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CNA: BloombergNEF Puts Canada Ahead of China in Lithium Battery Production Capabilities

Primary Taiwanese news agency Central News Agency (CNA) recently reported that Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BloombergNEF) has released a ranking report on global supply chains for lithium-ion batteries. Canada surpassed China for the first time as number one in the rankings, topping the list of 30 countries. According to BloombergNEF, the “Global Lithium-Ion Battery Supply Chain Ranking [is] an annual assessment that rates 30 countries on their potential to build a secure, reliable, and sustainable lithium-ion battery supply chain.”

The below excerpts are translated from the CNA article:

“China ranked first for the three years prior before falling to second place in the 2024 edition of the BNEF ranking. Canada moved to the top of the list from second place, and the United States now ranks third among battery producers.”

“Canada currently accounts for only a fraction of China’s lithium-ion battery production. BloombergNEF’s analysis focuses on future battery supply chain developments.”

“The Canadian government continues to invest new funds to expand support programs for electric vehicle battery manufacturing.”

“Multinational companies investing in the electric vehicle industry such as Ford, Stellantis, Volkswagen, South Korea’s LG Energy Solution, and Umicore have already started developments in Canada.”

“BloombergNEF examined 46 indicators across five categories to measure each country’s potential to build a safe, reliable and sustainable lithium-ion battery supply chain. These categories include raw materials, battery manufacturing, downstream demand, environmental and social governance, as well as industry, infrastructure and innovation.”

Sources:
CNA, February 8, 2024
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/afe/202402080055.aspx

BloombergNEF, February 5, 2024
https://about.bnef.com/blog/china-drops-to-second-in-bloombergnefs-global-lithium-ion-battery-supply-chain-ranking-as-canada-comes-out-on-top/

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources Geo-Strategic Trend

Israel Changed from Pro-China to Anti-China During the Israel-Hamas War

Israel had a good relationship with Beijing for the past several decades. It provided many advanced technologies to China, and it seldom criticized the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for its human rights crimes. For example, Israel provided China with military drone technology and air-to-air missiles. It also shared its fighter jet IAI Lavi with China, leading to the development of China’s own J-10 fighter jet.

However, Beijing decided to take a pro-Hamas position in the Israel-Hamas War, keeping to its anti-U.S. ideology. In doing so, Beijing alienated Israel.

On January 23, when the United Nations reviewed China’s human rights record, Israel’s representative stated that the Israeli government is watching developments in Xinjiang and is monitoring the Uyghur human rights situation there. The representative called for China to take measures to improve its human rights record.

Xinhua followed up by publishing an article to counter Israel, saying that “calling attention to China’s human rights record is ridiculous and a ‘double-standard'” since Israel has been killing civilians and creating a humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip.

Source: Epoch Times, February 2, 2024
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/24/2/1/n14171594.htm

Briefings | | |   @CS Defense/Military Geo-Strategic Trend

China Hacks and Leaks Confidential Japanese Diplomatic Cables

Japan’s Kyodo News reported that in 2020 China conducted a cyberattack on the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ system for exchanging diplomatic messages with foreign embassies, resulting in classified information being leaked. The messaging system, called the “International IPVPN,” operates on a virtual private network separate from the general internet. Leaks of confidential diplomatic communications are extremely rare.

At a press conference, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said he could not answer questions about the cyberattack due to information security issues. He also said that he was unaware of any classified information from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs having been leaked.

The compromised diplomatic messages include sensitive reports and instructions exchanged between the Ministry’s headquarters and embassies abroad. They may have also contained private information that Japan collected regarding foreign governments. The Japanese government has not disclosed the extent of the leak, the specific contents of the messages, or how the attack was discovered.

The hacking demonstrates the increasing importance of cyberspace as a theater for espionage and geopolitical confrontation. Japan’s diplomatic communications likely contain valuable intelligence for other countries seeking greater influence in the region. The Japanese government’s lack of transparency around the attack makes it difficult to assess the full implications of the incident, however. Going forward, Japan’s government plans to make a top priority of bolstering cybersecurity in its confidential diplomatic relations with strategic partners.

Source: Kyodo News, February 5, 2024
https://china.kyodonews.net/news/2024/02/5147b37c47db–.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Nikkei Chinese: U.S. Surpassed China to Become Japan’s Largest Export Destination

Nikkei Chinese Edition recently reported that, for the first time in four years, the United States surpassed China as the top destination for Japanese exports in 2023. The United States economy currently appears strong, and Japan’s exports to the United States are recovering in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, the Chinese economy is struggling, and Japanese exports to China are sluggish.

The 2023 trade statistics report released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance showed that the country’s total exports were 100.8865 trillion yen (around US$681 billion), exceeding 100 trillion yen for the first time and representing an increase of 2.8 percent over the previous year. Total imports were valued at 110.1779 trillion yen (around US$743 billion), a decrease of 7 percent. Japan’s trade deficit was 54.3 percent smaller than in 2022. Exports to the United States were 20.2668 trillion yen (around US$137 billion), a year-over-year increase of 11 percent. Exports to the European Union were 10.374 trillion yen (around US$70 billion), an increase of 10.9 percent year-over-year. Japanese automobile exports to the U.S. grew 35.5 percent year-over-year, driving overall growth. A weaker yen helped exports too.

