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/
Chinese premier Li Qiang calls for accelerating revitalisation of old revolutionary base areas – Xinhua: ‘during an inspection tour in Ganzhou’
‘Li also visited the Ganjiang Innovation Academy under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as several rare earth companies.’
‘Li also visited the Ganjiang Innovation Academy under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as several rare earth companies.’
Chinese premier calls for accelerating revitalization of old revolutionary base areas
english.news.cn
February 10, 2026 at 10:36 PM
Chinese premier Li Qiang calls for accelerating revitalisation of old revolutionary base areas – Xinhua: ‘during an inspection tour in Ganzhou’
‘Li also visited the Ganjiang Innovation Academy under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as several rare earth companies.’
‘Li also visited the Ganjiang Innovation Academy under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as several rare earth companies.’
Xinhua Headlines: Xi visits people in Beijing ahead of Spring Festival, extends greetings to all Chinese – Xinhua: ‘Xi said he was “even more confident” in the country’s sci-tech innovation after seeing what was presented during the visit.’
Xinhua Headlines: Xi visits people in Beijing ahead of Spring Festival, extends greetings to all Chinese
english.news.cn
February 10, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Xinhua Headlines: Xi visits people in Beijing ahead of Spring Festival, extends greetings to all Chinese – Xinhua: ‘Xi said he was “even more confident” in the country’s sci-tech innovation after seeing what was presented during the visit.’
China supports Thailand in maintaining stability and development, foreign ministry says – Xinhua: ‘China supports the country in following a development path suited to its national conditions’ ‘when asked to comment on Thailand's House of Representatives election.’
China supports Thailand in maintaining stability, development: foreign ministry
english.news.cn
February 10, 2026 at 10:32 PM
China supports Thailand in maintaining stability and development, foreign ministry says – Xinhua: ‘China supports the country in following a development path suited to its national conditions’ ‘when asked to comment on Thailand's House of Representatives election.’
Europe risks losing nascent green hydrogen industry to China, executives warn – Reuters: ‘Europe’s fledgling green hydrogen industry is urging the EU to introduce “made in Europe” requirements for public spending on the sector’
Europe risks losing nascent green hydrogen industry to China, executives warn
Europe's fledgling green hydrogen industry is urging the EU to introduce "made in Europe" requirements for public spending on the sector, warning that without support to scale up quickly, domestic pro...
www.reuters.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Europe risks losing nascent green hydrogen industry to China, executives warn – Reuters: ‘Europe’s fledgling green hydrogen industry is urging the EU to introduce “made in Europe” requirements for public spending on the sector’
Reposted by Sense Hofstede
the wet market narrative is *bad for the Chinese government* and they have actively suppressed it at every turn! these people are incapable of the most basic understanding of the world.
Redfield is a Trump appointee and known crank. If COVID was circulating in summer of 2019, the entire timeline of the pandemic would be different. Chinese authorities were not "pushing the wet market narrative," they actively covered it up.
What is happening to people's brains over there
What is happening to people's brains over there
February 10, 2026 at 3:17 PM
the wet market narrative is *bad for the Chinese government* and they have actively suppressed it at every turn! these people are incapable of the most basic understanding of the world.
China and India seek reset in talks, but old fault lines remain – SCMP: ‘Senior diplomats from China and India met in New Delhi on Tuesday for what Beijing described as a new round of strategic dialogue’
China and India seek reset in talks, but old fault lines remain
Beijing stresses partnership and multilateralism; New Delhi underscores border stability, caution and gradual steps after years of strain.
www.scmp.com
February 10, 2026 at 8:13 PM
China and India seek reset in talks, but old fault lines remain – SCMP: ‘Senior diplomats from China and India met in New Delhi on Tuesday for what Beijing described as a new round of strategic dialogue’
MERICS: ‘Sending excess goods abroad means Beijing can continue to ignore its demand-side problems. China’s policies threaten to undercut both developed and developing countries’ industrial bases – huge job losses in the EU are already one result’
China’s overcapacity threatens to reshuffle global industrial bases
China’s overcapacity is the result of its own long-running industrial policies – a situation that is unsustainable in the long run and far bigger than Beijing acknowledges. And China’s strategy of exp...
