The Point with Liu Xin China Plus

A Filipino civilian convoy that calls itself Atin Ito, meaning "This is ours" in Tagalog, claims to have breached China's so-called “blockade” around the Huangyan Island in the South China Sea. The flotilla is said to have reached the shoal and resupplied Filipino fishermen operating there. But media reports suggest they stopped 50 nautical miles from Huangyan before returning. The Philippine Coast Guard and Navy watched the mission. What is it that the mission aimed to accomplish? Are the fishermen being exploited? Are there other forces behind this sudden assertiveness?

A blockade in the South China Sea? That's what the darling of the Filipino media Ray Powell says in a tweet about what China will do in Huangyan Island in the coming days. He is a former U.S. air force serviceman who now heads the Sealight Maritime Transparency Project, an organization that overtly counters China. He warned that China will blockade Filipino vessels carrying activists, foreign observers, journalists, and fishing crew to what is known in English as Scarborogh Shoal, a disputed area. What exactly is Ray Powell up to? Who's behind him?

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to wrap up his five-day visit to France, Serbia, and Hungary, on his first official tour to Europe in five years. The three countries rolled out the red carpet to welcome their Chinese guests, stirring a China fervor among the local people and heated discussions in the media. While new opportunities are set to open up in Beijing's collaboration with these countries, skepticism lingers over EU policies on how to approach the bloc's second largest trading partner. To what extent has this trip brought clarity to the issue?

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in France, the first stop of his three-nation European tour. The trip will also take him to Serbia and Hungary, two important partners of China in Central and Eastern Europe. The visit came on the heels of a major speech by French President Emmanuel Macron on the risks facing Europe. It also coincides with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France and the 75th anniversary of China-Hungary diplomatic ties. Why these three countries? What are the risks or "mischief" that Europe should worry about? And where does China fit in?

At the Beijing auto show 2024, 278 NEV models were on display, with Chinese car makers stealing the show and foreign carmakers feeling the pinch. German, Japanese and South Korean giants are teaming up with their Chinese partners to "catch up with Chinese carmakers." How advanced is China's NEV industry? Will these partnerships with Chinese players all become grist for the mill for foreign automakers? With more trade barriers on Chinese NEVs looming, is the West shooting itself in the foot?

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz just wrapped up his 3-day visit to China. With a packed schedule, the Chancellor's delegation was nothing short of impressive with ministers of environment, agriculture and transport, and also executives from big firms including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Siemens. The trip came as Brussels announced earlier this month an inquiry into Chinese-made wind turbines on top of another investigation into Chinese made new energy vehicles since last Oct. Is Scholz trying to have his cake and eat it too, promoting German businesses in China while staying in sync with Brussels? If so, how will that work? Was this visit to China a disappointment like some are saying? Or was it the latest example of respect-based dialogues between the two economies?