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Finbarr Bermingham Profile
Finbarr Bermingham

@fbermingham

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Irish journalist in Brussels. Europe Correspondent, @SCMPnews . Covering Europe's relationship with China. Fermanagh man. Own views, likes = bookmarks.

Brussels
Joined April 2009
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
12 days
Feels like a pretty seismic week in EU-China relations. I get the feeling that we're not in Kansas anymore Here is a summary of the major events that have happened, let me know if I missed any, bearing in mind it's still only lunchtime on Friday...
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
The Polish Consulate General in Hong Kong finding a novel way to commemorate the #TiananmenSquareMassacre today - and troll the local government - on its Facebook page (via a friend)
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
1 year
NEW: Xi Jinping told Charles Michel that people in China were protesting because they were frustrated after three years of Covid, per senior EU officials Xi told them that Omicron is less deadly than Delta, which they sensed "opens the way for more openness of the restrictions"
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
1 year
“This is the time to stop being naive, also when it comes to China,” says Sanna Marin Finnish leader warns democratic countries against being ‘naive’ on China - via @FT
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
3 years
BREAKING! Landslide vote in the European Parliament to put the EU's investment deal with China in the freezer. Motion on stopping discussions on CAI passes by a margin of 599 to 30, with 58 abstensions
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
🚨BREAKING: The UN report is finally out, just before midnight It says that actions of the Chinese government in Xinjiang, "may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity"
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
🚨BREAKING: UN human rights office to release Xinjiang report by end of the day, AFP quotes spokesman as saying.
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
3 years
BREAKING! China sanctions 10 EU individuals and four entities in response to EU sanctions over Xinjiang
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
"After reunification, we are going to do re-education", says the Chinese ambassador to France, on French TV
@BFMTV
BFMTV
2 years
Taïwan: "Après la réunification, on va faire une rééducation", affirme l’ambassadeur de Chine en France
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
3 years
NEW: European Parliament adopts first ever report calling on EU to ramp up relations with Taiwan. 580 for 26 against 66 abstentions Landslide.
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
3 years
BREAKING! "China recalled its Ambassador to Lithuania and demanded the Lithuanian Government recall its Ambassador to China." This is over Vilnius' "decision to allow the Taiwan authorities to open a "representative office" under the name of Taiwan"
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
Tough words from EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell in European Parliament tonight on last week's EU-China Summit, re Ukraine. "This was not exactly a dialogue, maybe a dialogue of the deaf... we could not talk about Ukraine a lot, and we did not agree on anything else."
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
Landslide: UN vote condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine passes: 141 in favour 5 against 35 abstentions China abstained while Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Russia and Syria voted against
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
1 year
Czech President Pavel: “I don’t think China has a real interest to resolve the war in a short time.” “I believe that it is in China’s interest to prolong the status quo because it can push Russia to a number of concessions.”
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
BREAKING! UN Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet to visit China in May, including a visit to Xinjiang.
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
4 months
Amazing story. Liz Truss, who has spent much of her post-PM phase lecturing on the need to be tough on China, secretly lobbied the British government to “expedite” the sale of defense equipment to China This wasn't ages ago, it was in August!
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
1 year
The fallacy of Lexit. I can travel the length of Belgium on imperfect but highly functional state-owned trains for a fraction of the price it would cost to travel anywhere in Britain by train...
@NaomiOhReally
Naomi O'Leary
1 year
It's so strange to hear people in Britain are still repeating that EU law forces private ownership of railways when it's the UK that is the ONLY European country WITHOUT a state-owned passenger rail service company
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
Xi Putin call happened today - translation of the transcript from Chinese state media: "Xi Jinping pointed out that recently, the situation in eastern Ukraine has undergone rapid changes, which has drawn great attention from the international community."
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
4 years
BREAKING: China's economy shrank since the first time since 1976 in the first quarter of 2020. Minus 6.8%, worse than median forecasts, with contractions in March industrial, retail and investment numbers too
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
3 years
Two German journalists had talks promoting their book "Xi Jinping - the most powerful man in the world" at German universities cancelled, under "Chinese pressure"
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
I always thought the breaking of the protocol would be an open goal for Beijing once the UK then talked about the joint declaration... Here we are.
@ChinaEmbIreland
Chinese Embassy in Ireland
2 years
"2 years ago we made a promise to the Northern Ireland Protocol. We are determined to break it."