merics.org
February 10, 2026 at 8:10 PM
MERICS: ‘Sending excess goods abroad means Beijing can continue to ignore its demand-side problems. China’s policies threaten to undercut both developed and developing countries’ industrial bases – huge job losses in the EU are already one result’
South Korea’s Hyundai ‘ready to fight’ Chinese rivals in Europe – FT: ‘Martinet also told the FT the group had no plans to buy carbon credits from Chinese and other EV rivals to meet the EU’s emissions regulations.’
Hyundai ‘ready to fight’ Chinese rivals in Europe
South Korean carmaker has no plans to buy carbon credits from competitors to meet EU emissions regulations
www.ft.com
February 10, 2026 at 8:01 PM
South Korea’s Hyundai ‘ready to fight’ Chinese rivals in Europe – FT: ‘Martinet also told the FT the group had no plans to buy carbon credits from Chinese and other EV rivals to meet the EU’s emissions regulations.’
Next US-China trade talks tipped in advance of Trump-Xi summit as fragile truce holds, analysts say – SCMP: ‘On Monday evening in the US, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent posted on social media that senior Treasury staff had travelled to China last week’
As Bessent tips next US-China trade talks, analysts see Trump-Xi meeting prep
Treasury Secretary Bessent confirms preparations for high-level dialogue, with analysts expecting a focus on specific transactional wins over a relationship reset.
www.scmp.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Next US-China trade talks tipped in advance of Trump-Xi summit as fragile truce holds, analysts say – SCMP: ‘On Monday evening in the US, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent posted on social media that senior Treasury staff had travelled to China last week’
Tokens of AI bias – China Media Project: ‘This time last year, developers believed the worst Chinese models were capable of “half-baked censorship.” But mounting evidence suggests a far more sophisticated approach.’
Tokens of AI Bias - China Media Project
A simple technical test reveals that the Alibaba AI model Qwen has been broadly aligned to give positive messages about China in English.
chinamediaproject.org
February 10, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Tokens of AI bias – China Media Project: ‘This time last year, developers believed the worst Chinese models were capable of “half-baked censorship.” But mounting evidence suggests a far more sophisticated approach.’
Leaked technical documents show China rehearsing cyberattacks on neighbours’ critical infrastructure –The Record: ‘part of a large integrated system […] practice hacking replicas of “the real network environments” of China’s “main operational opponents […] South China Sea and Indochina directions.”’
Leaked technical documents show China rehearsing cyberattacks on neighbors’ critical infrastructure
Internal files describe a training platform as part of a large integrated system designed to allow attackers to practice hacking replicas of “the real network environments” of China’s “main operationa...
therecord.media
February 10, 2026 at 1:07 PM
Leaked technical documents show China rehearsing cyberattacks on neighbours’ critical infrastructure –The Record: ‘part of a large integrated system […] practice hacking replicas of “the real network environments” of China’s “main operational opponents […] South China Sea and Indochina directions.”’
Germany’s ‘China Shock’ revisited – Noah Barkin and Gregor Williams for Rhodium: ‘The drop of the past years poses a major threat to German manufacturers. Unless they find alternative export markets, a wave of German bankruptcies and job cuts is likely to accelerate.’
Germany’s “China Shock” Revisited
Over the past year, German political leaders, central bankers, business associations and unions have begun talking openly about the risks of a “China shock.” The rhetoric, however, has not been matche...
rhg.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:03 PM
Germany’s ‘China Shock’ revisited – Noah Barkin and Gregor Williams for Rhodium: ‘The drop of the past years poses a major threat to German manufacturers. Unless they find alternative export markets, a wave of German bankruptcies and job cuts is likely to accelerate.’
