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Greenland Seeks “Democratic Partners” for Rare-Earth Development, Not Open to Join Development With China

Greenland Premier Nielsen told Japanese media Nikkei on November 19 that Greenland is seeking partners from “sound democracies” to jointly develop its rare-earth resources, expressing interest in collaboration with Japan, the EU, and the United States. He noted that EU countries are already engaged in raw-material projects on the island and expressed hope to strengthen those partnerships.

Despite China’s global dominance in rare-earth production, Nielsen emphasized that China is not being considered as a partner. Greenland has received no investment requests from Chinese companies and does not view China as a future collaborator. Instead, the island is focused on working with allies and like-minded nations.

Denmark, the EU member state responsible for Greenland, is also unlikely to support Chinese investment, given the EU’s efforts to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals. According to EU officials, most of the minerals designated as strategic by the European Commission are found in Greenland, prompting the island to prioritize joint projects with Europe and Japan.

Source: Epoch Times, November 22, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/b5/25/11/22/n14641177.htm

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

DW Chinese: China’s Manufacturing PMI in Contraction for Eighth Consecutive Month

Data recently released by China’s National Bureau of Statistics showed the Chinese manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) reached 49.2 in November, remaining below the 50-point threshold that marks expansion from contraction. This indicates China’s manufacturing sector declined for the eighth consecutive month, Deutsche Welle Chinese reports.

The latest data shows that Chinese companies have been struggling to recover since the pandemic. Furthermore, the U.S.-China trade dispute has severely impacted many factories and manufacturing sectors. Looking at the sub-indices, production output remained at 50.0, showing a stagnant year-over-year growth; both the new orders and new export orders indices improved compared to October, but still did not return to the expansion range above 50.

The PMI for Chinese small manufacturing companies rose by two percentage points in November, reaching a near six-month high of 49.1. This improvement may be attributed to the resilience of the export sector and the recent reduction of high tariffs by U.S. President Trump, which has partially alleviated the export pressure on Chinese products.

China’s policymakers now face a dilemma: continue pushing through difficult structural reforms, or should they introduce more stimulus policies to boost domestic demand?

Source: Deutsche Welle Chinese, November 30, 2025
https://tinyurl.com/2m42mc5m

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

CCTV Reports Crackdown on Espionage Targeting China’s Crop Genetic Data

China Central Television (CCTV) reports that state security agencies have uncovered and disrupted foreign espionage operations aimed at obtaining the genetic data and seed resources of key crops including soybeans, corn, and rice. According to the report, foreign intelligence services sought to acquire hybrid parent seeds — which are banned from export — by recruiting domestic collaborators and using covert methods, such as concealing seeds in export consignments. One suspect, surnamed Zhu, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison, while 17 others were given administrative penalties.

The report claims that foreign “research teams,” in some cases linked to diplomats, made repeated attempts to enter major grain-producing regions to gather data on production and reserves under the guise of field studies. These individuals allegedly employed counter-surveillance techniques, including changing vehicles, traveling on rural routes, and displaying cautious behavior in the field, before being intercepted by security officials.

CCTV described these activities as a significant threat to China’s food security and to the protection of its agricultural genetic resources. National security agencies stated that they are continuing to investigate and prevent such incidents, and called on the public to report suspicious activity through official channels.

Source: CCTV, November 3, 2025
https://news.cctv.com/2025/11/03/ARTIVnWtm4dzLDLv654LYruG251103.shtml

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military Economy/Resources

Dutch Chipmaker Nexperia Urges China Unit to Resume Operations Amid Disruptions

In a public letter issued on November 28, 2025, Dutch chipmaker Nexperia called on its Chinese subsidiary — controlled by Wingtech Technology — to restore normal supply-chain operations. The company warned that clients across multiple industries have reported that their production is “on the verge of shutdown,” highlighting the urgent need to stabilize chip deliveries.

Wingtech immediately pushed back, describing Nexperia’s allegations as “grossly misleading and false.” The Chinese parent company claims the disruption stems from what it calls an unlawful effort by Nexperia’s Dutch management to strip Wingtech of corporate control and shareholder rights. According to Wingtech, these moves — launched after the Dutch government intervened to seize supervisory control of Nexperia in September 2025 — triggered the breakdown in internal cooperation and subsequent supply-chain paralysis.

The dispute now extends far beyond corporate governance. Supplies for global automotive and electronics manufacturers have already been disrupted, as Nexperia primarily packages and tests its chips in China — especially at its major facility in Dongguan, Guangdong Province — before exporting them worldwide. Current inventory buffers may last only a few months, raising industrywide concerns over potential semiconductor shortages should the stalemate continue.

Background:
Nexperia, formerly a division of Philips, was acquired in 2018 by Chinese electronics group Wingtech. Over the following years, the parent Chinese company shifted a significant share of the company’s semiconductor output to China, with assembly and testing centered in Dongguan while wafer fabrication remained in Europe. In September 2025, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs invoked the wartime-era Goods Availability Act to take supervisory control of Nexperia, citing fears that core technology and intellectual property could be transferred to China. Beijing responded by halting exports of Nexperia-produced chips from China — disrupting the supply of key components for automakers and other global manufacturers and setting the stage for the current standoff.

