Byford Tsang
@byfordt.bsky.social
EU-China relations, China's climate and energy policies, climate diplomacy. Think tanker at @ecfr.bsky.social
Reposted by Byford Tsang
Protecting profit margins today cannot come at the cost of Europe’s industrial strength tomorrow, write @byfordt.bsky.social and Rosa Melissa Gehrung @ecfrasia.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/4nAx1kj
https://bit.ly/4nAx1kj
Green competitiveness: Why Europe should rethink targets to outpace China
European carmakers are falling behind Chinese makers of electric vehicles. Yet watered-down climate targets will not help European cars compete with China; a different approach is needed…
bit.ly
October 31, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Protecting profit margins today cannot come at the cost of Europe’s industrial strength tomorrow, write @byfordt.bsky.social and Rosa Melissa Gehrung @ecfrasia.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/4nAx1kj
https://bit.ly/4nAx1kj
Reposted by Byford Tsang
Next up at Atlantic Council - EU competition boss Teresa Ribera asked about China, which she says is "providing solutions that could help the whole humankind" in the green energy space.
She says the US "seems to be backtracking" on the green front, which "is not helpful"
She says the US "seems to be backtracking" on the green front, which "is not helpful"
September 30, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Next up at Atlantic Council - EU competition boss Teresa Ribera asked about China, which she says is "providing solutions that could help the whole humankind" in the green energy space.
She says the US "seems to be backtracking" on the green front, which "is not helpful"
She says the US "seems to be backtracking" on the green front, which "is not helpful"
China's new climate target is inadequate. But as the EU mulls over their own climate goals, it'd be a mistake to view China’s low target as a sign Beijing is de-prioritising climate and clean tech.
Europeans should understand that China views climate policy not as ideology—but as a lever of industrial power, writes @byfordt.bsky.social @ecfrasia.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/42z4ofJ
https://bit.ly/42z4ofJ
Not so fast: What China’s new climate target means for Europe and the planet
Europeans should understand that China views climate policy not as ideology—but as a lever of industrial power…
ecfr.eu
September 26, 2025 at 11:38 AM
China's new climate target is inadequate. But as the EU mulls over their own climate goals, it'd be a mistake to view China’s low target as a sign Beijing is de-prioritising climate and clean tech.
Reposted by Byford Tsang
Europeans should understand that China views climate policy not as ideology—but as a lever of industrial power, writes @byfordt.bsky.social @ecfrasia.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/42z4ofJ
https://bit.ly/42z4ofJ
Not so fast: What China’s new climate target means for Europe and the planet
Europeans should understand that China views climate policy not as ideology—but as a lever of industrial power…
ecfr.eu
September 26, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Europeans should understand that China views climate policy not as ideology—but as a lever of industrial power, writes @byfordt.bsky.social @ecfrasia.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/42z4ofJ
https://bit.ly/42z4ofJ
Context on China's new 2035 6x solar and wind capacity target - slower than business as usual trend
Generated a quick chart to illustrate your point:
- Following the 2020-2024 trend = 7x of 2020 capacity by 2035
- Following the 2023-2024 trend = 10x of 2020 capacity by 2035
- Following the 2020-2024 trend = 7x of 2020 capacity by 2035
- Following the 2023-2024 trend = 10x of 2020 capacity by 2035
September 25, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Context on China's new 2035 6x solar and wind capacity target - slower than business as usual trend
A symbolic first? EVs are now in China’s new official climate target to the UN. But the target is recycled, watered down and depending on how it’s defined, China will to reach it by end of the year.
September 24, 2025 at 11:19 PM
A symbolic first? EVs are now in China’s new official climate target to the UN. But the target is recycled, watered down and depending on how it’s defined, China will to reach it by end of the year.
Reposted by Byford Tsang
Xi Jinping announced China's new climate targets personally, a positive gesture, but the targets brought little clarity on China’s future emission pathway. Targeting a 7-10% emission reduction by 2035 from an undefined "peak level" undersells China's current clean energy boom.
September 24, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Xi Jinping announced China's new climate targets personally, a positive gesture, but the targets brought little clarity on China’s future emission pathway. Targeting a 7-10% emission reduction by 2035 from an undefined "peak level" undersells China's current clean energy boom.