All suspects from telecom fraud den in Myanmar repatriated, China’s public security ministry says – Xinhua: ‘This means that the joint cleanup operation by Chinese, Myanmar and Thai law enforcement agencies in the area has achieved phased results, the ministry said.’
All suspects from telecom fraud den in Myanmar repatriated: Chinese authorities
english.news.cn
February 10, 2026 at 12:55 PM
All suspects from telecom fraud den in Myanmar repatriated, China’s public security ministry says – Xinhua: ‘This means that the joint cleanup operation by Chinese, Myanmar and Thai law enforcement agencies in the area has achieved phased results, the ministry said.’
China’s central government releases white paper on Hong Kong’s efforts in safeguarding national security under One Country, Two Systems framework – Xinhua: ‘the white paper details […] the central government’s fundamental responsibility for national security matters concerning Hong Kong.’
China releases white paper on Hong Kong's efforts in safeguarding national security under One Country, Two Systems framework
english.news.cn
February 10, 2026 at 12:54 PM
China’s central government releases white paper on Hong Kong’s efforts in safeguarding national security under One Country, Two Systems framework – Xinhua: ‘the white paper details […] the central government’s fundamental responsibility for national security matters concerning Hong Kong.’
Taiwan negotiators head to US for final meeting on trade deal – Reuters: ‘Once the agreement is finally signed, the government will report the full details to the public and it will then go to parliament for approval, the statement added.’
Taiwan negotiators head to US for final meeting on trade deal
Taiwan's trade negotiating team has left for the U.S. to hold their final meeting on a trade and tariff deal struck last month, the island's government said on Tuesday.
www.reuters.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:52 PM
Taiwan negotiators head to US for final meeting on trade deal – Reuters: ‘Once the agreement is finally signed, the government will report the full details to the public and it will then go to parliament for approval, the statement added.’
China’s Xi Jinping signals tech ambitions in 5-year plan with tour of Beijing innovation park – SCMP: ‘The proposal for the 15th five-year plan, released in October, underscored the centrality of scientific and technological progress to “Chinese-style modernisation”.’
China’s Xi signals tech ambitions in 5-year plan with Beijing tour
Visit comes as Beijing prioritises tech-driven development and achieving self-reliance in its latest socio-economic blueprint.
www.scmp.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:51 PM
China’s Xi Jinping signals tech ambitions in 5-year plan with tour of Beijing innovation park – SCMP: ‘The proposal for the 15th five-year plan, released in October, underscored the centrality of scientific and technological progress to “Chinese-style modernisation”.’
Chinese stock exchanges slash wait times for loss-making tech firms seeking refinancing and fundraising – SCMP: ‘The reforms signal Beijing’s support for quality firms and scientific innovation, it said.’
China slashes wait times for loss-making tech firms seeking refinancing, fundraising
Three of China’s stock exchanges have relaxed fundraising time thresholds on listed tech companies as Beijing pushes for self-reliance.
www.scmp.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:49 PM
Chinese stock exchanges slash wait times for loss-making tech firms seeking refinancing and fundraising – SCMP: ‘The reforms signal Beijing’s support for quality firms and scientific innovation, it said.’
PM Takaichi Sanae (LDP) targets changes to Japan’s constitution after landslide election win – FT: ‘Takaichi did not specify which parts of the constitution she could seek to amend.’
Sanae Takaichi targets changes to Japan’s constitution after landslide election win
Prime minister says she feels ‘heavy responsibility’ to strengthen country
www.ft.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:47 PM
PM Takaichi Sanae (LDP) targets changes to Japan’s constitution after landslide election win – FT: ‘Takaichi did not specify which parts of the constitution she could seek to amend.’
