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Beijing Seeks a Gateway to Europe via Budapest

Beijing’s main interest in strengthening relations with Budapest is not about Hungary itself but about Europe as a whole. A friendly EU member means opportunities to shape EU-China economic and political relations more in the CCP’s favor. The long list of strategic sectors in which the two sides signed cooperation agreements during Xi’s Budapest visit should be a concern for other EU and NATO states.

Why the EU Must Keep Talking with China about Russia 

It seems that recently, there have been growing doubts as to whether there is still a need to talk to China about Russia and their ‘no-limits’ friendship. This was noticeable during Scholz’s visit to China, whose request to Xi Jinping to put pressure on Putin to withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine was met with harsh criticism. While Scholz’s visit deserves to be scrutinized, mainly because his stance undermines the EU China agenda, including the German China strategy, his comments on Ukraine should not be assessed so negatively. Raising the Russia issue and asking China to put pressure on Putin is an important factor in the Western delicate deterrence-assurance game with Beijing. 

The Role of Cities in German China Policy

The engagement of German cities with their Chinese partners has come under scrutiny recently. As cities like Kiel explored cooperation with China, questions arise about the balance between local economic interests and national security concerns. 

Breaking the Mold: Poland Changes Course on China Policy Amid War in Ukraine

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s tacit approval for it have added additional impetus to the changes in the way political elites in Warsaw perceive Beijing. Although views still diverge among different actors and political parties, one thing is clear: China’s attempts to blur the distinction between the aggressor and the victim will not be tolerated. 

Why Using Beijing to Hedge Against Moscow Is Futile

While the offer to join and grow within the liberal international system has been on the table for both Moscow and Beijing, neither has been willing to accept the rules of the game. Authoritarian expansionism, in moral and in territorial terms, remains the key goal for both regimes. 

Chinese Puzzles – Putin’s Long War in Ukraine

This article was originally published at China Foresight, LSE IDEAS, and is republished here as part of a partnership between CHOICE and China Foresight. Ukrainian military successes in the second half of 2022 have not only precipitated…