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
11 months
62% of Europeans think their countries should remain neutral in a US China war over Taiwan, ECFR polling shows
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
"China supports Russia and Ukraine to resolve the issue through negotiation. China's basic position on respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter is consistent."
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
10 months
China and Xi Jinping are “absolutely complicit” in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the chief of MI6 said at a rare public appearance in Prague
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
Wow. China's ambassador to the UN in Geneva said that Beijing would not cooperate with the UN human rights office after the release of a long-awaited report on alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
NEW: UN human rights chief Bachelet at human rights council this morning: "I was not able to speak to any Uyghurs currently detained or their families during the visit."
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
"China decides its position based on the merits of the Ukraine issue itself. Necessary to abandon Cold War mentality, attach importance to & respect legitimate security concerns of all countries & form balanced, effective & sustainable European security mechanism thru negotiation
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
Borrell: "China cannot pretend to be a responsible great power but close its eyes or cover its ears when it comes to a conflict that obviously makes it uncomfortable... because it knows very well who the aggressor is, although for political reasons, refuses to name them"
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
4 years
I just got a PR reply from McKinsey saying they are "not able to comment on topics related to US-China relations nor decoupling". A firm that publishes long reports on supply chain trends, now afraid to comment on one of the biggest global trends. This is getting ridiculous...
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
3 years
Feels like I picked a good week to move to Brussels 🇧🇪☀️
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
Breaking: G7 slams China response to Pelosi visit "We are concerned by recent and announced threatening actions by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), particularly live-fire exercises and economic coercion, which risk unnecessary escalation"
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
The Chinese government today dismissed my report saying Beijing had asked 4 big EU member states to meet Xi Jinping in November as "fake news". Asked about Beijing's denial, my sourcing confirms that these approaches have indeed been made - informal invitations at this point
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
This note was circulated to media by the Russian Embassy in Beijing. Far from showing willingness to negotiate... "Our goals are simple: demilitarization and seizure of foreign arms that are used against the people of Donbas, and to stop the neo-Nazis and their ideology."
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
11 months
Li Hui, China's envoy who toured Ukraine, EU and Russia to discuss the war, gave a presser in Beijing today, a few highlights: Li: "risk of escalation remains high... I stayed in Kyiv 3 days, air raid sirens were sounding every single day and there were 2 massive air strikes"
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
Taiwan confirms it is in talks with Slovenia to open representative offices on each other’s soil, after the Slovenian PM Jansa accused China of “lecturing about democracy and peace”
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
3 years
More than 100 UK MPs and Lords inc shadow FM & LibDem leader, sign letter to Boris Johnson calling for sanctions on top CCP official in Xinjiang Chen Quanguo, and Magnitsky sanctions against officials and entities "responsible for the crackdown on the democracy movement in HK"
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
10 months
Lithuania's Taiwan love in continues 🇹🇼❤️🇱🇹🧋
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
"The European side make clear that this... compartmentalisation isn't feasible...for us Ukraine is the defining moment on whether we live in a world governed by rules or by force."
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
Interesting read. "Xi's brain trust thought in the face of Russia's overwhelmingly powerful forces Zelensky would quickly flee... Ukr military would surrender & fighting would end within few days China made such judgments based on intel from Russia"
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
4 years
Have loved being part of @SCMPNews election team. Three times this week I helped write our newspaper front page. Twice went to bed fearing egg on our face. Today's paper went to print under an hour before Biden was confirmed, so we missed the call but I think we got the essence
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
Outside the EU buildings in Brussels today, protest banners to mark the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover from British to Chinese rule. Organised by some MEPs.
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
3 years
NEW: European Parliament to call for Beijing Winter Olympic boycott and sanctions on Hong Kong leaders over Apple Daily closure on Thursday
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
1 year
After his trip to China was cancelled at the last minute, German finance minister Lindner has called for a tougher stance towards Beijing “We will not let our liberal values be bought for good business deals."
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
In a sign of how nervous EU is about leaks, the discussion on China at today's European Council will be without phones. For security reasons. No such precautions for the long discussion on Ukraine today...
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Finbarr Bermingham
1 year
Italy has signaled to the US that it intends to pull out of China's belt and road initiative before the end of the year.
