Finbarr Bermingham
@fbermingham.bsky.social
Senior Correspondent for Europe at the South China Morning Post.
Tracking the shifting tectonic plates of global trade and geopolitics.
All posts should be heard in a Fermanagh accent.
Tracking the shifting tectonic plates of global trade and geopolitics.
All posts should be heard in a Fermanagh accent.
Pinned
7 minutes on Asia: Europe’s struggle for relevance in the age of Trump’s ‘G2’
A brief discussion on the Indo-Pacific suggests a union that is increasingly peripheral – on China and arguably almost everything else.
www.scmp.com
7 minutes on Asia: Europe’s struggle for relevance in the age of China and Trump’s ‘G2’
My long read on the EU's drift to the margins on China - and almost everything else
My long read on the EU's drift to the margins on China - and almost everything else
Clicked this story saying US envoy in Greece wants to force Chinese company Cosco out of Piraeus Port, only to learn who that envoy is.
"I think it’s very important to have American infrastructure here to help support the region" says Kimberly Guilfoyle
"I think it’s very important to have American infrastructure here to help support the region" says Kimberly Guilfoyle
Trump envoy warns Greece that US wants China out of Piraeus port
“I think there’s ways around it, that something could be worked out,” suggests ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle.
www.politico.eu
November 17, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Clicked this story saying US envoy in Greece wants to force Chinese company Cosco out of Piraeus Port, only to learn who that envoy is.
"I think it’s very important to have American infrastructure here to help support the region" says Kimberly Guilfoyle
"I think it’s very important to have American infrastructure here to help support the region" says Kimberly Guilfoyle
According to reports, Duan Yongping - the "godfather of China's smartphone industry" - has taken a new position of 80,000 shares in ASML Holding during the third quarter, with a holding value of $77.45 million, accounting for 0.53% of the portfolio
Duan Yongping's latest billion-dollar portfolio revealed! Newly added position in ASML Holding.
Asthe 13F filings were released, the latest moves of the investment giants have come to light! An investment account managed by Duan Yongping in the U.S. was previously uncovered by netizens, with the institutional name “H&H.” The report submitted by H&H shows that, as of the third quarter of 2025, it holds 11 U.S.-listed stocks, with a total market value of $14.68 billion, approximately RMB 104.2 billion. The latest data reveals that Duan Yongping newly established a position in 80,000 shares of ASML Holding during the third quarter, with a holding value of $77.45 million, accounting for 0.53%, a relatively low proportion. As the world's sole supplier of EUV lithography machines, this recent position-building by Duan Yongping may reflect his focus on core semiconductor equipment globally.
news.futunn.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:29 PM
According to reports, Duan Yongping - the "godfather of China's smartphone industry" - has taken a new position of 80,000 shares in ASML Holding during the third quarter, with a holding value of $77.45 million, accounting for 0.53% of the portfolio
European carmakers are asking suppliers to use parts made outside China
“We had some indications already — questions like, ‘how can you supply me without this dependency on China?’” said the head pf Schaeffler AG’s powertrain & chassis division
“We had some indications already — questions like, ‘how can you supply me without this dependency on China?’” said the head pf Schaeffler AG’s powertrain & chassis division
Nexperia Crunch Sees Carmakers Asking for ‘China-Free’ Supplies
European carmakers are looking into ways to scratch components made with parts from China, spooked by deepening geopolitical spats playing out through chipmaker Nexperia and Beijing’s export controls on rare earths.
www.bloomberg.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:21 PM
European carmakers are asking suppliers to use parts made outside China
“We had some indications already — questions like, ‘how can you supply me without this dependency on China?’” said the head pf Schaeffler AG’s powertrain & chassis division
“We had some indications already — questions like, ‘how can you supply me without this dependency on China?’” said the head pf Schaeffler AG’s powertrain & chassis division
ASML's CEO said the Dutch chip-gear maker has not been affected by tensions between The Netherlands and China over the Dutch government's takeover of chipmaker Nexperia.
www.msn.com/en-us/mo...
www.msn.com/en-us/mo...
