Macron in China, seeking stronger ties between two countries

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in China on January 8 for a three-day state visit aiming to “bolster economic and political ties between Beijing and the euro zone’s second-largest economy,” reports CNBC.

• Keen to push for more access to China’s lucrative markets, Macron is joined by a high-profile delegation of around 50 business executives, including the heads of Airbus, Areva, and luxury French brands such as LVMH.

• Macron brought President Xi an unusual gift of a horse during his visit, a move “apparently inspired by the Chinese tradition of ‘panda diplomacy,’” according to the Guardian.
• Jean-Louis Rocca, a China expert at the Paris-based Sciences Po Centre de Recherches Internationales (CERI), told France 24 that besides trade and business, he didn’t see what Macron could do about the North Korea issue, and that the French president seemed unwilling to initiate any human rights conversations with Xi due to Beijing’s hostile attitude on this topic.
• Toulouse-based aircraft manufacturer Airbus is reportedly offering China a production role on its largest passenger jet, the A380, if China agrees to place orders for it. The suggested partnership is crucial to the company due to slow sales of the jet.

• Terrorism
  Rising tide of jihadists stopped trying to return to China, Chinese advisers say
  “Advisers claim 10-fold increase in border interceptions but do not offer absolute numbers.” See also Uyghurs in Syria want revenge, not holy war? on The China Project.
• Shipping accidents
  Rescue crews wrestle to tame China oil tanker fire; body of mariner found / Reuters
  “Rescue crews wrestled to bring a blaze on an Iranian oil tanker off China’s east coast under control on Monday as fire raged for a second day following a collision with a grain ship, while the body of one of the 32 missing crew members was found on aboard.”
• Local government grievances
  Daughter’s long fight for justice for mother’s death in ‘black jail’ / Caixin
  This story is remarkable, and so is its publication in the current media environment in China.
• Hong Kong, New York, and global corruption
  Patrick Ho pleads not guilty to offering US$2.9m in bribes to African presidents and ministers / SCMP
  “Ho was indicted by the Southern District of New York and faces eight bribery and money laundering charges related to pay-offs to government officials in Africa on behalf of a Chinese oil and gas company.”
  Jared Kushner’s company under renewed scrutiny over Chinese and Israeli deals / Guardian