#Security
Joseph Wu Tours the Baltics: Uplifting on Values, Convincing on Security, Discouraging on Economy
In a visit to the Baltic capitals, Joseph Wu highlighted shared threats, underscored the shrinking comfort space for small democracies to dwell in globally, and attempted to rally more political support for raising Taiwan’s profile in Europe – all that while trying to curb the unrealistic Baltic economic expectations towards Taiwan.
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.”
Ambiguity: The Key Obstacle for China’s Ambition to Reshape the Global Order
s long as China remains incapable of clearly communicating its global visions, it will not be able to reform the global order as a “responsible great power” but will only disrupt it, regardless of its intentions.
Why Is There No Room for China in Poland’s Electoral Debate?
Despite accelerating geopolitical changes across the globe, Poland’s electoral debate bears close to no sign of them, with China remaining on the very sidelines of the discussions among local politicians. This problem is symptomatic of not only Poland’s lack of strategic thinking regarding China, but also of a broader intellectual disconnect in the perception of what is domestically believed to be important (economy, security) and the international forces shaping these issues.
Is the EU Finally Headed Towards a Ban on Huawei?
While many countries in the Western world have decisively banned Chinese telecom equipment company Huawei from their 5G networks due to national security concerns, the EU has lacked the consensus for such a policy, in part due to Huawei’s and China’s strong relationships within the bloc. However, recent announcements from Germany, the biggest holdout, and top EU brass suggest that momentum within the EU is growing for a ban on Huawei.
China’s Involvement in Myanmar Amid Deepening Ties between China and ASEAN Countries
From access to the Indian Ocean, Myanmar’s oil and gas supplies and rare earth reserves to managing stability on the shared border, Myanmar is a strategically important neighbor for China. The internal situation in the country therefore directly affects Beijing’s geopolitical and security interests in the Asia-Pacific region, including ties with ASEAN.
How to Deal with the War Machine? China’s Narratives and Policies After NATO’s Summit in Vilnius
The recently concluded NATO summit has reinforced Chinese authorities’ belief that the Alliance activity with partners in the Indo-Pacific is part of the US hegemonic interests. In an effort to counter this, China is developing a narrative of NATO as a destabilizing actor while strengthening its military capabilities, including in cooperation with foreign partners.
Germany’s China Strategy: Still in a World of Yesterday?
Big on principles and interests, the Strategy needs a dose of realism and focus more on capabilities in a rapidly changing world.
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.
The Shifting Balance of Power and the Rise of Minilateralism: The Indo-Pacific and Beyond
Until recently, multilateralism formed the backbone of the post-war rule-based international order. However, multilateral organizations such as the United Nations have increasingly struggled to effectively address regional and global challenges. Dissatisfaction with the existing institutional framework, coupled with the intensifying superpower competition between China and the US, have instead brought about a worldwide rise in new minilitaral agreements.
Unlocking the Potential of EU-India Relations: The ‘China Factor’
India has traditionally championed the principles of strategic autonomy and non-alignment as core guiding tenets of its foreign policy. However, in recent years there have been marked shifts, most notably in its security and economic ties with the EU, that suggest a recalibration of India’s outlook. This development can be attributed to the growing influence of the ‘China factor’ in India’s calculations – a potential game-changer in EU-India relations.