Blog
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Comparing French and German diplomatic visits to China
Just after French president Emmanuel Macron returns from his state visit to China, the German foreign minister Johann Wadephul will make his delayed visit to Beijing after all. This is as good an occasion as any to compare the two major powers in the European Union. Recently I wrote about Xi Jinping’s travels. I once
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Xi Jinping’s changing dominance seen through diplomatic patterns
Since Xi Jinping has begun his third term, much has been written about him delegating more responsibilities to a new crop of trusted subordinates, both domestically and abroad. This is an important development in a tenure that has seen big political shifts in China. It therefore pays to delve into what is different about Xi
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EU must understand Xi is getting started with his own international community
This past week was filled with symbols from China suggesting a shifting world order. Sunday and Monday leaders gathered in Tianjin for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting. Wednesday morning, the People’s Liberation Army marched across Tiananmen Square to commemorate the end of the Second World War. As the West is falling apart at the
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Beijing’s Maoist ‘struggle’ and the Trade War
The US trade and tech wars with China have their ups and downs as Trump goes back and forth. China’s view of the game, though, is clear. Beijing is in it to win it. Observers raise questions what if any goals President Donald Trump has. Xi Jinping is engaged in a determined struggle. Long-established Maoist
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Selected bibliography of accusations against Huawei
A lot has been said and written about the risks of the Chinese telecommunications and surveillance company Huawei. This overview aims to provided a selection of credible articles. It separates direct accusations of espionage for the benefit of the Chinese state from articles on broader risks, company behaviour, and counter actions. State espionage Aglionby, John,
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Beijing appears to try including Taiwan ‘prudence’ in US-China trade negotiation language
Since Trump recklessly started a global trade war with his economically illiterate policies, understandably most attention has gone to tariffs and other trade measures. The US-China trade negotiations in Geneva and London make clear that both sides are hurting. It is not clear who will get ahead in the stand-off between Chinese export dependency and
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Europe is not essential for Xi Jinping at China’s epochal moment with the US. That offers opportunities too
It is not just Beijing’s steadfast support for Putin’s Russia that raises questions about China’s true commitment to better ties with the European Union (EU). The charm non-offensive of empty gestures towards Brussels as the US-China trade war hots up also makes abundantly clear how Xi Jinping really thinks about Europe. Europe is not essential
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Trends in Chinees-Nederlandse diplomatieke betrekkingen op basis van data
Nederlands buitenlandminister Caspar Veldkamp (NSC) was deze week in China voor zijn kennismakingsbezoek. Dat biedt een mooi excuus om de staat op te maken van de diplomatieke betrekkingen tussen Den Haag en Peking. Hoe goed is onze band eigenlijk, na al die ASML-ophef en Oekraïne-zorgen? Best goed, blijkt uit mijn gegevens. De saaie voorspelbaarheid van
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China is klaar met het Westen, maar niet met Europa
Terwijl het Westen een existentiële crisis doormaakte, was in Peking de jaarlijkse parlementszitting. Zorgvuldig uitgekozen afgevaardigden hoorden hoe de Chinese regering doorgaat met haar ambitieuze plannen voor een nieuw tijdperk. Xi Jinping heeft het nooit zo op het Westen gehad. Nu ziet hij het Atlantische bondgenootschap uiteenvallen terwijl zijn investeringen in industrie vruchten afwerpt. Het
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In this Cold War, Europe risks becoming the new Asia
That uneasy feeling in Europe when China and Brazil launch a ‘peace’ initiative on Ukraine that goes against Brussels stated aims? The post-failed-coup worry about South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung’s seeming indifference to Russia’s activities? India just one country happily continuing to engage with Moscow? Europeans are getting a quick lesson about a global