November 17, 2025 at 2:17 PM
ASML's CEO said the Dutch chip-gear maker has not been affected by tensions between The Netherlands and China over the Dutch government's takeover of chipmaker Nexperia.
www.msn.com/en-us/mo...
www.msn.com/en-us/mo...
A Chinese owner buys a Dutch certification company, then disappears overnight.
Clients left with stranded products and no idea where their trade secrets have ended up
Great reporting on a Sino-Dutch corporate dust up that does not involve Nexperia...
Clients left with stranded products and no idea where their trade secrets have ended up
Great reporting on a Sino-Dutch corporate dust up that does not involve Nexperia...
Chinese eigenaar doekt ineens Fries bedrijf op. Waar zijn de bedrijfsgeheimen van klanten?
Het Friese DCI, een keuringsclub voor de scheepvaart- en jachtbouwsector, kreeg eind 2019 een nieuw, Chinees moederbedrijf. De nieuwe eigenaar vertrok dit jaar met de noorderzon. Niemand weet nu waar de klantdossiers, vol bedrijfsgevoelige informatie, zich bevinden.
www.ftm.nl
November 17, 2025 at 12:25 PM
A Chinese owner buys a Dutch certification company, then disappears overnight.
Clients left with stranded products and no idea where their trade secrets have ended up
Great reporting on a Sino-Dutch corporate dust up that does not involve Nexperia...
Clients left with stranded products and no idea where their trade secrets have ended up
Great reporting on a Sino-Dutch corporate dust up that does not involve Nexperia...
Colleagues' reports on the cold snap today in Hong Kong... 14°C! I had to clear frost off the windshield this morning in Europe ☃️
But I recall the coldest I've felt was Jan 2016. Polar vortex sent HK temperatures sub-zero. The WSJ put a frostman on the Peak on its front page
But I recall the coldest I've felt was Jan 2016. Polar vortex sent HK temperatures sub-zero. The WSJ put a frostman on the Peak on its front page
November 17, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Colleagues' reports on the cold snap today in Hong Kong... 14°C! I had to clear frost off the windshield this morning in Europe ☃️
But I recall the coldest I've felt was Jan 2016. Polar vortex sent HK temperatures sub-zero. The WSJ put a frostman on the Peak on its front page
But I recall the coldest I've felt was Jan 2016. Polar vortex sent HK temperatures sub-zero. The WSJ put a frostman on the Peak on its front page
Softer words, harder policy: EU recalibrates on China as it seeks rare earths breakthrough
Brussels is in ‘de-escalation mode’ as it tries to convince Beijing to issue more export licences for critical minerals
My report
Brussels is in ‘de-escalation mode’ as it tries to convince Beijing to issue more export licences for critical minerals
My report
‘Don’t mention the war’: EU recalibrates China discourse amid rare earths deal
Official sources say Brussels is in ‘de-escalation mode’ as it tries to convince Beijing to issue more export licences for critical minerals.
www.scmp.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Softer words, harder policy: EU recalibrates on China as it seeks rare earths breakthrough
Brussels is in ‘de-escalation mode’ as it tries to convince Beijing to issue more export licences for critical minerals
My report
Brussels is in ‘de-escalation mode’ as it tries to convince Beijing to issue more export licences for critical minerals
My report
"For nearly a month, parts of Nexperia’s Dongguan production lines have sat idle. Two factory workers said this week some machinery had been turned off due to a wafer shortage since last month, with one estimating that a third of the machines were idled"
How Nexperia saga exposes Europe’s waning influence in US-China chip war
The dispute around the Dutch chipmaker shows the erosion of Europe’s geopolitical neutrality in the face of escalating US-China rivalry.
www.scmp.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:40 AM
"For nearly a month, parts of Nexperia’s Dongguan production lines have sat idle. Two factory workers said this week some machinery had been turned off due to a wafer shortage since last month, with one estimating that a third of the machines were idled"
China’s exports of tomato paste to industry powerhouse Italy have collapsed this year after an outcry over alleged use of forced labour in Xinjiang and complaints about misleading origin labelling by some Italian companies.
www.ft.com/content/deea...
www.ft.com/content/deea...