Source: Epoch Times, November 28, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/11/28/n14645200.htm

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

First China-Egypt Investment Forum Held in Cairo

CCP media outlet People’s Daily recently reported that the inaugural China–Egypt Investment Forum recently convened in Cairo, “bringing together more than 200 Chinese and Egyptian companies.” The event aimed to “deepen bilateral economic cooperation, highlight new investment opportunities, and create a stronger platform for industrial and commercial partnerships. It marks a significant step by both countries to further elevate their economic relationship and promote long-term cooperation.”

Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Hassan Hatib, said the Egyptian government is committed to attracting additional Chinese investment, expanding joint manufacturing and export bases, and strengthening the country’s industrial capabilities. He emphasized that Egypt “welcomes more Chinese enterprises and seeks to enhance collaboration in high-value sectors.”

Representing China, Vice Minister of Commerce Ling Ji noted that China has been Egypt’s largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years. He highlighted the achievements of the China–Egypt Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, which now hosts nearly 200 companies, and stressed that China will continue supporting the development of Egypt’s industrial parks and investment environment.

Source: People’s Daily, November 12, 2025
https://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/pc/content/202511/12/content_30114463.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources Geo-Strategic Trend

Over Seven Banks Have Removed 5-Year Fixed Deposits from Their Offerings

Jiemian News, an online outlet under Shanghai United Media Group, recently reported that Chinese banks are accelerating efforts to shorten the maturity of their liabilities at an unprecedented pace. This shift has led to a rare development in the financial market: five-year fixed deposits—long regarded as a cornerstone savings product—are quietly disappearing from the product lists of numerous banks, including China’s six major state-owned lenders. Even three-year fixed-deposit products have begun to vanish.

The withdrawal of five-year deposits began with small and medium-sized banks. Rather than isolated incidents, the trend has shown signs of multiple outbreaks and gradual spread across the sector. According to incomplete statistics, since October 2025, more than seven small and medium-sized banks in Inner Mongolia, Guangdong, Beijing, and other regions have removed their five-year fixed-deposit offerings.

Analysts say the primary driver behind this shift is the widespread expectation of further interest-rate declines. To better manage risk and reduce the cost of long-term liabilities, many banks are adjusting their deposit-gathering strategies. The underlying pressure comes from the shrinking net interest margin (NIM)—a key profitability indicator for banks.

The industry generally considers a 1.8 percent NIM to be the minimum safe level for stable operations. However, the average NIM of Chinese banks has already fallen below 1.5 percent. Large state-owned commercial banks are seeing NIMs as low as 1.31 percent, with some major lenders dropping to 1.21 percent.

Sources:
(1) Jiemian, November 24, 2025
https://www.jiemian.com/article/13674700.html
(2) STCN, November 28, 2025
https://www.stcn.com/article/detail/3517404.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

HK01: Canon’s Zhongshan Factory to Close After 23 Years of Operation

Popular Hong Kong online media outlet HK01 recently reported that Canon (Zhongshan) Office Equipment Co. has issued an online announcement declaring the cessation of its operations. According to the notice, due to “significant changes in the operating environment,” the company has decided to halt all production and business activities and officially shut down.

Canon (Zhongshan), established in 2001, is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise set up by Japan’s Canon Corporation in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province. The company specialized in manufacturing color and monochrome laser printers, with most of its products exported to overseas markets. It was once one of the world’s major production hubs for monochrome laser printers, at one point supplying half of the global market. As of April 2022, its cumulative production volume had reached 110 million units.

In the announcement, the company explained that the global laser printer market has been contracting in recent years, placing increasing pressure on its operations. Despite adopting multiple countermeasures, it was unable to reverse the situation. After careful consideration by headquarters, the final decision was made to close the company. Canon Zhongshan stated that it will formulate a compensation plan exceeding legal requirements to help mitigate the impact on employees.

Source: HK01, November 26, 2025
https://tinyurl.com/58st8n35

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

China’s Banking Sector Sees Rapid Growth in Distressed-Asset Sales

By the end of the third quarter of 2025, Chinese commercial banks reported a total of 3.5 trillion yuan (US$490 billion) in non-performing loans (NPLs), an increase of 88.3 billion yuan from the previous quarter. The NPL ratio rose to 1.52 percent, up 0.03 percentage points. Profitability has also continued to weaken: in the first three quarters, the sector’s average return on equity fell to 8.18 percent from 8.77 percent in 2024, while return on assets declined from 0.68 percent to 0.63 percent.

Distressed-loan transfer announcements—banks selling off bad-loan portfolios—have surged to 1,166 so far this year, far exceeding the four-year annual average of about 680. On November 14 alone, eight banks disclosed transfers totaling more than 8.5 billion yuan, mostly involving long-overdue loans, many delinquent for over five years. Some asset packages are extremely large, reaching into the tens or even hundreds of billions. In one case, a bank transferred a portfolio with a principal balance of about 500 billion yuan, which ballooned to nearly 700 billion yuan after including interest and penalties.

The liquidation wave now extends beyond loan portfolios. Banks across China—including major state-owned lenders—are directly selling foreclosed real estate, alcohol inventories, and even small tradable goods, rather than relying on court-organized auctions. Many of these assets are being listed at steep discounts, in some cases just 25–30 percent of market value. For example, a property in Guangzhou that previously sold for over 2.2 million yuan was recently listed for under 800,000 yuan. Yet even with heavy markdowns, many properties still struggle to attract buyers, underscoring the depth of the current demand slump.

Source: Epoch Times, November 15, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/b5/25/11/14/n14636104.htm

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