Reposted by Byford Tsang
China's former veteran climate envoy Xie Zhenhua is in Brussels today to meet Teresa Ribera "to resuscitate flailing international climate negotiations ahead of the COP30 summit in Brazil"
China's former climate envoy to meet with EU to revive flailing UN pact, sources say
China's former veteran climate envoy, who previously secured two pivotal climate agreements with the United States, will meet with the EU's top green transition official on Tuesday to resuscitate flailing international climate negotiations ahead of the COP30 summit in Brazil, three sources told Reuters.
www.reuters.com
September 16, 2025 at 6:50 AM
China's former veteran climate envoy Xie Zhenhua is in Brussels today to meet Teresa Ribera "to resuscitate flailing international climate negotiations ahead of the COP30 summit in Brazil"
Adding to the woes of European wind turbine manufacturers: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Octopus Energy Opens Door to Bring Chinese Wind Turbines to UK
Octopus Energy, the UK’s biggest supplier of power and gas, struck a deal that may bring Chinese wind turbines to Britain for the first time.
www.bloomberg.com
September 11, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Adding to the woes of European wind turbine manufacturers: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Byford Tsang
1/ Too often, news media depict unprecedented heatwaves with “fun in the sun” images of cheery beachgoers or children playing in fountains. But the reality is more long-term, and a lot less trivial: struggling workers, sweating pedestrians, and ecological damage. In full: buff.ly/DuC51F1
September 2, 2025 at 10:12 AM
1/ Too often, news media depict unprecedented heatwaves with “fun in the sun” images of cheery beachgoers or children playing in fountains. But the reality is more long-term, and a lot less trivial: struggling workers, sweating pedestrians, and ecological damage. In full: buff.ly/DuC51F1
Reposted by Byford Tsang
Die deutsche Firma Luxcara hat sich gegen Windturbinen aus China entschieden und möchte nun Anlagen von Siemens Energy nutzen. Das zeigt: Europa kann seine Windindustrie noch retten – aber nur, wenn die Politik entschlossen fairen Wettbewerb sichert, zeigt unsere aktuelle Studie.
August 26, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Die deutsche Firma Luxcara hat sich gegen Windturbinen aus China entschieden und möchte nun Anlagen von Siemens Energy nutzen. Das zeigt: Europa kann seine Windindustrie noch retten – aber nur, wenn die Politik entschlossen fairen Wettbewerb sichert, zeigt unsere aktuelle Studie.
As the UK launches an EV grant favouring European production with lower carbon footprint, Chinese brand Leapmotor mirrored the subsidy with its own cuts, making its model currently the UK’s cheapest. www.ft.com/content/63dd...
China’s Leapmotor sells cheapest EV in UK after mirroring government grant
New discount programme intended to exclude Chinese manufacturers
www.ft.com
August 22, 2025 at 10:49 AM
As the UK launches an EV grant favouring European production with lower carbon footprint, Chinese brand Leapmotor mirrored the subsidy with its own cuts, making its model currently the UK’s cheapest. www.ft.com/content/63dd...
Reposted by Byford Tsang
🇨🇳 📰 NEW | Analysis: Record solar growth keeps China’s CO2 falling in H1 2025
🌿 ☀️ CO2 output of the nation’s power sector fell by 3% in H1 2025 as growth in solar power alone matched the rise in electricity demand
@laurimyllyvirta.bsky.social w/ @carbonbrief.org
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-rec...
🌿 ☀️ CO2 output of the nation’s power sector fell by 3% in H1 2025 as growth in solar power alone matched the rise in electricity demand
@laurimyllyvirta.bsky.social w/ @carbonbrief.org
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-rec...
August 21, 2025 at 12:01 AM
🇨🇳 📰 NEW | Analysis: Record solar growth keeps China’s CO2 falling in H1 2025
🌿 ☀️ CO2 output of the nation’s power sector fell by 3% in H1 2025 as growth in solar power alone matched the rise in electricity demand
@laurimyllyvirta.bsky.social w/ @carbonbrief.org
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-rec...
