iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Bloomberg: ASML said it is not selling chipmaking machines in Europe, warning the region risks falling behind the US, China, and India in semiconductors – ‘“[…] That’s because Europe isn’t investing and because no chip factories are being built there,” ASML Executive Vice President Frank Heemskerk’

ASML Executive Says Europe’s Biggest Firm Has No Sales in Europe

A top executive at ASML Holding NV, Europe’s most valuable company, said it isn’t selling any of its chipmaking machines on the continent and that the region risks getting left behind as the US, China...

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European drugmakers say they are ‘losing ground’ to US and Chinese rivals

The Guardian: European drugmakers say they are ‘losing ground’ to US and Chinese rivals – ‘The chairs of nine companies, including Britain’s AstraZeneca, GSK and Denmark’s Novo Nordisk, wrote to […] the national leaders of […] European countries on Tuesday to call for action […].’

theguardian.com

Some of continent’s biggest pharma firms write to national leaders calling for action to safeguard their futures

Chinese hackers targeted shipping in at least seven EU countries, cyber agency reports

POLITICO Europe: Chinese hackers targeted shipping in at least seven EU countries, European cyber agency ENISA reports – ‘Mustang Panda, a China-based cyber-espionage group that U.S. justice department officials accuse of being sponsored by the Chinese government’

politico.eu

The China-based Mustang Panda group represents a “significant threat” to EU organizations, the ENISA said.

Xinhua: Chinese FM Wang Yi urges China and Germany to boost cooperation and uphold free trade – ‘Noting that China and the EU are comprehensive strategic partners, Wang said that the two sides should not fight a trade war.’

Chinese FM urges China, Germany to boost cooperation, uphold free trade

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Former top PLA generals expelled from Communist Party for factionalism

SCMP: Former top PLA generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli expelled from Communist Party for factionalism and disloyalty – ‘accused of severe violations of party discipline and suspected of serious duty-related crimes.’

scmp.com

Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli are both accused of severe violations of party discipline and suspected of serious duty-related crimes.

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FT: Chinese rare earth shipments to US drop ahead of Trump-Xi summit – ‘The US believes China has not fully lived up to its commitment of uninterrupted supply’

Chinese rare earth shipments to US drop ahead of Trump-Xi summit

August exports down 20% from July as Washington presses Beijing over supplies of critical minerals

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Reuters: US watching Chinese marine presence off Alaska, Arctic Coast Guard chief says – ‘So far in 2026, four Chinese research vessels have conducted work offshore in the US Arctic, compared to a total of five in 2025’

US watching Chinese marine presence off Alaska, Arctic Coast Guard chief says

The United States is watching China's presence in its Arctic zone "very closely" amid concerns regarding the ‌security of the US homeland, a senior US Arctic military official said.

Reuters: China’s Xi expected to press Trump to halt Taiwan arms sales under 1982 agreement, sources say – ‘Three sources[…] told Reuters that China is likely to bring up its interpretation of the third of the three “joint communiques” between the two countries, signed in 1982.’

EXCLUSIVE: China's Xi expected to press Trump to halt Taiwan arms sales under 1982 agreement, sources say

China regularly ‌describes the issue of Taiwan, which Beijing views as its own territory, as its most sensitive and important diplomatic issue and has repeatedly called for arms sales to stop.

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Nikkei Asia: EU chamber urges China to curb overcapacity ahead of crunch talks – ‘position paper calls China's upgrading of its manufacturing base a “phenomenal success” but warns that the policy “has often come at the expense of significant resource misallocation and market inefficiencies.”’

EU chamber urges China to curb overcapacity ahead of crunch talks

Bloc's lengthy list of concerns highlights uphill battle to address trade imbalance

Reposted by Sense Hofstede

The Nexperia Case Was Actually a Success. Does Europe Know That?

