Finbarr Bermingham
@fbermingham.bsky.social
Senior Correspondent for Europe at the South China Morning Post.
Tracking the shifting tectonic plates of global trade and geopolitics.
All posts should be heard in a Fermanagh accent.
Tracking the shifting tectonic plates of global trade and geopolitics.
All posts should be heard in a Fermanagh accent.
Pinned
As US-China rivalry redefines economic warfare, EU scrambles for its dictionary
The EU is preparing to unveil a new doctrine on economic security, but it’s a concept that officials and experts say has no clear definition.
www.scmp.com
As US-China rivalry redefines economic warfare, Europe scrambles for its dictionary
My report on the EU's struggle to define economic security, even as it prepares to launch yet another economic security initiative...
My report on the EU's struggle to define economic security, even as it prepares to launch yet another economic security initiative...
Breaking news: Dutch court upholds decision to effectively seize Nexperia's European arm and suspend Chinese management.
Blow for Wingtech: investigation now open into the company's "policy and affairs"
Blow for Wingtech: investigation now open into the company's "policy and affairs"
February 11, 2026 at 12:21 PM
Breaking news: Dutch court upholds decision to effectively seize Nexperia's European arm and suspend Chinese management.
Blow for Wingtech: investigation now open into the company's "policy and affairs"
Blow for Wingtech: investigation now open into the company's "policy and affairs"
The Chinese captain of a HK-registered cargo ship pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to criminal damage of a Baltic Sea gas pipeline that was forced to shut down after a leak.
Wan Wenguo, has been in custody in HK since May 2025, accused criminal damage
Wan Wenguo, has been in custody in HK since May 2025, accused criminal damage
Captain pleads not guilty to damaging Baltic Sea gas pipeline in Hong Kong court
Wan Wenguo, captain of the Hong Kong-flagged NewNew Polar Bear, denies damaging a key gas link between Finland and Estonia in 2023.
www.scmp.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:26 AM
The Chinese captain of a HK-registered cargo ship pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to criminal damage of a Baltic Sea gas pipeline that was forced to shut down after a leak.
Wan Wenguo, has been in custody in HK since May 2025, accused criminal damage
Wan Wenguo, has been in custody in HK since May 2025, accused criminal damage
Exclusive
Cold shoulder: China, EU in diplomatic stand-off ahead of Munich
Beijing has frozen out the EU’s envoy & snubbed its biz lobby, EU quietly boycotting China’s envoy in return, Wang Yi is Munich-bound with no locked‑in meeting with Kallas
Cold shoulder: China, EU in diplomatic stand-off ahead of Munich
Beijing has frozen out the EU’s envoy & snubbed its biz lobby, EU quietly boycotting China’s envoy in return, Wang Yi is Munich-bound with no locked‑in meeting with Kallas
Exclusive | Cold shoulder? China, EU in diplomatic stand-off ahead of Munich showdown
Annual security conference could provide rare venue for high-level EU-China talks as top diplomats Wang Yi and Kaja Kallas attend.
www.scmp.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:23 AM
Exclusive
Cold shoulder: China, EU in diplomatic stand-off ahead of Munich
Beijing has frozen out the EU’s envoy & snubbed its biz lobby, EU quietly boycotting China’s envoy in return, Wang Yi is Munich-bound with no locked‑in meeting with Kallas
Cold shoulder: China, EU in diplomatic stand-off ahead of Munich
Beijing has frozen out the EU’s envoy & snubbed its biz lobby, EU quietly boycotting China’s envoy in return, Wang Yi is Munich-bound with no locked‑in meeting with Kallas
This will be a big draw in Munich this week
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez set to take the stage and lay out what her "progressive foreign policy" means in Europe.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez set to take the stage and lay out what her "progressive foreign policy" means in Europe.
Anticipating AOC’s Munich Security Conference Speech
What to look for from a left-populist counter to imperialism, fascism, white supremacy, and oligarchy.
open.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:11 PM
This will be a big draw in Munich this week
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez set to take the stage and lay out what her "progressive foreign policy" means in Europe.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez set to take the stage and lay out what her "progressive foreign policy" means in Europe.
Headlines from the frontlines of late-stage capitalism
February 10, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Headlines from the frontlines of late-stage capitalism
Some brutal charts in the new Rhodium Group note, updating their previous research on Germany and China Shock 2.0
Food for thought ahead of Merz's trip to China in 2 weeks.
Food for thought ahead of Merz's trip to China in 2 weeks.
