobile network operators reached a fundamental agreement last year to no longer use technology from Huawei or ZTE for critical components of the radio networks by 2029.

 

cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/41855309

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China is increasingly dictating the course of Russia's policy and it could push Moscow to end the war in Ukraine, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna (Eesti 200).

Tsahkna was on an official visit to China last week, the first visit by an Estonian foreign minister in 10 years.

"My main task was to tell the Chinese foreign minister that Russia poses an existential threat to Europe and to Estonia. I reminded him that without China, Russia would not be able to carry out such aggression against Ukraine. The numbers show this is true, and it must be said plainly who holds economic and political control over Russia. If China wants to have good relations with Estonia, these issues must be addressed," Tsahkna [said].

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cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/41855309

Archived link

...

China is increasingly dictating the course of Russia's policy and it could push Moscow to end the war in Ukraine, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna (Eesti 200).

Tsahkna was on an official visit to China last week, the first visit by an Estonian foreign minister in 10 years.

"My main task was to tell the Chinese foreign minister that Russia poses an existential threat to Europe and to Estonia. I reminded him that without China, Russia would not be able to carry out such aggression against Ukraine. The numbers show this is true, and it must be said plainly who holds economic and political control over Russia. If China wants to have good relations with Estonia, these issues must be addressed," Tsahkna [said].

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Chinese nationals have increasingly looked to take advantage of visa-free entry in Serbia and Bosnia to then enter the EU and claim asylum in Western Europe.

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According to data from Frontex – the European Border and Coast Guard Agency – 482 Chinese citizens were caught illegally crossing the “Balkan Route” in the first nine months of 2025.

This number is expected to increase by the end of the year, as four groups of over 50 Chinese nationals have been detained in recent months. Some of these crossings have ended in tragedy.

In October, a case ended with the drowning of a Chinese national after a boat carrying migrants sank while trying to cross the Danube River between Serbia and Croatia. Four other Chinese migrants on board survived.

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More than 1 million Chinese nationals sought asylum abroad between 2012 and 2024, according to data from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

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Some try to cross from Serbia to Croatia – where Chinese citizens can stay for up to 30 days without a visa – but more often they try to enter the EU from Bosnia, which allows stays of up to 90 days without a visa and has a much longer border with Croatia.

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The Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirms to Radio Free Europe that the number of Chinese citizens caught during illegal border crossings has increased significantly over the past two years – from just two people in 2023, to 151 in 2024.

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