China left with tomato paste mountain as sales to Italy collapse
[FREE TO READ] Dramatic slump in imports this year hailed by champion of Italian ingredients as an ‘important victory’
www.ft.com
November 15, 2025 at 7:18 AM
China’s exports of tomato paste to industry powerhouse Italy have collapsed this year after an outcry over alleged use of forced labour in Xinjiang and complaints about misleading origin labelling by some Italian companies.
www.ft.com/content/deea...
www.ft.com/content/deea...
Nexperia civil war erupts as firm’s Chinese and Dutch arms trade blows
My report:
Fiery exchange raises tension further ahead of crunch government talks in the Chinese capital next week
My report:
Fiery exchange raises tension further ahead of crunch government talks in the Chinese capital next week
Nexperia civil war erupts as Chinese and Dutch arms trade blows
Fiery exchange raises tension further ahead of crunch government talks in the Chinese capital next week aimed at resolving the stand-off.
www.scmp.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Nexperia civil war erupts as firm’s Chinese and Dutch arms trade blows
My report:
Fiery exchange raises tension further ahead of crunch government talks in the Chinese capital next week
My report:
Fiery exchange raises tension further ahead of crunch government talks in the Chinese capital next week
💥Fiery late-night statement from Beijing on
@lisaocarroll
's explosive interview with Dutch minister Karremans yesterday, in which he said he had no regrets
"This approach was not only reckless but utterly absurd"
Doesn't bode well for next week's talks...
@lisaocarroll
's explosive interview with Dutch minister Karremans yesterday, in which he said he had no regrets
"This approach was not only reckless but utterly absurd"
Doesn't bode well for next week's talks...
November 14, 2025 at 5:51 PM
💥Fiery late-night statement from Beijing on
@lisaocarroll
's explosive interview with Dutch minister Karremans yesterday, in which he said he had no regrets
"This approach was not only reckless but utterly absurd"
Doesn't bode well for next week's talks...
@lisaocarroll
's explosive interview with Dutch minister Karremans yesterday, in which he said he had no regrets
"This approach was not only reckless but utterly absurd"
Doesn't bode well for next week's talks...
Reposted by Finbarr Bermingham
It’s really quite shocking to see such a clear example of what NOT to do. First rule if you’re in trouble: don’t make it worse.
November 14, 2025 at 5:28 PM
It’s really quite shocking to see such a clear example of what NOT to do. First rule if you’re in trouble: don’t make it worse.
The Sino-Dutch row over the control of the Chinese-owned, Netherlands-based chipmaker Nexperia deepened on Friday, as the company’s China units accused the head office of “malicious sabotage” and “shirking responsibilities”.
Nexperia China slams chipmaker’s head office as Sino-Dutch envoys set for talks
In a letter, Nexperia China accuses the Dutch head office of ‘malicious sabotage’ and ‘shirking responsibilities’.
www.scmp.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The Sino-Dutch row over the control of the Chinese-owned, Netherlands-based chipmaker Nexperia deepened on Friday, as the company’s China units accused the head office of “malicious sabotage” and “shirking responsibilities”.
Battery giant CATL remains in talks with Spain’s government over a plan to have 2,000 Chinese engineers, technicians and managers work on establishing a €4.1 billion ($4.8 billion) manufacturing plant in Zaragoza, according to a company executive.