February 10, 2026 at 12:37 PM
Some brutal charts in the new Rhodium Group note, updating their previous research on Germany and China Shock 2.0
Food for thought ahead of Merz's trip to China in 2 weeks.
Food for thought ahead of Merz's trip to China in 2 weeks.
Confirmation that Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi will be at the Munich Security Conference later this week - stopping off in (you guessed it) Hungary on the way.
February 10, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Confirmation that Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi will be at the Munich Security Conference later this week - stopping off in (you guessed it) Hungary on the way.
The far-right AfD is now invited to Munich Security Conference, reportedly as organisers are afraid of upsetting Trump
“Invitations were issued as we made an impression with contacts to the Americans,” said Heinrich Koch, one of 3 AfD MPs to be invited
“Invitations were issued as we made an impression with contacts to the Americans,” said Heinrich Koch, one of 3 AfD MPs to be invited
Banging at the gates
A weekly newsletter on German politics, with news and analysis on the new government. By NETTE NÖSTLINGER Send tips here | Subscribe for free | View in your browser BATTLE OVER TRUMP TIES IT’…
www.politico.eu
February 10, 2026 at 12:02 PM
The far-right AfD is now invited to Munich Security Conference, reportedly as organisers are afraid of upsetting Trump
“Invitations were issued as we made an impression with contacts to the Americans,” said Heinrich Koch, one of 3 AfD MPs to be invited
“Invitations were issued as we made an impression with contacts to the Americans,” said Heinrich Koch, one of 3 AfD MPs to be invited
There we have it, the first price undertaking deal in the EU-China EV saga
The European Commission has just accepted a tightly controlled price undertaking for one Chinese‑built VW Group EV model – the CUPRA Tavascan – instead of applying full countervailing duties.
The European Commission has just accepted a tightly controlled price undertaking for one Chinese‑built VW Group EV model – the CUPRA Tavascan – instead of applying full countervailing duties.
February 10, 2026 at 11:50 AM
There we have it, the first price undertaking deal in the EU-China EV saga
The European Commission has just accepted a tightly controlled price undertaking for one Chinese‑built VW Group EV model – the CUPRA Tavascan – instead of applying full countervailing duties.
The European Commission has just accepted a tightly controlled price undertaking for one Chinese‑built VW Group EV model – the CUPRA Tavascan – instead of applying full countervailing duties.
Euronews "has recently explored opportunities in China, including sponsorship deals with the state-owned channel CGTN", Euractiv reports
www.euractiv.com/new...
www.euractiv.com/new...
February 10, 2026 at 11:12 AM
Euronews "has recently explored opportunities in China, including sponsorship deals with the state-owned channel CGTN", Euractiv reports
www.euractiv.com/new...
www.euractiv.com/new...
A French government-linked strategy body on Monday urged the EU to impose a 30% tariff on Chinese imports, warning Beijing poses a “systemic threat” to Europe's industrial base.
www.euractiv.com/new...
www.euractiv.com/new...
February 10, 2026 at 9:01 AM
A French government-linked strategy body on Monday urged the EU to impose a 30% tariff on Chinese imports, warning Beijing poses a “systemic threat” to Europe's industrial base.
www.euractiv.com/new...
www.euractiv.com/new...
Fascinating post from the Cross Purposes newsletter on Chinese views of EU economic security
Xin Hua at Shanghai Int. U: "EU decision-makers now see the prolonged Ukraine crisis + US-China rivalry indicate economic warfare is becoming a central form of geopolitical conflict"
Xin Hua at Shanghai Int. U: "EU decision-makers now see the prolonged Ukraine crisis + US-China rivalry indicate economic warfare is becoming a central form of geopolitical conflict"
February 10, 2026 at 8:42 AM
Fascinating post from the Cross Purposes newsletter on Chinese views of EU economic security
Xin Hua at Shanghai Int. U: "EU decision-makers now see the prolonged Ukraine crisis + US-China rivalry indicate economic warfare is becoming a central form of geopolitical conflict"
Xin Hua at Shanghai Int. U: "EU decision-makers now see the prolonged Ukraine crisis + US-China rivalry indicate economic warfare is becoming a central form of geopolitical conflict"
I had a long chat with Luuk van Middelaar – one of Europe’s sharpest political thinkers – and his verdict is stark: Trump’s 2nd term is blowing up 80 years of transatlantic certainties and dragging the world back into a harsher age of great‑power bargains and spheres of influence
February 10, 2026 at 7:39 AM
I had a long chat with Luuk van Middelaar – one of Europe’s sharpest political thinkers – and his verdict is stark: Trump’s 2nd term is blowing up 80 years of transatlantic certainties and dragging the world back into a harsher age of great‑power bargains and spheres of influence
Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, sanctioned by China in 2021 in the tit-for-tat over human rights violations in Xinjiang, is set to be the next Dutch minister for trade
Alle D66-ministers bekend, Van Essen Landbouw, Van Veldhoven Klimaat
Alle D66-ministers zijn bekend. Een wethouder uit Deventer, Jaimi van Essen, wordt minister van Landbouw, Visserij, Voedselzekerheid en Natuur. Oud-D66-Kamerlid Stientje van Veldhoven wordt minister van Klimaat en Groene Groei. Dat melden bronnen aan de politieke redactie van RTL Nieuws. Verder worden luitenant-generaal Elanor Boekholt-O'Sullivan minister van Volkshuisvesting en Sjoerd Sjoerdsma minister van Buitenlandse Handel en Ontwikkelingssamenwerking.
