Sense Hofstede
@sensehofstede.nl
Researcher and teacher of the Indo-Pacific. Studies China, Singapore, and Taiwan; nationalism, party-state & international relations. | 何森璱
https://sensehofstede.nl/
https://sensehofstede.nl/
Singapore Budget 2026: Seven things you need to know – CNA: ‘this year's Budget focused on strengthening Singapore's resilience while supporting workers and households.’
Budget 2026: Seven things you need to know
From cost-of-living support to a new CPF investment scheme, here are the key takeaways from Budget 2026.
www.channelnewsasia.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Singapore Budget 2026: Seven things you need to know – CNA: ‘this year's Budget focused on strengthening Singapore's resilience while supporting workers and households.’
Chinese leaders extend Spring Festival greetings to retired senior officials – Xinhua: ‘The retired senior officials voiced wholehearted support for Xi Jinping’s core position on the CPC Central Committee and in the Party as a whole’
Chinese leaders extend Spring Festival greetings to retired senior officials
english.news.cn
February 13, 2026 at 9:24 AM
Chinese leaders extend Spring Festival greetings to retired senior officials – Xinhua: ‘The retired senior officials voiced wholehearted support for Xi Jinping’s core position on the CPC Central Committee and in the Party as a whole’
Economic Watch: New growth drivers in sight as China powers up future industries – Xinhua: ‘quantum technology, biomanufacturing, hydrogen and nuclear fusion power, brain-computer interfaces, embodied artificial intelligence (AI) and 6G mobile communications.’
Economic Watch: New growth drivers in sight as China powers up future industries
english.news.cn
February 13, 2026 at 9:24 AM
Economic Watch: New growth drivers in sight as China powers up future industries – Xinhua: ‘quantum technology, biomanufacturing, hydrogen and nuclear fusion power, brain-computer interfaces, embodied artificial intelligence (AI) and 6G mobile communications.’
Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison warns of legal action if Danish firm Maersk takes over Panama ports – HKFP: ‘CK Hutchison also said on Thursday that it had notified Panama of international arbitration proceedings it has initiated’
HK's CK Hutchison warns of legal action if Maersk takes over Panama ports
Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison has warned it will take legal action if Danish shipping giant AP Møller-Maersk takes over the operation of two ports on the Panama Canal run by its subsidiary.
hongkongfp.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:22 AM
Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison warns of legal action if Danish firm Maersk takes over Panama ports – HKFP: ‘CK Hutchison also said on Thursday that it had notified Panama of international arbitration proceedings it has initiated’
Outbound mergers and acquisitions from Greater China approached US$12 billion this January, the most for the first month of a year since 2017 – Bloomberg: ‘Reasons for the shift include heightened competition and fewer opportunities at home, as well as renewed confidence and financial strength’
China Is Snapping Up Overseas Assets Again From Puma to Metals
After Beijing slammed them shut about a decade ago, the gates have flung open again for Chinese firms to go on overseas acquisition sprees.
www.bloomberg.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:21 AM
Outbound mergers and acquisitions from Greater China approached US$12 billion this January, the most for the first month of a year since 2017 – Bloomberg: ‘Reasons for the shift include heightened competition and fewer opportunities at home, as well as renewed confidence and financial strength’
China’s second-hand home prices fell at a slower pace in January, a rare positive sign during the prolonged property crisis – Bloomberg: ‘Resale home prices in 70 cities dropped 0.54% from December, the smallest decline in eight months’
China Used Home Prices Fall at Slower Pace in Relief to Market
China’s second-hand home prices fell at a slower pace in January, providing a glimmer of hope that the prolonged property crisis is easing.
www.bloomberg.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:20 AM
China’s second-hand home prices fell at a slower pace in January, a rare positive sign during the prolonged property crisis – Bloomberg: ‘Resale home prices in 70 cities dropped 0.54% from December, the smallest decline in eight months’
China’s commerce ministry holds roundtable meeting with German companies – Reuters: ‘The meeting on Thursday was chaired by Ling Ji, China’s vice minister of commerce and included the German Chamber of Commerce and officials from China’
China holds roundtable meeting with German companies
China's Ministry of Commerce met representatives from over 60 German companies and organisations, including BASF , BMW Group and Bayer , it said on Friday, adding that both countries are committed to ...