CATL Still Wants Spain to Allow 2,000 Chinese Workers For Battery Plant
Battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. remains in talks with Spain’s government over a plan to have 2,000 Chinese engineers, technicians and managers work on establishing a €4.1 billion ($4.8 billion) manufacturing plant in Zaragoza, according to a company executive.
www.bloomberg.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Battery giant CATL remains in talks with Spain’s government over a plan to have 2,000 Chinese engineers, technicians and managers work on establishing a €4.1 billion ($4.8 billion) manufacturing plant in Zaragoza, according to a company executive.
German Chancellor Merz said Chinese suppliers such as Huawei will be excluded from the country’s future telecommunication networks on security grounds as he pushes for more digital sovereignty.
Germany to Ban Huawei From Future 6G Network in Sovereignty Push
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Chinese suppliers such as Huawei Technologies Co. will be excluded from the country’s future telecommunication networks on security grounds as he pushes for more digital sovereignty.
www.bloomberg.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:05 PM
German Chancellor Merz said Chinese suppliers such as Huawei will be excluded from the country’s future telecommunication networks on security grounds as he pushes for more digital sovereignty.
How depressing is this?
Europe’s top processor of rare earths materials said Wednesday it had forged new partnerships to strengthen supply chains in the United States, deals that come as Europe lags in the race to break China’s chokehold on rare earths
Europe’s top processor of rare earths materials said Wednesday it had forged new partnerships to strengthen supply chains in the United States, deals that come as Europe lags in the race to break China’s chokehold on rare earths
Solvay of Belgium Creates Rare Earths Deals With U.S.
The contracts are the latest sign of how Europe is lagging the United States in the race to break China’s chokehold on rare earths.
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:02 PM
How depressing is this?
Europe’s top processor of rare earths materials said Wednesday it had forged new partnerships to strengthen supply chains in the United States, deals that come as Europe lags in the race to break China’s chokehold on rare earths
Europe’s top processor of rare earths materials said Wednesday it had forged new partnerships to strengthen supply chains in the United States, deals that come as Europe lags in the race to break China’s chokehold on rare earths
To bypass the intra-company stand off at Nexperia, clients are working with Nexperia Europe to purchase silicon wafers directly from its plant in Hamburg, separately transport them to China, and there contract the Dongguan plant for the final packaging
Exclusive: Nexperia customers in talks over workaround to skirt Europe-China chip feud, sources say
Customers of Chinese-owned Dutch chipmaker Nexperia are working with the company on a workaround to bypass a feud between the Europe-based unit and its packaging plant in China, two sources close to the firm told Reuters.
www.reuters.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:27 PM
To bypass the intra-company stand off at Nexperia, clients are working with Nexperia Europe to purchase silicon wafers directly from its plant in Hamburg, separately transport them to China, and there contract the Dongguan plant for the final packaging
Lovely article on an incredible work of art
I’m glad to see William Basinski’s Disintegration Loops get some high-profile appreciation. I came to the record long after 9/11 (via a Radiolav episode about repetition in 2014), so it doesn’t have that association for me. For me, it’s about repetition and change, constancy against time.
