Cornelius Dieckmann
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codieckmann.bsky.social
Cornelius Dieckmann
@codieckmann.bsky.social
1.4K followers 810 following 440 posts
Taipei correspondent @spiegel.de
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Reposted by Cornelius Dieckmann
diplo.de
Wir sind besorgt über die jüngsten militärischen Übungen Chinas rund um #Taiwan. Jegliche Änderung des Status quo darf nur friedlich und in gegenseitigem Einvernehmen erfolgen. Die Bundesregierung ruft zu Zurückhaltung und Dialog auf. Ganze Erklärung 👉 diplo.de/2750632
December 30, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Reposted by Cornelius Dieckmann
hrichina.bsky.social
Today, a lawyer for DHS suggested sending Guan Heng to Uganda, a country with close ties to China that is "more likely than not" to send him back, says Mr. Guan's lawyer. Due to increased public attention to the case, he has been scheduled for a 2nd hearing on Jan 12. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/15/u...
He Recorded China’s Detention of Uyghurs. The U.S. Wants to Deport Him to Uganda.
www.nytimes.com
December 16, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Reposted by Cornelius Dieckmann
germany.diplo.de
The security of Asia and Europe is closely intertwined. Free movement of goods in the Taiwan Strait is important for prosperity in Europe and worldwide. An escalation there would also affect us. Any change to the status quo must be non-violent and consensual. @aussenminister.diplo.de
December 9, 2025 at 6:17 AM
codieckmann.bsky.social
I’m thinking about why this says the U.S. “does not support” unilateral change to Taiwan‘s status quo. Why not “opposes”, as the U.S. has said before?

Purposeful, yet diplomatically veiled, softening of U.S. position as a concession to Beijing? Overthinking?Thoughts?
December 5, 2025 at 2:10 PM
codieckmann.bsky.social
The Trump admin’s new National Security Security prioritises the Western Hemisphere, but does devote significant space to Asia & the Indo-Pacific.

The China portions are focused on trade imbalances. But there’s also quite a bit on military deterrence.

Here are the parts on Taiwan (emphasis added):
In the long term, maintaining American economic and technological preeminence is the surest way to deter and prevent a large-scale military conflict. A favorable conventional military balance remains an essential component of strategic competition. There is, rightly, much focus on Taiwan, partly because of Taiwan’s dominance of semiconductor production, but mostly because Taiwan provides direct access to the Second Island Chain and splits Northeast and Southeast Asia into two distinct theaters. Given that one-third of global shipping passes annually through the South China Sea, this has major implications for the U.S. economy. Hence deterring a conflict over Taiwan, ideally by preserving military overmatch, is a priority. We will also maintain our longstanding declaratory policy on Taiwan, meaning that the United States does not support any unilateral change to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. We will build a military capable of denying aggression anywhere in the First Island Chain. But the American military cannot, and should not have to, do this alone. Our allies must step up and spend—and more importantly do—much more for collective defense. America’s diplomatic efforts should focus on pressing our First Island Chain allies and partners to allow the U.S. military greater access to their ports and other facilities, to spend more on their own defense, and most importantly to invest in capabilities aimed at deterring aggression. This will interlink maritime security issues along the First Island Chain while reinforcing U.S. and allies’ capacity to deny any attempt to seize Taiwan or achieve a balance of forces so unfavorable to us as to make defending that island impossible. A related security challenge is the potential for any competitor to control the South China Sea. This could allow a potentially hostile power to impose a toll system over one of the world’s most vital lanes of commerce or—worse—to close and reopen it at will. Either of those two outcomes would be harmful to the U.S. economy and broader U.S. interests. Strong measures must be developed along with the deterrence necessary to keep those lanes open, free of “tolls,” and not subject to arbitrary closure by one country. This will require not just further investment in our military—especially naval—capabilities, but also strong cooperation with every nation that stands to suffer, from India to Japan and beyond, if this problem is not addressed. Given President Trump’s insistence on increased burden-sharing from Japan and South Korea, we must urge these countries to increase defense spending, with a focus on the capabilities—including new capabilities—necessary to deter adversaries and protect the First Island Chain. We will also harden and strengthen our military presence in the Western Pacific, while in our dealings with Taiwan and Australia we maintain our determined rhetoric on increased defense spending. Preventing conflict requires a vigilant posture in the Indo-Pacific, a renewed defense industrial base, greater military investment from ourselves and from allies and partners, and winning the economic and technological competition over the long term.
December 5, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Reposted by Cornelius Dieckmann
dgap.org
Ahead of 🇩🇪 FM Wadephul’s Beijing trip next week, our Morning Briefing features experts from 🇯🇵, 🇹🇼 & 🇩🇪 to unpack rising Taiwan Strait tensions, EU/German de-risking, Beijing’s posture, and what this means for Europe’s China policy.