www.rtl.nl
February 10, 2026 at 7:20 AM
Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, sanctioned by China in 2021 in the tit-for-tat over human rights violations in Xinjiang, is set to be the next Dutch minister for trade
Hong Kong court jails pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai for 20 years
Hong Kong court jails pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai for 20 years
Lai was sentenced for offences under the city's controversial national security law.
www.bbc.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:54 AM
Hong Kong court jails pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai for 20 years
Looks like Beijing's pressure campaign has backfired...
Japan’s conservative governing party is on course to dramatically strengthen its grip on power after exit polls predicted a landslide victory in Sunday’s lower house elections.
Japan’s conservative governing party is on course to dramatically strengthen its grip on power after exit polls predicted a landslide victory in Sunday’s lower house elections.
Japan election: Sanae Takaichi’s ruling conservatives on course for landslide victory
Exit polls point to public endorsement of new prime minister, after day hit by blizzards and freezing conditions
www.theguardian.com
February 8, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Looks like Beijing's pressure campaign has backfired...
Japan’s conservative governing party is on course to dramatically strengthen its grip on power after exit polls predicted a landslide victory in Sunday’s lower house elections.
Japan’s conservative governing party is on course to dramatically strengthen its grip on power after exit polls predicted a landslide victory in Sunday’s lower house elections.
Fair play to @LeoVaradkar. A single line in his China-India op-ed will infuriate panda-huggers & dragon-slayers alike
"Since China has embraced capitalism, hundreds of millions of people have been lifted out of extreme poverty & now aspire to affluence"
"Since China has embraced capitalism, hundreds of millions of people have been lifted out of extreme poverty & now aspire to affluence"
China and India are the ones to watch — we need to up our game
In Ireland, most of our attention is directed towards the UK, Europe and the US. The time has come to put a much greater focus on the two Asian giants
www.thetimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 8:41 AM
Fair play to @LeoVaradkar. A single line in his China-India op-ed will infuriate panda-huggers & dragon-slayers alike
"Since China has embraced capitalism, hundreds of millions of people have been lifted out of extreme poverty & now aspire to affluence"
"Since China has embraced capitalism, hundreds of millions of people have been lifted out of extreme poverty & now aspire to affluence"
As the European Parliament dilly dallies over Mercosur, pt. 2...
Brazil is considering pushing for a partial trade agreement between the Mercosur bloc and China for the first time, in what would be a major shift for Latin America's largest economy.
Brazil is considering pushing for a partial trade agreement between the Mercosur bloc and China for the first time, in what would be a major shift for Latin America's largest economy.
Brazil signals new openness to Mercosur-China talks as Beijing seeks deeper ties
Brazil is considering pushing for a partial trade agreement between the Mercosur bloc and China for the first time, senior Brazilian government officials said, in what would be a major shift for Latin America's largest economy.
www.reuters.com
February 7, 2026 at 7:50 AM
As the European Parliament dilly dallies over Mercosur, pt. 2...
Brazil is considering pushing for a partial trade agreement between the Mercosur bloc and China for the first time, in what would be a major shift for Latin America's largest economy.
Brazil is considering pushing for a partial trade agreement between the Mercosur bloc and China for the first time, in what would be a major shift for Latin America's largest economy.