🌿 ☀️ CO2 output of the nation’s power sector fell by 3% in H1 2025 as growth in solar power alone matched the rise in electricity demand
@laurimyllyvirta.bsky.social w/ @carbonbrief.org
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-rec...
「多半不會有用，多半不會成功，知識只是照見某個角落的靈光。」
梁文道播客在中国平台全面下架 多个社媒账号被封
（新加坡讯）香港文化人梁文道的播客《八分半》，疑因触及敏感议题停更一个月后，被中国大陆音频平台全面下架，多个官方社媒账号也被封禁。
www.zaobao.com.sg
August 20, 2025 at 4:17 PM
「多半不會有用，多半不會成功，知識只是照見某個角落的靈光。」
China has extended its anti-dumping probe into EU dairy products until Feb 2026, keeping leverage in the EV tariff fight. Duties already hit brandy, with a pork probe due by Dec.
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
China extends probe into EU dairy products as trade tussle goes on
China extended on Monday its anti-subsidy investigation into European Union dairy imports by six months, one front in a wider trade war with Brussels and Washington.
www.reuters.com
August 20, 2025 at 11:22 AM
China has extended its anti-dumping probe into EU dairy products until Feb 2026, keeping leverage in the EV tariff fight. Duties already hit brandy, with a pork probe due by Dec.
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
China leads the world in high-quality patent filings for batteries and solar, while Europe retains the lead in wind and smart grids. China applied for more than 2x as many high-quality clean energy patents as the US. @nytimes analysis of @EPOorg data
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
August 15, 2025 at 10:06 AM
China leads the world in high-quality patent filings for batteries and solar, while Europe retains the lead in wind and smart grids. China applied for more than 2x as many high-quality clean energy patents as the US. @nytimes analysis of @EPOorg data
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Chinese wind tech breakthrough: Envision says its 2-blade turbine now matches 3-blade output - cheaper, faster to install, easier to transport, lighter towers/cranes, quicker assembly, better in storms, simpler maintenance.
www.energylivenews.com/2025/08/11/c...
www.energylivenews.com/2025/08/11/c...
August 13, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Chinese wind tech breakthrough: Envision says its 2-blade turbine now matches 3-blade output - cheaper, faster to install, easier to transport, lighter towers/cranes, quicker assembly, better in storms, simpler maintenance.
www.energylivenews.com/2025/08/11/c...
www.energylivenews.com/2025/08/11/c...
Germany’s failed offshore wind auction highlights the cost and risk pressures on developers. Minister now calling for change in auction system. In my briefing with @lukepatey.bsky.social, we looked at the issue of negative bidding & its impact on competitive landscape.
🔗 ecfr.eu/publication/...
🔗 ecfr.eu/publication/...
Germany receives no bids in zero-subsidy offshore wind auction
Analysts say that Germany needs to revamp its auction design and include a ‘contract for differences’ mechanism.
www.offshore-mag.com
August 13, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Germany’s failed offshore wind auction highlights the cost and risk pressures on developers. Minister now calling for change in auction system. In my briefing with @lukepatey.bsky.social, we looked at the issue of negative bidding & its impact on competitive landscape.
🔗 ecfr.eu/publication/...
🔗 ecfr.eu/publication/...
Brazil will bring forward a tariff hike on pre-assembled EV kits to 35% by Jan 2027 (from 14%), to boost localisation and deter assembly-only plants like BYD’s, opened last month and also facing a labour lawsuit over alleged human trafficking. www.electrive.com/2025/08/01/b...
Brazil accelerates tariff hike on disassembled EV imports - electrive.com
Brazil’s foreign trade committee, Gecex-Camex, has announced an earlier-than-planned increase to import duties on disassembled electric and hybrid vehicles,
www.electrive.com
August 12, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Brazil will bring forward a tariff hike on pre-assembled EV kits to 35% by Jan 2027 (from 14%), to boost localisation and deter assembly-only plants like BYD’s, opened last month and also facing a labour lawsuit over alleged human trafficking. www.electrive.com/2025/08/01/b...
Ford is delaying its electric pickup truck and van to 2028 to focus on affordable, small EVs - responding to pressure from Chinese automakers driving down costs and offering a wide range of low-priced models. www.reuters.com/business/aut...