My glass half full/half empty appraisal of the Nexperia incident that roiled China-Netherlands relations last year was just published in The Diplomat. European governments need to internalise that economic security success is possible and necessary, but carries a hefty price:

thediplomat.com

A combination of media misunderstandings, Chinese distortions, and Dutch mistakes raise the risk that Europeans draw the wrong conclusions about economic security.

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Sense Hofstede @sensehofstede.nl · 21/09/2026

Xinhua: CCP Politburo meeting studies major issues on Party self-governance, sets dates for Party plenum – ‘The meeting decided that the fifth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC will be held from Oct. 26 to 29 in Beijing.’

CPC leadership meeting studies major issues on Party self-governance, sets dates for Party plenum

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Sense Hofstede @sensehofstede.nl · 21/09/2026

Official confirmation is here: Xinhua: Xi Jinping to pay state visit to US from September 23 to 25

Xi to pay state visit to U.S. from Sept. 23 to 25

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Labor minister heads to China for APEC meeting - Focus Taiwan

Taiwan’s labour minister Hung Sun-han 洪申翰 (DPP) heads to China for APEC meeting in Nanjing – ‘the first Cabinet official in President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) administration to visit China.’ ‘to attend the APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting on Monday.’

focustaiwan.tw

Labor Minister Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) flew to Nanjing, China, on Sunday for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meeting, becoming the first Cabinet official in President Lai Ching-te's...

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Bloomberg: China‘s State Council names Li Chenggang country’s top international trade negotiator – ‘hours before delegations from [China and the US] were set to hold negotiations in New York’ ‘The revised wording in Li’s latest title may point to a broader government-wide role in trade negotiations’

China Names Li Chenggang Its Top International Trade Negotiator

China on Sunday elevated the title of a key member of its team handling talks with the US, hours before delegations from the two countries were set to hold negotiations in New York.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China and the Hague Conference on Private International Law Signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Implementing the Global ...

Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Kingdom of the Netherlands: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China and the Hague Conference on Private International Law signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in implementing the Global Governance Initiative

nl.china-embassy.gov.cn

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Iran and China Create First-of-Their-Kind Autonomous A.I. Influence Campaigns

The New York Times: Iran, China, and groups in Israel create first-of-their-kind autonomous AI influence campaigns – ‘turned to Chinese “open-source” A.I. models, which are increasingly powerful systems that are freely available to download and modify.’

nytimes.com

The countries, along with Israeli firms, combined Chinese open-source A.I. models and A.I. agents for the campaigns, foreshadowing future online manipulation.

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Hill investigates after F-35 parts diverted to Hong Kong

POLITICO: US Congress investigates after F-35 parts diverted to Hong Kong – ‘A shipment of F-35 parts bound for the United States for repairs was rerouted as it transited the Pacific Ocean from Australia’

politico.com

The incident raises the possibility that top secret weapons technology may have been exposed to a foreign adversary — including China.

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Nikkei Asia: Japanese PM Takaichi seeks Trump meeting early next week in New York ahead of US-China summit – ‘will visit the U.S. from Monday through Thursday to attend the U.N. General Assembly’

Takaichi seeks Trump meeting early next week ahead of US-China summit

Japan prime minister hopes to keep Washington engaged on China deterrence

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FT: Saudi Arabia quits China-led cross-border currency platform – ‘The mBridge platform has attracted controversy in the US amid concerns that participants could use it to bypass dollar-dominated conventional payment systems such as Swift.’

Saudi Arabia quits China-led cross-border currency platform

Kingdom’s central bank withdrew from programme which is part of Beijing’s effort to develop an alternative system to the dollar

Bloomberg: China’s public expenditure declined at a quicker rate in August, indicating the government was still withdrawing fiscal support for the economy – ‘despite cooling growth momentum.’ ‘Officials have so far focused on the faster use of existing budget allocations’

China’s Fiscal Pullback Stretches Into August as Spending Slumps

China’s public expenditure declined at a quicker rate in August, indicating the government was still withdrawing fiscal support for the economy despite cooling growth momentum.

