Geo-Strategic Trend - 19. page

Ishii Taira (Chinese name Shi Ping, 石平), born in Sichuan in 1962, joined China’s democracy movement in the early 1980s and graduated from Peking University in 1984. After moving to Japan in 1988, he broke with the Chinese Communist Party following the Tiananmen protests. He became a Japanese citizen in 2007, later served as a visiting professor at Takushoku University, and was elected to Japan’s House of Councilors this year. A vocal critic of Beijing, he has frequently spoken on Taiwan, the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong.

On September 8, 2025, China’s Foreign Ministry announced sanctions against Ishii, accusing him of spreading “fallacies,” and visiting the Yasukuni Shrine. The measures include freezing any assets he holds in China, banning Chinese organizations and individuals from engaging with him, and barring him and his immediate family from entering China, Hong Kong, or Macau.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi condemned the sanctions as an attempt to intimidate dissenting voices and called on Beijing to withdraw them. Ishii dismissed the move, noting he has no assets in China and no intention of visiting, and described the sanctions as proof that his political activities were “an honor.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian defended the countermeasures, calling Ishii a “thorough anti-China element” who aligned with hostile forces after naturalizing in Japan. He said the actions were legal, necessary to safeguard China’s interests, and consistent with international practice, while criticizing Tokyo for failing to restrain its lawmakers and instead “shifting blame” onto China.

Sources:
1. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, September 8, 2025
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/web/wjbxw_new/202509/t20250908_11704050.shtml
2. Epoch Times, September 9, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/9/9/n14590627.htm
3. Xinhua, September 10, 2025
http://www.news.cn/world/20250910/58e53b9debb347fd94c1772c2f08b2d0/c.html

United Daily News (UDN), a major Taiwanese outlet, reported that the Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Québec and the Australian destroyer HMAS Brisbane sailed through the Taiwan Strait on September 6.

The vessels traveled north along the eastern side of the Strait’s median line, though their final destination remains unclear. China’s military claimed it was conducting “full surveillance” during the transit and asserted that the situation was “under control.”

The joint Canadian-Australian fleet had departed days earlier from the U.S. naval facility in Subic Bay, Philippines. The Ville de Québec recently joined a trilateral patrol with Philippine and Australian forces in nearby waters, an operation that already drew criticism from Beijing. The Canadian Ministry of National Defense has not confirmed the ship’s passage through the Strait.

Source: UDN, September 6, 2025
https://udn.com/news/story/7331/8987939

Taiwanese newspaper Commercial Times recently reported that Masan Group, the owner of the Vietnamese Nui Phao tungsten mine, is considering a sale of the asset. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that two Chinese buyers have recently contacted Masan Group, intending to use proxy bidding to avoid directly exposing their Chinese capital status.

Tungsten is a key strategic raw material for high-tech industries such as national defense, aerospace, semiconductors, and electronics. Data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) shows that China’s tungsten production accounted for 83 percent of the world’s total in 2024. The Vietnamese Nui Phao mine produces approximately 3,400 metric tons of tungsten annually, accounting for nearly all of Vietnam’s production, making Vietnam the world’s second-largest producer after China. Furthermore, the mine’s associated refinery has an annual production capacity of 6,500 metric tons, making it one of the largest tungsten processing facilities outside of China.

In April this year, China imposed export controls on tungsten and several rare earths in retaliation for the U.S.’s reciprocal tariff measures. U.S. diplomats and Western officials have recently visited the Nui Phao mine several times, not only showing support for Masan Group but also sending a signal of “preventing China from monopolizing the supply chain.”

Source: Commercial Times, August 28, 2025
https://www.ctee.com.tw/news/20250828700148-439901

Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that according to people familiar with the matter, the Mexican government plans to raise import tariffs on Chinese goods in its proposed budget bill next month to protect domestic businesses and meet demands from U.S. President Donald Trump.

The proposed tariff increase, which covers Chinese goods such as cars, textiles and plastics, is intended to protect Mexican manufacturers from competition from subsidized Chinese products. Other Asian countries are also expected to face higher tariffs under this bill.

Since the beginning of the year, the U.S. Trump administration has been urging Mexico to follow the United States and raise tariffs on China. Mexican officials subsequently proposed the concept of a “Fortress North America” that would restrict goods from China while strengthening trade and manufacturing ties with Mexico and Canada.

The spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to media inquiries at a regular press conference, pointing out that Mexico is China’s second largest trading partner in Latin America, and China is Mexico’s third largest export destination. China “firmly opposes” any attempt to impose restrictions on China under any excuse by others, which undermines China’s legitimate rights and interests.

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, August 28, 2025
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/world/story20250828-7424641