Ford delays electric pickup, van to 2028 as it chases smaller, affordable options
Ford Motor is delaying the launch of two next-generation electric vehicles as it shifts its focus to smaller and more affordable models, the company said on Thursday.
www.reuters.com
August 12, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Ford is delaying its electric pickup truck and van to 2028 to focus on affordable, small EVs - responding to pressure from Chinese automakers driving down costs and offering a wide range of low-priced models. www.reuters.com/business/aut...
As China tightens its export control regime on permanent magnets, Germany sets out a roadmap to cut reliance on Chinese magnets for the wind industry: 15% ‘resilient’ magnets by 2029, 30% by 2030, 50% by 2035.
August 11, 2025 at 4:28 PM
As China tightens its export control regime on permanent magnets, Germany sets out a roadmap to cut reliance on Chinese magnets for the wind industry: 15% ‘resilient’ magnets by 2029, 30% by 2030, 50% by 2035.
Reposted by Byford Tsang
Germany's Daimler Truck’s chief executive has said the group will not rule out an exit from manufacturing in China as the world’s largest truck producer grapples with a “crazy” global down cycle, compounded by US tariffs and weak demand in Europe.
www.ft.com/content/4697...
www.ft.com/content/4697...
Daimler Truck mulls China production exit as it faces ‘crazy’ down cycle
Diesel vehicle sales hit by shift to LNG while US tariffs and weak demand in Europe add to German group’s woes
www.ft.com
July 21, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Germany's Daimler Truck’s chief executive has said the group will not rule out an exit from manufacturing in China as the world’s largest truck producer grapples with a “crazy” global down cycle, compounded by US tariffs and weak demand in Europe.
www.ft.com/content/4697...
www.ft.com/content/4697...
Reposted by Byford Tsang
Spot of the day by @byfordt.bsky.social
The EU readout quotes VDL asking Li Qiang to "limit the external impact of overcapacity - but she actually asked him to "limit the external impact of involution"
Smart of whoever wrote those notes to frame it that way
The EU readout quotes VDL asking Li Qiang to "limit the external impact of overcapacity - but she actually asked him to "limit the external impact of involution"
Smart of whoever wrote those notes to frame it that way
July 24, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Spot of the day by @byfordt.bsky.social
The EU readout quotes VDL asking Li Qiang to "limit the external impact of overcapacity - but she actually asked him to "limit the external impact of involution"
Smart of whoever wrote those notes to frame it that way
The EU readout quotes VDL asking Li Qiang to "limit the external impact of overcapacity - but she actually asked him to "limit the external impact of involution"
Smart of whoever wrote those notes to frame it that way
Quick take on EU-China (or China-EU) climate joint statement:
We'll do more of the same and we'll commit to make some commitments later.
vs. last joint statement back in 2021 - in which China stated that it was going to 'strictly control coal consumption (it didn't)
We'll do more of the same and we'll commit to make some commitments later.
vs. last joint statement back in 2021 - in which China stated that it was going to 'strictly control coal consumption (it didn't)
July 24, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Quick take on EU-China (or China-EU) climate joint statement:
We'll do more of the same and we'll commit to make some commitments later.
vs. last joint statement back in 2021 - in which China stated that it was going to 'strictly control coal consumption (it didn't)
We'll do more of the same and we'll commit to make some commitments later.
vs. last joint statement back in 2021 - in which China stated that it was going to 'strictly control coal consumption (it didn't)
Reposted by Byford Tsang
Last gasp: In their latest publication, @byfordt.bsky.social and @lukepatey.bsky.social lay out a path forward for Europe’s wind industry to reduce its dependence on China.
🧵
🧵
Last gasp: Securing Europe’s wind industry from dependence on China
Europe’s pioneering wind turbine manufacturers are grappling with Chinese competition at home and abroad—but it is not too late to save them…
ecfr.eu
July 1, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Last gasp: In their latest publication, @byfordt.bsky.social and @lukepatey.bsky.social lay out a path forward for Europe’s wind industry to reduce its dependence on China.
🧵
🧵