Chancellor Merz to meet with Rubio, Zelenskiy, and Wang Yi in Munich, German official says – Reuters
Merz to meet with Rubio and Wang Yi in Munich, German official says
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on the sidelines of the Munich Securit...
www.reuters.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:44 PM
Chancellor Merz to meet with Rubio, Zelenskiy, and Wang Yi in Munich, German official says – Reuters
Emmanuel Macron declares a European state of emergency – The Economist: ‘Mr Macron argues for a policy of “European preference” to protect the union’s “critical industries”, such as steel, chemicals and defence.’
Emmanuel Macron declares a European state of emergency
He urges the EU to move fast or be swept aside
www.economist.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Emmanuel Macron declares a European state of emergency – The Economist: ‘Mr Macron argues for a policy of “European preference” to protect the union’s “critical industries”, such as steel, chemicals and defence.’
The EU’s secret weapon to shut out Chinese companies – POLITICO Europe: ‘In March, the Commission will lay out new instructions to impose additional security requirements on foreign companies bidding for public contracts, targeting Chinese firms in particular.’
The EU’s secret weapon to shut out Chinese companies
The European Commission will unveil new security measures on access to public funding in March.
www.politico.eu
February 10, 2026 at 12:37 PM
The EU’s secret weapon to shut out Chinese companies – POLITICO Europe: ‘In March, the Commission will lay out new instructions to impose additional security requirements on foreign companies bidding for public contracts, targeting Chinese firms in particular.’
US is dependent on European tech too, chips bosses warn – POLITICO Europe: ‘The European Commission’s top tech official and chief executives of Belgian chips R&D centre Imec and […] ASML made the comments at the inauguration of a €2.5 billion chips research hub in Leuven, close to Brussels.’
US is dependent on European tech too, chips bosses warn
ASML CEO says chip printers are the machines “the entire world would like to get.”
www.politico.eu
February 10, 2026 at 12:33 PM
US is dependent on European tech too, chips bosses warn – POLITICO Europe: ‘The European Commission’s top tech official and chief executives of Belgian chips R&D centre Imec and […] ASML made the comments at the inauguration of a €2.5 billion chips research hub in Leuven, close to Brussels.’
European industry revolts over EU plan to weaken carbon border tax – POLITICO Europe: ‘They warn that the new exemption clause, […], risks undermining CBAM’s other goal of encouraging the bloc’s trading partners to switch to cleaner production methods’
European industry revolts over EU plan to weaken carbon border tax
From fertilizers to cement, manufacturers warn against introducing a kill switch into the just-launched CBAM scheme.
www.politico.eu
February 10, 2026 at 12:32 PM
European industry revolts over EU plan to weaken carbon border tax – POLITICO Europe: ‘They warn that the new exemption clause, […], risks undermining CBAM’s other goal of encouraging the bloc’s trading partners to switch to cleaner production methods’
China set to widen footprint in Bangladesh as India’s ties decline – Reuters: ‘China has stepped up its investment and diplomatic outreach in Dhaka, most recently signing a defence deal to build a drone factory near Bangladesh’s border with India.’
China set to widen footprint in Bangladesh as India's ties decline
China’s influence in Bangladesh, boosted by the 2024 ouster of New Delhi‑aligned leader Sheikh Hasina, is likely to deepen after this week's election, although politicians and analysts say India is to...
www.reuters.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:29 PM
China set to widen footprint in Bangladesh as India’s ties decline – Reuters: ‘China has stepped up its investment and diplomatic outreach in Dhaka, most recently signing a defence deal to build a drone factory near Bangladesh’s border with India.’
China’s procuratorate charges former official of defence industry regulator with graft – Reuters: ‘Zhang [Jianhua], 64, exploited his various positions at the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND) to benefit others, the prosecutor added’
China charges former official of defence industry regulator with graft
China has accused a former deputy director of its defence industry regulator of bribery and abuse of influence, the top prosecutor said on Tuesday, as Beijing steps up its anti-graft campaign in the m...
www.reuters.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:27 PM
China’s procuratorate charges former official of defence industry regulator with graft – Reuters: ‘Zhang [Jianhua], 64, exploited his various positions at the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND) to benefit others, the prosecutor added’