How ‘The Disintegration Loops’ Saved William Basinski’s Life
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Lovely article on an incredible work of art
Dutch gov going to Beijing for Nexperia talks next wk
"We welcome China’s openness for furthering close engagement, including in-person. Early next week, a senior official delegation from my Ministry will travel to Beijing to continue efforts to find mutually agreeable solution”
"We welcome China’s openness for furthering close engagement, including in-person. Early next week, a senior official delegation from my Ministry will travel to Beijing to continue efforts to find mutually agreeable solution”
November 13, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Dutch gov going to Beijing for Nexperia talks next wk
"We welcome China’s openness for furthering close engagement, including in-person. Early next week, a senior official delegation from my Ministry will travel to Beijing to continue efforts to find mutually agreeable solution”
"We welcome China’s openness for furthering close engagement, including in-person. Early next week, a senior official delegation from my Ministry will travel to Beijing to continue efforts to find mutually agreeable solution”
Wang Yiwei of Fudan U winning friends in EU
"Leaders shouldn't blame China for Ukraine. China never recognised territory occupied by Russia. You should support China... if China sells more weapons to Russia, war will be ending in Russia's favour, you saw the military parade"
"Leaders shouldn't blame China for Ukraine. China never recognised territory occupied by Russia. You should support China... if China sells more weapons to Russia, war will be ending in Russia's favour, you saw the military parade"
November 13, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Wang Yiwei of Fudan U winning friends in EU
"Leaders shouldn't blame China for Ukraine. China never recognised territory occupied by Russia. You should support China... if China sells more weapons to Russia, war will be ending in Russia's favour, you saw the military parade"
"Leaders shouldn't blame China for Ukraine. China never recognised territory occupied by Russia. You should support China... if China sells more weapons to Russia, war will be ending in Russia's favour, you saw the military parade"
Taiwan's foreign minister says closer ties with Israel align with interests
“Palestine is very bad to Taiwan” because it aligns with Beijing’s “One-China" principle, which states there is only one China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.
“Palestine is very bad to Taiwan” because it aligns with Beijing’s “One-China" principle, which states there is only one China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.
Taiwan’s foreign minister says closer ties with Israel align with the island’s interests
Taiwan wants to deepen its ties with Israel despite criticism over the war in Gaza
abcnews.go.com
November 13, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Taiwan's foreign minister says closer ties with Israel align with interests
“Palestine is very bad to Taiwan” because it aligns with Beijing’s “One-China" principle, which states there is only one China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.
“Palestine is very bad to Taiwan” because it aligns with Beijing’s “One-China" principle, which states there is only one China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.
I'm at the Europe-China Forum in Brussels, which has become a venue for sparring between senior diplomats down the years.
China's EU envoy Cai Run opened saying the EU and China have "no fundamental conflicts of interest" and lashed out at any effort to broach ties with Taiwan
China's EU envoy Cai Run opened saying the EU and China have "no fundamental conflicts of interest" and lashed out at any effort to broach ties with Taiwan
November 13, 2025 at 9:39 AM
I'm at the Europe-China Forum in Brussels, which has become a venue for sparring between senior diplomats down the years.
China's EU envoy Cai Run opened saying the EU and China have "no fundamental conflicts of interest" and lashed out at any effort to broach ties with Taiwan
China's EU envoy Cai Run opened saying the EU and China have "no fundamental conflicts of interest" and lashed out at any effort to broach ties with Taiwan
Understand EU finance ministers have just signed off on the early abolishment of customs duty exemption for low value consignments
Aimed at companies like Temu and Shein, will now be brought forward to early 2026 from 2028. Announcement to come today
Aimed at companies like Temu and Shein, will now be brought forward to early 2026 from 2028. Announcement to come today
November 13, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Understand EU finance ministers have just signed off on the early abolishment of customs duty exemption for low value consignments
Aimed at companies like Temu and Shein, will now be brought forward to early 2026 from 2028. Announcement to come today
Aimed at companies like Temu and Shein, will now be brought forward to early 2026 from 2028. Announcement to come today
Great interview with Dutch economy minister by @lisaocarroll - who is entirely unrepentant about the Nexperia crisis
‘I’d do it all again,’ says Dutch minister at heart of car chip standoff with China
‘I’d do it all again,’ says Dutch minister at heart of car chip standoff with China
‘I’d do it all again,’ says Dutch minister at heart of car chip standoff with China
Exclusive: Vincent Karremans says six-week row with Beijing that threatened global car production is ‘wake-up call’
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Great interview with Dutch economy minister by @lisaocarroll - who is entirely unrepentant about the Nexperia crisis
‘I’d do it all again,’ says Dutch minister at heart of car chip standoff with China
‘I’d do it all again,’ says Dutch minister at heart of car chip standoff with China