www.reuters.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:17 AM
China’s commerce ministry holds roundtable meeting with German companies – Reuters: ‘The meeting on Thursday was chaired by Ling Ji, China’s vice minister of commerce and included the German Chamber of Commerce and officials from China’
China and US teams held anti-narcotics intelligence meeting, Xinhua reports – Reuters
China and US held anti-narcotics intelligence meeting, Xinhua reports
China and the United States held an anti-narcotics intelligence exchange meeting from Tuesday to Thursday in the U.S., Chinese state media reported on Friday.
www.reuters.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:16 AM
China and US teams held anti-narcotics intelligence meeting, Xinhua reports – Reuters
Chinese fishing boat seized off southwestern Japan, skipper arrested – Kyodo News: ‘about 170 kilometers southwest of the island of Meshima in Goto, Nagasaki.’
Chinese fishing boat seized off southwestern Japan, skipper arrested
Japanese authorities seized a Chinese fishing boat and arrested its skipper for allegedly defying an order to stop while within Japan's exclusive economic zone off Nagasaki Prefecture, the Fisheries A...
english.kyodonews.net
February 13, 2026 at 9:15 AM
Chinese fishing boat seized off southwestern Japan, skipper arrested – Kyodo News: ‘about 170 kilometers southwest of the island of Meshima in Goto, Nagasaki.’
OpenAI has warned US lawmakers that its Chinese rival DeepSeek is using unfair and increasingly sophisticated methods to extract results from leading US AI models to train the next generation of its breakthrough R1 chatbot – Bloomberg
OpenAI Accuses DeepSeek of Distilling US Models to Gain an Edge
OpenAI has warned US lawmakers that its Chinese rival DeepSeek is using unfair and increasingly sophisticated methods to extract results from leading US AI models to train the next generation of its b...
www.bloomberg.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:10 AM
OpenAI has warned US lawmakers that its Chinese rival DeepSeek is using unfair and increasingly sophisticated methods to extract results from leading US AI models to train the next generation of its breakthrough R1 chatbot – Bloomberg
US lawmakers step up pressure on Taiwan’s opposition to approve defence spending – Reuters: ‘A bipartisan group of 37 U.S. lawmakers have written to senior Taiwanese politicians’
US lawmakers step up pressure on Taiwan parliament to approve defence spending
A bipartisan group of 37 U.S. lawmakers have written to senior Taiwanese politicians expressing concern about parliament stalling proposed defence spending, saying that the threat posed by China has n...
www.reuters.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:07 AM
US lawmakers step up pressure on Taiwan’s opposition to approve defence spending – Reuters: ‘A bipartisan group of 37 U.S. lawmakers have written to senior Taiwanese politicians’
Taiwan signs trade deal with US to cut tariffs and open markets – Focus Taiwan: ‘The 15 percent tariff matches the rates on goods from major U.S. trade partners such as Japan, South Korea, and the European Union.’
Taiwan signs trade deal with U.S. to cut tariffs, open markets (update) - Focus Taiwan
Taiwan and the United States signed a reciprocal trade agreement in Washington on Thursday, capping U.S. tariffs on Taiwanese goods at 15 percent and granting preferential market access for U.S. indus...
focustaiwan.tw
February 13, 2026 at 9:07 AM
Taiwan signs trade deal with US to cut tariffs and open markets – Focus Taiwan: ‘The 15 percent tariff matches the rates on goods from major U.S. trade partners such as Japan, South Korea, and the European Union.’
As with Chinese tech companies ‘Singapore-washing’ and inexplicably high Nvidia chip imports, this is another example of Singapore risking blocking measures over its function as a portal to China – though this time from websites rather than Washington DC.
A wave of unexplained China-linked bot traffic is sweeping the web – Wired: ‘If the websites don’t care about traffic from China or Singapore at all, some also elect to prevent anyone with an IP address located in those countries from accessing their sites.’
