One more bluebell post from this weekend’s walk in the woods - glorious. Shinrin-yoku 森林浴…

Beautiful Japan….

1/9
'China denied generating overcapacity and accuses the EU of protectionism. Xi Jinping reiterated that position in talks with Macron, saying there is no capacity issue viewed from the perspective of comparative advantage or global market demand.'

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

‘Xi’s decision to visit Serbia & Hungary w make it difficult to convince most other Europeans that he comes in friendship. Serbia sits outside both…EU & Nato…Hungary has undermined both organisations from within’

Xi is probing for cracks in EU & Nato on.ft.com/3JOagHQ

Japan may be ahead of the curve in terms of ageing, but South Korea is fast catching up—South Korea has the world’s lowest fertility and will have greater portion of population over 65 than Japan by 2050. Chart from this week’s Economist.

In this column, I argue there’s little point and much risk if the Yuan is allowed to drop significantly, but it could happen regardless 1/5 Risk of a renminbi devaluation is real via Financial Times
on.ft.com/4a7RAhb

Sketching #Japan 🇯🇵

Pianist Ingrid Fuzjko Hemming has died at 92. A 1999 NHK documentary on her eventful life brought her wide public attention at a late age. Her debut CD 'La Campanella' subsequently sold 2 million, which was unprecedented for a classical release in Japan. asahi.com/articles/ASS51…

Super piece. ‘The pressure on Beijing to find a new growth model is becoming acute, analysts say. China has become too big to rely on its trading partners to absorb its excess production.’

Why Xi Jinping is afraid to unleash China’s consumers via Financial Times
on.ft.com/4di6kwL

Chart in FT showing China’s overinvestment, underconsumption.

Chinese floral diplomatic signalling…

Analysis: Xi Jinping sends a message but no flowers to Antony Blinken asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks…

Excellent points made here by Leo Lewis in his FT piece re Japan’s currency weakness etc. Reminds us of the ‘historic’ nature of the economic etc changes now under way in Japan. Piece👉 ft.com/content/1a4899…

This is a great quote from a Chinese official, who’s offering the West a lecture in trade theory and competitive advantage. The trouble is, as you might guess, it’s totally blowing smoke to deflect criticism 1/5

China’s floral diplomatic mood signalling—Xi-Blinken 06/2023 mtg decorated by lotus flowers, this year the flowers have gone, replaced by variegated foliage. Xi-Lavrov in Apr merited flowers…

仏頂面の習近平氏、花が消えた米中関係のきな臭さ：日本経済新聞 nikkei.com/article/DGXZQO…