Friday night tunes 🏍️
February 6, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Friday night tunes 🏍️
Breaking: EU Commission finds TikTok in breach of the digital services act over its "addictive design"
Bytedance-owned app could face fine of up to 6% of global revenue if it doesn't fix addicitive properties like infinite scroll, autoplay, recommender systems
Bytedance-owned app could face fine of up to 6% of global revenue if it doesn't fix addicitive properties like infinite scroll, autoplay, recommender systems
February 6, 2026 at 11:04 AM
Breaking: EU Commission finds TikTok in breach of the digital services act over its "addictive design"
Bytedance-owned app could face fine of up to 6% of global revenue if it doesn't fix addicitive properties like infinite scroll, autoplay, recommender systems
Bytedance-owned app could face fine of up to 6% of global revenue if it doesn't fix addicitive properties like infinite scroll, autoplay, recommender systems
German chamber of commerce in China says Trump is pushing big biz to Beijing
“It’s difficult to compare the relatively stable & predictable trade relations with China with these erratic ups and downs that are currently characterising relations with US"
“It’s difficult to compare the relatively stable & predictable trade relations with China with these erratic ups and downs that are currently characterising relations with US"
Stung by Trump’s policies, German multinationals cautiously pivot towards China
German firms are keen to invest more in China as they shy away from the US, but they still face issues in the Chinese market, business group says.
www.scmp.com
February 6, 2026 at 10:09 AM
German chamber of commerce in China says Trump is pushing big biz to Beijing
“It’s difficult to compare the relatively stable & predictable trade relations with China with these erratic ups and downs that are currently characterising relations with US"
“It’s difficult to compare the relatively stable & predictable trade relations with China with these erratic ups and downs that are currently characterising relations with US"
Two new military spy scandals in Europe involving China - in Greece & France
1. In Greece, authorities arrested an air force officer on suspicion of espionage after he allegedly collected and transmitted classified military info – including material related to NATO – to China
1. In Greece, authorities arrested an air force officer on suspicion of espionage after he allegedly collected and transmitted classified military info – including material related to NATO – to China
February 6, 2026 at 7:35 AM
Two new military spy scandals in Europe involving China - in Greece & France
1. In Greece, authorities arrested an air force officer on suspicion of espionage after he allegedly collected and transmitted classified military info – including material related to NATO – to China
1. In Greece, authorities arrested an air force officer on suspicion of espionage after he allegedly collected and transmitted classified military info – including material related to NATO – to China
Really enjoyed the Tooze-Klein podcast. This bit stuck with me
"I’m dying on the hill that we’re not even in an interregnum - it implies another regnum afterward; a vision of history that has this as an ellipse between 2. I don’t see why we feel entitled to make that assumption"
"I’m dying on the hill that we’re not even in an interregnum - it implies another regnum afterward; a vision of history that has this as an ellipse between 2. I don’t see why we feel entitled to make that assumption"
February 5, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Really enjoyed the Tooze-Klein podcast. This bit stuck with me
"I’m dying on the hill that we’re not even in an interregnum - it implies another regnum afterward; a vision of history that has this as an ellipse between 2. I don’t see why we feel entitled to make that assumption"
"I’m dying on the hill that we’re not even in an interregnum - it implies another regnum afterward; a vision of history that has this as an ellipse between 2. I don’t see why we feel entitled to make that assumption"
Looks like Karremans' - he of Nexperia fame - tenure as Dutch economic affairs minister is over!
New Dutch cabinet plan shows the position will go to CDA (centre-right EPP), Karremans is VVD - via the indefatigable @sehof / Sense Hofstede
www.kabinetsformatie...
New Dutch cabinet plan shows the position will go to CDA (centre-right EPP), Karremans is VVD - via the indefatigable @sehof / Sense Hofstede
www.kabinetsformatie...
February 5, 2026 at 11:33 AM
Looks like Karremans' - he of Nexperia fame - tenure as Dutch economic affairs minister is over!
New Dutch cabinet plan shows the position will go to CDA (centre-right EPP), Karremans is VVD - via the indefatigable @sehof / Sense Hofstede
www.kabinetsformatie...
New Dutch cabinet plan shows the position will go to CDA (centre-right EPP), Karremans is VVD - via the indefatigable @sehof / Sense Hofstede
www.kabinetsformatie...
From China’s chokehold to Trump’s stockpile, Europe looks for least bad rare earth bet
My report on Brussels' latest adventures in the critical minerals space
My report on Brussels' latest adventures in the critical minerals space
From China chokehold to US stockpile, Europe looks for least bad rare earth bet
The EU industry chief secured a ‘commitment’ in Washington for a memorandum on critical minerals, but anxiety is growing.
www.scmp.com
February 5, 2026 at 11:07 AM
From China’s chokehold to Trump’s stockpile, Europe looks for least bad rare earth bet
My report on Brussels' latest adventures in the critical minerals space
My report on Brussels' latest adventures in the critical minerals space