Bloomberg: China will step up scrutiny of malicious price competition, including cost investigations and price inspections of companies that engage in such practices, market regulator said – ‘said it will accelerate revisions to the Price Law and study rules aimed at curbing low-price dumping.’

China to Ramp Up Enforcement Against Malicious Price Competition

China will step up scrutiny of malicious price competition, including cost investigations and price inspections of companies that engage in such practices, the State Administration for Market Regulati...

The Nexperia Case Was Actually a Success. Does Europe Know That?

thediplomat.com

A combination of media misunderstandings, Chinese distortions, and Dutch mistakes raise the risk that Europeans draw the wrong conclusions about economic security.

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Bloomberg: Spanish Finance Minister Carlos Cuerpo called on the EU to embrace its relationship with China – ‘“We need to engage in that dialogue and see what transpires,” he told Bloomberg Television on Friday in Dublin. “I think the window of opportunity is a good one now.”’

Spain’s Cuerpo Sees Window of Opportunity for China Dialogue

Spanish Finance Minister Carlos Cuerpo called on the European Union to embrace its relationship with China, defying the bloc’s position of wariness toward the world’s No. 2 economy.

Xinhua: China’s property market sees major changes in supply and demand, official says – ‘and entered a new phase increasingly centered on existing housing stock’

China's property market sees major changes in supply and demand: official

Extended Range: China Upgrades Its Military Base in Djibouti

CSIS: Extended range: China upgrades its military base in Djibouti – ‘Commercial satellite imagery shows that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has installed new equipment that will strengthen its internal communications capabilities while also enabling signals intelligence (SIGINT) collection.’

features.csis.org

China’s military has added two new communications facilities at its overseas base in Djibouti, strengthening its ability to operate far from home and likely collect intelligence across the Middle East...

Reuters: China Coast Guard vessel rams and damages Philippine boat on refuelling mission, coast guard says – ‘The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel […] was on a mission to distribute fuel to Filipino fishermen about 54 nautical miles off ⁠the coast of Palawan province’

China vessel rams and damages Philippine boat on refueling mission, coast guard says

A China Coast Guard vessel rammed a Philippine boat on a resupply mission in the South China Sea on Friday, damaging its railings and ‌deck structures but causing no injuries, the Philippine Coast Gu...

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Reuters: China defence minister Dong Jun urges nations [i.e. Japan] to curb regressive historical trends – ‘at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum on security’ ‘Dong called for a fresher, more equal approach to resolving international tension, but offered ⁠few specifics or direct criticism of rivals.’

China defence minister urges nations to curb regressive historical trends

Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun urged nations on Wednesday to avoid provocative acts and curb the resurgence ‌of regressive historical trends in remarks likely to be taken as veiled criticism of Ja...

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China is not ready for a post-American world

The Economist‘s The Telegram: China is not ready for a post-American world – ‘Bluntly, the war has come too soon for China. For now, China’s rise relies on a global trading order underwritten by American power.’

economist.com

Donald Trump’s disaster in Iran has come too soon for China to take full advantage

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China got cool for foreigners. But can they find a job there?

The Straits Times: China got cool for foreigners. But can they find a job there? – ‘the stronger trend is not foreigners relocating to China, but foreigners seeking work with Chinese companies as those firms expand overseas.’

straitstimes.com

More foreigners are looking for jobs in China and with Chinese firms but China-based ones are few. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Xinhua: China to bolster opening up with better legal framework for foreign-related affairs – ‘guide legal responses to foreign-related civil and commercial disputes and better protect the personal and property rights of Chinese citizens and businesses’

China to bolster opening up with better legal framework for foreign-related affairs

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Xinhua: China’s top diplomat Wang Yi holds talks with Iranian FM Araghchi – ‘China encourages Iran and the United States to stay rational and exercise restraint, return to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at an early date’ ‘China supports dialogue between Iran and Gulf countries and…’

China's top diplomat holds talks with Iranian FM

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Has a Chinese DF missile been used for the first time in the Middle East?