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Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
🚨 EXCLUSIVE 🚨 Brussels pulls trams branded with slogans marking 25 anniversary of Hong Kong handover following complaints about China's human rights record
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
3 years
NEW: Xinjiang's exports to the EU soared by 131% in the first half of 2021, led by surges in some goods that have been flagged as being linked to forced labour by the United States
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
Belgian PM De Croo just spoke on China at the Brussels Forum. His remarks closely echoed those of Dutch PM Rutte last weekend: "I think the last thing we could, we should do is turn our backs to China the way we are turning our backs to Russia."
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
1 year
In case you missed it last night: My story on the full-blown diplomatic row that erupted after China's archetypal wolf warrior ambassador in Paris questioned the sovereignty of post-Soviet states
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Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
NEW: European Parliament adopts resolution on Hong Kong media freedom by a landslide margin. 585 for, 46 against.
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Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
Appreciative Hongkongers in the replies
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
1 year
Qin Gang to be the next Chinese foreign minister. It was he that doled out China's retaliatory sanctions on EU last year, in language described to me as an "exact replica of Yang Jiechi" in Anchorage 3 days before
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
This comes after the Chinese foreign ministry office in HK warned several Western consulates not to openly commemorate June 4, following a ban on an annual vigil in the city to mark the anniversary of the massacre
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
"We condemn Russian aggression against Ukraine and support this country's sovereignty, democracy, not because we follow the US blindly, as sometimes China's suggests because but because it is our position... this was an important message for the Chinese leadership to hear"
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
New: large group of independent UN experts call for a special convention of UN Human Rights Council to discuss last week's Xinjiang report
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
NEW: UN & China accused of fabricating a “mutually convenient stalemate” after confirming it won't publish a report on human rights abuses in Xinjiang before this month’s Winter Olympic Games
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman in Brussels: "Beijing is seeking to undermine the very system that they benefited from to return instead to a system where might-makes-right and big nations can coerce smaller countries into acting against their own interests"
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
NEW: EU to propose ban on forced labour goods on Tuesday, amid pushback over China’s alleged Xinjiang abuses Story and thread outlining what is in the long-awaited proposal - and what is not
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
5 months
Exclusive: EU leaders plan to personally ask Xi Jinping to put a halt to China's sanctions circumvention in Beijing next week. If he is not amenable to helping, 13 Chinese entities will likely end up on the EU's sanctions blacklist
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
11 months
Ukraine has officially designated Hikvision and Dahua "international sponsors of war". Kyiv alleges the Chinese firms "freely supply Russia with" dual use military goods, e.g. drones, thermal imagers, anti-drone guns
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
4 years
BREAKING: China's manufacturing bounced back v strongly in March. PMI 52 in March, up from all-time low 35.7 in Jan-Feb. Non manufacturing PMI also roared back at 52.3 from 29.6 in Jan-Feb. Could be short-lived w' demand shock ahead, but quite a bounce
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
1 year
Very interesting interview of Chinese ambassador to the EU Fu Cong by @MacaesBruno Asked why China hasn't condemned Russia "We have our own diplomatic style. I think at this stage actually a simple condemnation does not solve the problem. It may reduce your space for diplomacy"
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Finbarr Bermingham
1 year
Said a senior EU diplomat: "You'll never summon an ambassador in the middle of the night if you're not going to declare war" EU diplomats said they were told by Qin Gang: "Now you shut up. There's a new boss in town called China. You're going to obey and we're going to teach"
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
3 years
Some personal news from me Excited to be taking on the role of Europe Correspondent for @SCMPNews , covering the Europe-China relationship at this crucial point in history. I will be moving to Brussels in the near future but in the interim, I will cover remotely from Hong Kong
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
Breaking: After months of speculation, Olaf Scholz confirms he is going to China next month.
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Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
Latvian and Estonian leaders asked about Scholz visit to China with a biz delegation, both called for a 27+1 approach rather than member states freelancing
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
3 months
BREAKING! The EU has suspended its WTO case with China over coercion of Lithuania!
