Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that the European Commission is exploring ways to force EU member states to gradually remove Huawei and ZTE equipment from their telecommunications networks. European Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen plans to translate the Commission’s 2020 recommendation to stop using high-risk vendors in mobile networks into a legally binding requirement.

As trade and political relations with China and EU become increasingly strained, EU is increasingly concerned about the risks posed by Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturers. There are concerns that handing control of critical national infrastructure to companies with close ties to Beijing could harm national security interests. Amidst the global push for rapid deployment of high-speed fiber optic cables to expand high-speed internet access, Virkkunen is also exploring restrictions on the use of Chinese telecommunications equipment suppliers in fixed-line networks.

The European Commission is also considering measures to compel non-EU countries to reduce their reliance on Chinese telecommunications equipment suppliers, including halting payments to countries that purchase Huawei equipment through the Global Gateway program. The Global Gateway Program is a global infrastructure investment strategy proposed by the European Union, with a planned investment of up to 300 billion Euros between 2021 and 2027.

Although the UK and Sweden banned the use of Chinese telecommunications equipment suppliers many years ago, countries such as Spain and Greece still allow Chinese equipment in their domestic communication networks. EU China hawks warn that this inconsistency will pose significant security risks.

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, November 11, 2025
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20251111-7799149

China’s state broadcaster CCTV aired a video on October 9 targeting Taiwanese legislator Shen Po-yang, featuring legal experts who claimed Beijing could seek his arrest worldwide through Interpol and cross-border law enforcement cooperation. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council issued its strongest condemnation to date, calling the move an intimidation tactic meant to coerce Taiwanese citizens into self-censorship.

Shen has been outspoken on defending Taiwan against Chinese influence operations, pushing legislation involving international law, propaganda warfare, national security, and “gray-zone” threats. On October 15, 2024, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office placed him on its list of so-called “Taiwan independence diehards” and announced sanctions against him.

The Chongqing Public Security Bureau has since opened a case against Shen. In CCTV’s broadcast, several legal scholars argued that Beijing could use global policing mechanisms to pursue him abroad. The segment closed with a direct warning to all pro-independence voices: “Stop now, or you’ll be next.”

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council denounced the video as a dangerous escalation, saying Beijing is moving from targeting individual politicians to threatening the broader population—an attempt to impose a chilling effect on free speech. The council described the campaign as transnational repression that violates international law and poses a challenge to global norms.

According to the council, China aims to create a misleading international narrative that it holds legal jurisdiction over Taiwan. Officials cautioned that such operations could eventually threaten ordinary Taiwanese citizens, not just elected representatives. The government, they said, is working with democratic partners to counter unlawful cross-border repression and resist China’s claims of long-arm jurisdiction.

The council reiterated that Beijing has no authority over Taiwan and assured the public that Taiwan has both the ability and determination to protect its people.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), November 9, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202511090124.aspx

Beijing is intensifying pressure on Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to retract her statements about Taiwan, with Chinese state media declaring that China has prepared substantial countermeasures against Japan. The government-affiliated media outlet threatened to impose sanctions on Japanese officials and suspend bilateral exchanges across economic, diplomatic, and military channels if necessary.

The escalating tensions stem from Takaichi’s November 7 remarks stating that “a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency” and suggesting Japan might exercise collective self-defense rights. Despite immediate Chinese protests, Takaichi refused to withdraw her comments on November 10, claiming they aligned with Japan’s established policy position. This prompted China to elevate its diplomatic response, with the Foreign Ministry’s vice minister summoning Japan’s ambassador on November 13 under special instructions from higher authorities—the first time such language has been used in Sino-Japanese relations.

Chinese state media characterized Takaichi’s statements as the most serious provocation since Japan’s 1945 defeat, warning that China’s patience has limits. The outlet emphasized that China has provided Japan with sufficient opportunities to correct course, demanding Tokyo deeply reflect on its historical responsibilities and immediately retract the offensive remarks. If Japan persists, China warned it would no longer show restraint.

The threatened countermeasures include sanctions against Japanese politicians, drawing from China’s existing list of penalties where approximately eighty percent involve Taiwan-related issues. China also noted its position as Japan’s largest trading partner, suggesting economic leverage, as Japanese imports are highly dependent on Chinese goods. Additionally, Chinese authorities issued travel warnings advising citizens to avoid Japan, signaling official recognition of substantial threats to bilateral relations. The state media concluded with militaristic rhetoric, invoking China’s aircraft carriers and missile capabilities as implicit warnings about the consequences of Japanese intervention in Taiwan matters.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), November 15, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202511150189.aspx

A social media post by Xue Jian, China’s Consul General in Osaka, has ignited a serious diplomatic dispute between Beijing and Tokyo. The controversy erupted after Xue posted inflammatory remarks on X in response to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s parliamentary comments on a potential Taiwan contingency.

Citing an Asahi Shimbun report on Takaichi’s remarks, Xue wrote: “For that dirty head that presumptuously extends itself over, there is no choice but to chop it off without hesitation. Are you prepared?” The post included an angry emoji and was interpreted as a direct threat related to Japan’s position that Chinese military action against Taiwan could trigger an “existential crisis” under Japan’s security laws.

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted swiftly. On November 9, Masaaki Kanai, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, lodged a strong protest with the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo. Although Xue deleted the post after the complaint, he posted again the same day, asserting that “if Taiwan has an incident, Japan has an incident” was a “path to death chosen by some foolish Japanese politicians,” and accused Japan—a “defeated nation”—of ignoring its obligations under the UN Charter’s enemy-state clauses.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara confirmed on November 10 that the government had verified Xue authored the posts and filed a formal protest through diplomatic channels. He called the remarks “extremely inappropriate” for a diplomatic representative, though he declined to say whether Japan would seek Xue’s removal.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Takaichi stood by her parliamentary comments during budget committee questioning, while acknowledging she would refrain from making similar hypothetical statements going forward.

Source: Radio France International, November 10, 2025
https://rfi.my/CAf3