SCMP: Has a Chinese DF short-range ballistic missile been used for the first time in the Middle East? – ‘may have been used during the heated conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.’

scmp.com

Video of a DF-15A rocket motor in Marib hints at secret arms deliveries as Saudi-Houthi fighting escalates.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz is fighting for his political life after the election debacle in Saxony-Anhalt. What does Germany’s political crisis mean for Europe as it gears up to take on China?

Noah Barkin: ‘The impact of a Merz exit would be felt beyond Germany. [Considering] more forceful response to the EU’s widening trade imbalances with China, political upheaval in its largest member state could undermine the fragile consensus on China policy that has emerged over the summer months.’

nbarkin.substack.com

Anatomy of a Fall

Nikkei Asia: 1 in 4 listed Chinese companies post losses as AI and rest of economy diverge – ‘A sluggish economy and price wars took their toll on property groups, automakers and food companies.’

1 in 4 listed Chinese companies post losses as AI, rest of economy diverge

Real estate groups, carmakers can't escape domestic demand slump

Investigation: How Taiwan Botched a Plan to Counter Chinese Drones - Domino Theory

Domino Theory: How Taiwan botched a plan to counter Chinese drones – ‘to many of the lawmakers on hand that day, the question was not whether the Defense Ministry was encountering difficulties in its procurement efforts, but whether it was learning from them.’

dominotheory.com

When Chinese drones buzzed the frontline island of Kinmen in 2022, the Defense Ministry in Taiwan pushed to install a counter-drone system. Four years later, it has yet to deliver

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Ambassador to the EU Kazutoshi Aikawa in FT: ‘Remember [Biden’s] Inflation Reduction Act? […] some of its provisions caused an outcry among US allies, particularly in Europe, […]. The EU’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act appears to go further down the same path.’

The EU should not increase resilience at the expense of trusted partners

Its Industrial Accelerator Act would threaten supply chain connections with the likes of Japan

FT: EU asks China to voluntarily limit hybrid car exports – ‘Brussels is seeking a commitment from Beijing to restrict sales of China-made hybrid vehicles to around 15 per cent of the EU market compared with more than a third today, the people said.’

EU asks China to voluntarily limit hybrid car exports

Move comes as cheaper Chinese vehicles flood European market

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Xinhua: Fuelling Japan’s neo-militarism will push region toward dangerous vortex, Chinese defence spokesperson says – ‘voiced firm opposition to a joint military exercise by Japan, the United States and Australia’

Fueling Japan's neo-militarism will push region toward dangerous vortex: Chinese spokesperson

Xinhua: Fear-mongering will only hamper efforts toward sound global AI governance, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson says – ‘after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Elon Musk, who runs xAI’

Fear-mongering will only hamper efforts toward sound global AI governance: spokesperson

Xinhua: Chinese FM Wang Yi holds phone talks with Latvian counterpart on ties – ‘33 Latvian citizens had gone missing in the recent mudslides in Nepal and China’s Xizang [Tibet] Autonomous Region’

Chinese FM holds phone talks with Latvian counterpart on ties

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Xinhua: Chinese and French FMs discuss ties and international issues over phone – ‘China and the European Union (EU) should […], properly resolve current economic and trade frictions through constructive dialogue, and avoid escalating confrontation, Wang said.’

Chinese, French FMs discuss ties, int'l issues over phone

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Nikkei Asia: China growth outlook dims as real estate, retail pressure worsens – ‘Oxford Economics projected China's housing downturn to persist through 2030, with residential investment not recovering until 2031.’

China growth outlook dims as real estate, retail pressure worsens

Exports remain key growth pillar amid caution over new stimulus measures

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