#diplomacy
Why We Should Stop Talking about China’s Belt and Road Initiative
China’s most famous global initiative enters its second decade even as it remains mostly an empty slogan. Having bought into China’s successful mythmaking, the West has unwittingly helped to keep it alive.
Israel-Hamas War: Testing Beijing’s Regional Diplomacy
On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, resulting in more than a thousand deaths. As the world braces itself for a potential regional escalation in the face of Israel’s planned ground operation in Gaza, China’s attitude seems to be moving towards “pro-Palestinian neutrality.”
China Aims at Breaking Another Middle East Diplomatic Impasse
As China aims at building upon its previous diplomatic success in the Middle East, achieving normalization between Israel and Palestinians would be a much more difficult task to accomplish.
Voice for CHOICE #27: Sino-Russian Partnership under Scrutiny with Una Aleksandra Bērziņa-Čerenkova
China’s special diplomatic mission is touring Kyiv, Warsaw, Paris, Berlin and Moscow in a stated mission to search for a political solution to the war in Ukraine. However, a number of Central and Eastern…
Amid Heated European China Debate, Hungary Stays on a Beijing-friendly Course
While the EU-China relations are at a crossroads, Hungary’s relationship with the Middle Kingdom seems to be blooming. In the last few years, Budapest has signed a number of massive investment deals with Beijing, earning it the label of China’s European foothold. Although the economic results have sometimes come under question, the political consequences are undeniable.
Speaking Whose Mind? Why the Consequences of Lu Shaye’s Comments Go Beyond the Baltics
Regardless of China’s attempts to cast the Baltics as getting upset over nothing, the scandalous comments on sovereignty of ex-Soviet nations by the Chinese Ambassador to France, Lu Shaye, created a “we told you so” moment for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Again.
Voice for CHOICE #26: Discussing Taiwan’s Parliamentary Diplomacy
Recently, Honduras broke diplomatic ties with Taiwan opening the door to establishing official diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. Taiwan thus lost a ninth diplomatic ally since the current President, Tsai Ing-wen,…
A New Era in China’s Approach to the Middle East
With the reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, China might have paved the way for its more systematized involvement in the region.
Voice for CHOICE #24: Unpacking EU-China Relations in 2023 with Grzegorz Stec
After three years of self-imposed isolation, China has opened up to the world. Xi Jinping has come back to the diplomatic stage and we have seen a renewal of high-level visits. In recent weeks,…
Dancing with Wolf Warriors: China’s COVID U-turn and its Implications for Europe
Both China’s zero-COVID U-turn and gentler diplomatic tone are politically useful for Xi Jinping. European leaders should remain vigilant in the face of a potential new charm offensive.
Will Germany Help Shift EU–Taiwan Ties into Gear?
The European Union is in the process of rethinking its relations with China, with an increasing awareness that China presents mounting challenges to core European values and interests. In Brussels, the issue of systemic rivalry has taken center stage in the China debate, while calls for cooperation and engagement remain. Germany is one of the leading member states that has shown support for change in the EU’s relationship with China, while simultaneously proving to be slow in adjusting its own China policy.