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
1 month
BREAKING! Chinese rail company CRRC withdraws from public procurement tender in Bulgaria after it was subject to investigation under the EU's foreign subsidies regulation
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
1 year
Chinese drone manufacturer Xi'an Bingo Intelligent Aviation Technology has agreed to manufacture and test 100 kamikaze drones, before delivering them to the Russian military, der Speigel reports
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
1 year
China more 'destructive than constructive' on Ukraine - Lithuanian President "Unfortunately, I see the aim of China is to continue this war, make this war even more bloody and in such a situation that China is in hidden or open form supporting Russia"
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
6 months
Biden and Xi set to pledge a ban on use of AI in autonomous weaponry, such as drones, and in the control and deployment of nuclear warheads, sources confirmed to the Post. Important scoop by colleagues @ipatrickbr @markmagnier , Amber Wang in DC
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
In a hawkish speech last night, UK foreign sec Liz Truss said China's "rise isn't inevitable". "They will not continue to rise if they don’t play by the rules. China needs trade with the G7. We represent half of the global economy. And we have choices." (via @BeijingToBrit )
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
NEW: Hong Kong officials owning properties in West accused of benefitting from ‘protections and freedoms’ while overseeing crackdown on rights in HK
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
3 years
Ahead of the G20 this week, IPAC delivered the banned Pillar of Shame to the Chinese embassy in Rome. Exiled Hong Kong protest leader @nathanlawkc and World Uyghur Congress director @MahmutRahima among those who gave speeches Pic via @lukedepulford
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
EU leaders are now saying in public what officials have privately said for some time: Beijing and Moscow are working together “like never before” to redefine the global order. My report on how Europe sees China's role in Ukraine crisis.
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
1 year
Damage limitation on steroids: "Amb Lu Shaye's remarks on the Ukraine issue were not a statement of politics, but an expression of personal views during a televised debate. They should not be subject to over-interpretation. China's position on relevant issues has not changed."
@laurnorman
laurence norman
1 year
If anyone had any doubts about scale of China walk-back of Lu remarks, this ran today on china embassy in Paris site.
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
5 months
Wild, wild story. After an audit found that Volkswagen's Xinjiang plant had no forced labour, the firm's official LinkedIn account posted a note distancing itself from the findings. Note below, story from FT
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
7 months
Landslide vote in European Parliament to adopt the anti-coercion instrument 528 for 24 against 19 abstentions ACI gives EU tools to respond to economic bullying. Initially inspired by Trump tariffs, it gained momentum after China's coercion of Lithuania in a row over Taiwan
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
3 years
NEW: European Parliament resolution on Hong Kong, notably case of Apple Daily, passes with a huge majority 578 for 29 against - calls for sanctions on HK / Chinese officials - Beijing Winter Olympic boycott - emergency visas for HK journalists - support for HKers moving to EU
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
NEW! The EU's anti-coercion instrument will be unveiled this week: it could result in China & other countries accused of economic bullying being shut out of lucrative parts of EU market Story & thread on leaked copy of the draft proposal
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
Incredibly detailed and easy to navigate guide to China's political elite and their future prospects by our infographics team and China desk.
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
1 year
Von der Leyen press conference in Beijing live now "Our trade relationship is increasingly imbalanced. In the last 10 years, EU trade deficit has more than tripled, we discussed that as the trajectory is not sustainable"
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
"China wanted to set aside our difference on Ukraine, they didn't want to talk about Ukraine. They didn't want to talk about human rights and other stuff and instead focus on positive things"
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Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
Boycott Beijing Olympics hashtag trending here in Lithuania
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
3 years
NEW: the European Parliament has adopted a new position paper on China that advocates a much tougher line on human rights, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Beijing Olympic boycott 570 for, 61 against, 40 abstentions
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Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
Zelensky addressing the European Parliament
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
This is what is happening in Hong Kong today
@JessiePang0125
Jessie Pang
2 years
Police officers also searched a man last night who read a book and sat beside two electric candles in Victoria Park, on the eve of the 33rd anniversary of the crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in and around Beijing's Tiananmen Square. 📸: REUTERS/ @SiuTyrone
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@fbermingham
Finbarr Bermingham
5 months
Italy officially exits BRI!
@giuliapompili
Giulia Pompili
5 months
The Italian government led by Giorgia Meloni delivered 3 days ago a note to the Chinese government authorities with the official exit from the Belt and Road - scoop by @galluzzom @Corriere
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Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
NEW 🇪🇺🇨🇳 EU “regrets” UN human rights chief Bachelet's failure to access persecuted groups, individuals and detention centres during a visit to Xinjiang last week.
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Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
Wow. A Chinese employee of the EU Delegation in Beijing has been in prison for eight months. Reason for incarceration: "to stir up quarrels and cause trouble", a crime punishable by five years in prison.
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Finbarr Bermingham
2 years
NEW: The World Bank has been accused of “funding a campaign of repression” of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang New report details almost half a billion dollars lent to companies with deep links to forced labour and other rights abuses
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