A Wave of Unexplained Bot Traffic Is Sweeping the Web
From small publishers to US federal agencies, websites are reporting unusual spikes in automated traffic linked to IP addresses in Lanzhou, China.
www.wired.com
February 13, 2026 at 7:37 AM
As with Chinese tech companies ‘Singapore-washing’ and inexplicably high Nvidia chip imports, this is another example of Singapore risking blocking measures over its function as a portal to China – though this time from websites rather than Washington DC.
A wave of unexplained China-linked bot traffic is sweeping the web – Wired: ‘If the websites don’t care about traffic from China or Singapore at all, some also elect to prevent anyone with an IP address located in those countries from accessing their sites.’
A Wave of Unexplained Bot Traffic Is Sweeping the Web
From small publishers to US federal agencies, websites are reporting unusual spikes in automated traffic linked to IP addresses in Lanzhou, China.
www.wired.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:54 PM
A wave of unexplained China-linked bot traffic is sweeping the web – Wired: ‘If the websites don’t care about traffic from China or Singapore at all, some also elect to prevent anyone with an IP address located in those countries from accessing their sites.’
Hong Kong government to deregister three Apple Daily firms, list them as ‘prohibited organisations’ – HKFP: ‘The move comes after media mogul Jimmy Lai, the newspaper’s founder, was jailed for 20 years in his high-profile national security case.’
Gov't to deregister 3 Apple Daily firms, list them as 'prohibited organisations'
The Hong Kong government has begun the process to de-register three companies linked to the Apple Daily newspaper and list them as "prohibited organisations," authorities have said.
hongkongfp.com
February 12, 2026 at 9:14 PM
Hong Kong government to deregister three Apple Daily firms, list them as ‘prohibited organisations’ – HKFP: ‘The move comes after media mogul Jimmy Lai, the newspaper’s founder, was jailed for 20 years in his high-profile national security case.’
New EU industry act keeps friends closer—and shuts out China – POLITICO Europe: ‘the draft Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) foresees a definition of “Made in EU” that includes “trusted partners.” Brussels wants to throw up a higher barrier to investment from China’
New EU industry act keeps friends closer — and shuts out China
The Industrial Accelerator Act would include “trusted partners” in its Made in EU mandate, and further curb investment by China.
www.politico.eu
February 12, 2026 at 9:11 PM
New EU industry act keeps friends closer—and shuts out China – POLITICO Europe: ‘the draft Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) foresees a definition of “Made in EU” that includes “trusted partners.” Brussels wants to throw up a higher barrier to investment from China’
Exclusive: Palo Alto chose not to tie China to hacking campaign for fear of retaliation from Beijing, sources say – Reuters: ‘the hackers appeared to focus on Czechia’s government infrastructure following an August meeting between Czechia’s president and the Dalai Lama’
Exclusive: Palo Alto chose not to tie China to hacking campaign for fear of retaliation from Beijing, sources say
Palo Alto Networks opted not to tie China to a global cyberespionage campaign the firm exposed last week over concerns that the cybersecurity company or its clients could face retaliation from Beijing...
www.reuters.com
February 12, 2026 at 9:11 PM
Exclusive: Palo Alto chose not to tie China to hacking campaign for fear of retaliation from Beijing, sources say – Reuters: ‘the hackers appeared to focus on Czechia’s government infrastructure following an August meeting between Czechia’s president and the Dalai Lama’
CIA releases new video in bid to lure Chinese military officers to spy for US – FT: ‘releasing a Chinese-language video to appeal to People’s Liberation Army officers who are disillusioned with corruption and extensive purges of top generals.’
CIA releases new video in attempt to lure Chinese military officers to spy for US
US intelligence agency seeks to tap into frustration over extensive purges at People’s Liberation Army
www.ft.com
February 12, 2026 at 9:08 PM
CIA releases new video in bid to lure Chinese military officers to spy for US – FT: ‘releasing a Chinese-language video to appeal to People’s Liberation Army officers who are disillusioned with corruption and extensive purges of top generals.’
Red Dawn Over China: How Communism Conquered a Quarter of Humanity—the brutality behind the propaganda – FT: ‘Dikötter’s general argument is, as he puts it, that “Communism was never popular in China.” It was imposed on the Chinese through systemic, unrelenting violence.’