Watch it here: 👇
youtu.be/cHeFOQv9byo
China Revisited: Wadephul's Trip to Beijing amid Regional Quarrel over Taipei
YouTube video by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik e.V.
youtu.be
December 4, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Reposted by Cornelius Dieckmann
egasmb.bsky.social
The Dutch did not leave many loanwords in Taiwan, but those they did leave are super interesting. You'd think that the word for cabbage, gaolicai 高麗菜, means 'Korean vegetable'? Nah. Say it in Hokkien: Ko-lê(-tshài), from Dutch 'kool' (Ger. Kohl, engl. cole) XD 😁
December 4, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Reposted by Cornelius Dieckmann
oliverdasgupta.bsky.social
Erhellendes Stück des SPIEGEL-Kollegen Cornelius Dieckmann, der auch bei Bluesky ist unter

@codieckmann.bsky.social

#Folgeempfehlung www.spiegel.de/ausland/us-r...
November 17, 2025 at 8:38 AM
codieckmann.bsky.social
Wenn die Demokraten eines beherrschen, dann den Selbsthass.

Zum Shutdown-Ende @spiegel.de

www.spiegel.de/ausland/shut...
(S+) Shutdown in den USA endet: Demokraten streiten über Strategie gegen Trump
Abtrünnige Demokraten beenden den längsten Regierungsstillstand der US-Geschichte. Gerade noch im Aufwind, entzweit sich die Partei nun darüber, wie sie Trump bekämpfen soll: mit Totalopposition oder ...
www.spiegel.de
November 13, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Reposted by Cornelius Dieckmann
fbermingham.bsky.social
Interesting from Bloomberg on Hsaio's euro-trip

"Taiwanese officials secured permission from the Belgium and German governments for Hsiao’s trip, as well as the bloc’s diplomatic arm"

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Taiwan Appeals to Europe in Bid to Secure Friends Beyond Trump
As anxiety over Donald Trump’s commitment to protecting Taiwan from Chinese military aggression lingers in Taipei, the island’s officials are fanning out across Europe to shore up friendships.
www.bloomberg.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:01 PM
codieckmann.bsky.social
Flug CI61 quert auf dem Weg von Taipeh nach Frankfurt gewöhnlich Chinas Luftraum. Vergangenen Sonntag lieber nicht. An Bord: Taiwans Ex-Präsidentin Tsai.

Über Taiwans diplomatische Europa-Erfolgswoche (Tsai-Rede in Berlin, VP Hsiao im EU-Parlament) @spiegel.de

www.spiegel.de/ausland/taiw...
(S+) Taiwan und China: Inselrepublik feiert diplomatischen Erfolg in Europa
Gerade einmal zwölf Staaten weltweit unterhalten diplomatische offizielle Beziehungen zu Taiwan, umso bedeutsamer, dass Politikerinnen des Landes gerade in Europa diplomatische Erfolge feiern. Doch di...
www.spiegel.de
November 11, 2025 at 8:18 AM
codieckmann.bsky.social
Taiwan’s former president Tsai Ing-wen speaks in Berlin:

“Making ourselves resilient in the face of authoritarian challenges is the key to our survival. In Taiwan, we know what resilience looks like. We understand all too well the danger posed by those who exploit democracy’s imperfections.”
November 10, 2025 at 1:34 PM
codieckmann.bsky.social
It appears that China’s consul-general in Osaka threatened Japan’s prime minister Takaichi in a now-deleted tweet: “If you go sticking that filthy neck where it doesn’t belong, it’s gonna get sliced right off. You ready for that?”

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Japan’s Takaichi Defends Taiwan Remarks After Chinese Criticism
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday defended her description of a conflict over Taiwan as potentially amounting to an existential risk for Japan after a Chinese diplomat accused her of me...
www.bloomberg.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:14 AM
codieckmann.bsky.social
“We believe truth is not dictated by algorithms or autocrats, and that international rules are not a menu – they are the foundation for peaceful coexistence.”

Taiwan VP Hsiao Bi-khim at the IPAC summit in the European Parliament in Brussels

focustaiwan.tw/politics/202...
Full text of Vice President Hsiao's speech at 2025 IPAC summit - Focus Taiwan
Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) visited the European Parliament in Brussels on Friday, where she addressed the summit of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC).
focustaiwan.tw
November 10, 2025 at 1:41 AM
codieckmann.bsky.social
Taiwan’s ex-president Tsai Ing-wen has landed in Germany. She’s to speak at a Berlin conference Monday.