Japan’s exports to China were significantly affected by China’s economic slowdown, a major component of which is rooted in China’s current real estate market slump. China’s unemployment rate is high, and willingness to consume within the country has been weakened.

Despite strong year-over-year growth, Japan’s future exports to the United States still face many risks, including potential slowdown in the U.S. economy. Moreover, China’s economy could be slow to recover, leading to slow export growth for Japan and continued trade deficits.

Source: Nikkei Chinese, January 26, 2024
https://cn.nikkei.com/politicsaeconomy/investtrade/54664-2024-01-26-05-00-10.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

China’s 2023 Crude Oil Imports from Russia Exceeded 100 Million Tons for the First Time

China imported more than 107 million tons of crude oil from Russia in 2023, according to data from China’s General Administration of Customs reported by well-known Chinese news site Sina (NASDQ: SINA). This represents a year-over-year increase of 24 percent in Chinese oil imports from Russia, accounting for approximately 19 percent of China’s total crude oil imports last year and marking the first time in four years that Russia was the biggest source of crude oil supplying China.

In the meantime, Saudi Arabia supplied 85.96 million tons of crude oil to China, a year-over-year decrease of 1.7 percent, ranking second among sources of oil supplying China; Iraq exported 59.26 million tons of crude to China, ranking third; Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates supplied China with 54.79 million tons and 41.82 million tons of crude oil, ranking fourth and fifth, respectively.

Following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Russia has responded to Western sanctions by increasing oil and gas exports to China, India and other Asian countries. In 2023, about 90 percent of Russia’s oil and petroleum exports went to China and India. In the past two years India, has accounted for about 40 percent of Russia’s total crude oil exports, Russia supplied almost no crude oil to India before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

According to the Sina news article, “China and Russia are continuing to deepen energy cooperation.”

Source: Sina, January 22, 2024
https://finance.sina.cn/2024-01-22/detail-inaeknmk4499156.d.html?from=wap

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources Geo-Strategic Trend

Lianhe Zaobao: More German Companies Considering Withdrawal from Chinese Market

According to Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao, the latest survey by the German Chamber of Commerce in China found that the number of German companies withdrawing or considering abandoning the Chinese market has doubled in the past four years. The survey’s findings, which come as China’s economy continues to weaken, highlight the challenges facing German companies operating in China. Top concerns cited by German companies include increased competition from local Chinese companies, unfair restrictions on market access, economic headwinds, and geopolitical risks.

The survey was conducted from September 5 to October 6 of 2023, with a total of 566 member companies polled. About two percent of German companies in China said they were selling the Chinese arms of their business, and seven percent said they were considering doing so. In contrast, the same survey conducted in 2020 showed that only four percent of German companies operating in China had exited or were considering an exit from China.

According to the survey, 44 percent of responding German companies have taken specific measures to address the risks of operating in China, including establishment of alternative supply chains that are independent of China. Another 54 percent of responding companies believe that the attractiveness of investment in China is declining.

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, January 25, 2024
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/finance/china/story20240125-1464321

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources Geo-Strategic Trend

RMB Takes Top Spot on Moscow Currency Exchange for 2023

According to reports from Russian media, in 2023, the trading volume of the Chinese yuan (RMB) on the Moscow Exchange exceeded that of the US dollar, accounting for 42 percent of the total foreign exchange trading volume.

The yuan’s trading volume reached 34.15 trillion rubles, three times the previous year’s volume of 10.25 trillion rubles. The trading volume of the US dollar was about 32.49 trillion rubles, constituting less than 40 percent of the exchange’s total trading volume. The trading volume of the euro was 14.6 trillion rubles, accounting for less than 18 percent and ranking third on the exchange. In 2022, the combined trading share of the US dollar and the euro on the Moscow Exchange was 87%.

Starting on December 4, 2023, the Moscow Exchange introduced three new tools for trading the Chinese yuan against the ruble, aiming to enhance the convenience of market participants in currency exchange transactions and reduce trading risks.

Source: People’s Daily, January 20, 2024
http://world.people.com.cn/n1/2024/0120/c1002-40163076.html

Briefings | | |   @CS Economy/Resources Geo-Strategic Trend

People’s Daily: China’s Great Wall Motors Produces Thailand’s First Electric Vehicle

Thailand’s first locally-produced electric vehicles recently rolled off the production line at the Rayong New Energy Automotive Manufacturing Base, a factory operated by China’s Great Wall Motors.

Great Wall Motors acquired the Rayong factory in November 2020, becoming the first Chinese automotive brand to fully enter the Thai market.

The Thai government aims to increase the country’s electric vehicle output to 30% of its total automotive production by 2030. It aims to become the production hub for electric vehicles and components in the ASEAN region.

Source: People’s Daily, January 15, 2024
http://world.people.com.cn/n1/2024/0115/c1002-40158671.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources Geo-Strategic Trend