Red Dawn Over China: How Communism Conquered a Quarter of Humanity — brutality behind the propaganda
Frank Dikötter dismantles CCP myths about Mao’s leadership to tell a story of Chinese repression that is still relevant today
www.ft.com
February 12, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Red Dawn Over China: How Communism Conquered a Quarter of Humanity—the brutality behind the propaganda – FT: ‘Dikötter’s general argument is, as he puts it, that “Communism was never popular in China.” It was imposed on the Chinese through systemic, unrelenting violence.’
How China wants to create a ‘Polar Silk Road’ through the Arctic – FT: ‘China’s icebreaker construction programme has added to western alarm about Chinese and Russian advances in the Arctic’
How China wants to create a ‘Polar Silk Road’ through the Arctic
Beijing targets shipping routes and resources in far north
www.ft.com
February 12, 2026 at 9:02 PM
How China wants to create a ‘Polar Silk Road’ through the Arctic – FT: ‘China’s icebreaker construction programme has added to western alarm about Chinese and Russian advances in the Arctic’
Xi’s new year message to military reveals PLA Cyberspace Force post in South China Sea – SCMP: ‘CCTV footage showed a section of the PLA Cyberspace Force stationed in the South China Sea on Fiery Cross Reef, an artificial island in the disputed Spratly Islands’
Xi’s new year greeting reveals PLA Cyberspace Force post in South China Sea
Analyst says deployment signals Chinese military’s cyber warfare capabilities ‘are no longer confined to the mainland’.
www.scmp.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Xi’s new year message to military reveals PLA Cyberspace Force post in South China Sea – SCMP: ‘CCTV footage showed a section of the PLA Cyberspace Force stationed in the South China Sea on Fiery Cross Reef, an artificial island in the disputed Spratly Islands’
Senior military official Zhang Shengmin stresses political guidance and combat readiness in pre-festival troop visit – Xinhua: ‘Zhang urged efforts to strengthen political loyalty in all aspects and throughout the entire process of military development’
Senior military official stresses political guidance, combat readiness in pre-festival troop visit
english.news.cn
February 12, 2026 at 8:44 PM
Senior military official Zhang Shengmin stresses political guidance and combat readiness in pre-festival troop visit – Xinhua: ‘Zhang urged efforts to strengthen political loyalty in all aspects and throughout the entire process of military development’
Xinhua Commentary: For Europe, true de-risking means de-Americanising – Xinhua: ‘For years, European policymakers have echoed Washington’s [sic] “de-risking” rhetoric, a term originally crafted to justify containing China’s development under the guise of economic caution.’
Xinhua Commentary: For Europe, true de-risking means de-Americanizing
english.news.cn
February 12, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Xinhua Commentary: For Europe, true de-risking means de-Americanising – Xinhua: ‘For years, European policymakers have echoed Washington’s [sic] “de-risking” rhetoric, a term originally crafted to justify containing China’s development under the guise of economic caution.’
IW-Studie: Rückgang der China-Abhängigkeit bei deutschen Jobs – Handelsblatt: „Die vom Export nach China abhängende Anzahl von Jobs in Deutschland ist einer Studie zufolge in den vergangenen Jahren stark gesunken. Seit 2021 ist sie um rund 40 Prozent zurückgegangen”
Arbeitsmarkt: IW-Studie – Rückgang der China-Abhängigkeit bei deutschen Jobs
Deutlich weniger deutsche Jobs sind vom Export nach China abhängig. Das ist auch eine Folge von Maßnahmen, die die chinesische Regierung ergriffen hat.
www.handelsblatt.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:40 PM
IW-Studie: Rückgang der China-Abhängigkeit bei deutschen Jobs – Handelsblatt: „Die vom Export nach China abhängende Anzahl von Jobs in Deutschland ist einer Studie zufolge in den vergangenen Jahren stark gesunken. Seit 2021 ist sie um rund 40 Prozent zurückgegangen”
Xi Jinping urges basic research push for original innovations – Xinhua: ‘in a recent instruction on work related to the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).’
Xi urges basic research push for original innovations
english.news.cn
February 12, 2026 at 10:36 AM
Xi Jinping urges basic research push for original innovations – Xinhua: ‘in a recent instruction on work related to the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).’