Tsai flew commercial on China Airlines, Taipei to Frankfurt, notably avoiding PRC airspace. Usually CI61 overflies Guangxi. A passenger on the flight told me crew cited the weather when asked.
November 9, 2025 at 7:35 AM
codieckmann.bsky.social
Berlin friends: Highly recommend Joseph’s groundbreaking research on Xi sr.!👇
josephtorigian.bsky.social Joseph Torigian @josephtorigian.bsky.social · Nov 3
This week and next, I'll be giving a handful of talks in Berlin (thread).

On Wednesday November 5 at 4 pm, I'll give a book talk on The Party's Interests Come First: The Life of Xi Zhongxun, Father of Xi Jinping at Humboldt University.

www.geschichte.hu-berlin.de/de/bereiche-...
Colloquium zur Geschichte Osteuropas im Wintersemester 2025/26
www.geschichte.hu-berlin.de
November 3, 2025 at 9:17 AM
codieckmann.bsky.social
The view from Taipei
October 30, 2025 at 5:24 AM
codieckmann.bsky.social
“Taiwan never came up, it was not discussed actually”: Trump on Xi meeting.
October 30, 2025 at 4:51 AM
codieckmann.bsky.social
This was one year ago:
October 30, 2025 at 3:41 AM
codieckmann.bsky.social
Donald Trump und Xi Jinping wollen morgen einen Handelsdeal schließen. Für die Taiwaner bedeutet das angespannte Stunden – und Erinnerungen an ein altes Trauma.

Analyse auf @spiegel.de (thanks @williamyang120.bsky.social)

www.spiegel.de/ausland/usa-...
(S+) USA-China-Gipfel: Wenn Donald Trump und Xi Jinping reden, wird Taiwan nervös
Donald Trump und sein Erzrivale Xi Jinping wollen einen Handelsdeal schließen. Warum das von Peking bedrohte Taiwan einen Pakt zwischen den Weltmächten fürchtet.
www.spiegel.de
October 29, 2025 at 2:42 PM
codieckmann.bsky.social
Very much worth reading. This piece also draws attention to a fundamental problem: Progress in the Taiwan Strait is incremental progress – inch by near-invisible inch. But Trump doesn’t do, or understand, incremental.

www.foreignaffairs.com/taiwan/taiwa...
Taiwan Is Not for Sale
America can make a good deal with China without abandoning the island.
www.foreignaffairs.com
October 29, 2025 at 6:01 AM
codieckmann.bsky.social
Iowas Sojabauern wählten Trump. Doch seine Zölle kosten sie ihren Hauptkunden China. Ausgerechnet hier, wo einst ein junger Agrarbeamter namens Xi Jinping aufkreuzte, der bis heute eine Brieffreundschaft mit einer Seniorin pflegt.

Reportage aus Muscatine @spiegel.de

www.spiegel.de/ausland/chin...
(S+) Sojakrieg am Mississippi: Chinas Rache an Trumps Bauern
Iowas Sojabauern wählten Trump. Doch seine Zölle kosten sie ihren Hauptkunden China. Ausgerechnet hier, wo einst ein junger Agrarbeamter namens Xi Jinping aufkreuzte – der bis heute eine Brieffreundsc...
www.spiegel.de
October 26, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Reposted by Cornelius Dieckmann
oliverdasgupta.bsky.social
Die Sojabauern im 🇺🇸 Bundesstaat Iowa wählten #Trump. Doch seine #Zölle kosten sie ihren Hauptkunden #China 🇨🇳. Ausgerechnet hier, wo einst Xi Jinping als junger Agrarbeamter aufkreuzte – der bis heute eine Brieffreundschaft mit einer Seniorin pflegt. Spannende Reportage von @codieckmann.bsky.social.
(S+) Sojakrieg am Mississippi: Chinas Rache an Trumps Bauern
Iowas Sojabauern wählten Trump. Doch seine Zölle kosten sie ihren Hauptkunden China. Ausgerechnet hier, wo einst ein junger Agrarbeamter namens Xi Jinping aufkreuzte – der bis heute eine Brieffreundsc...
www.spiegel.de
October 26, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Reposted by Cornelius Dieckmann
mathieuvonrohr.bsky.social
Germany’s best-known media brand –
@spiegel.de
– is now publishing more stories in English.

On our new Substack channel, we share reporting, analysis and perspectives you won’t find anywhere else – from politics to society.

👇 Subscribe or start your free trial today
October 22, 2025 at 3:03 PM
codieckmann.bsky.social
Trump ohne Torerfolg: DFB-Elf überzeugt mit klarem Sieg gegen Luxemburg

(Wie sich 2025 anfühlt)
October 11, 2025 at 3:08 AM