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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. 

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. 

China and Central Asia: Outside the Spotlight, but Always on the Table

Central Asian governments have grown used to accommodating the different priorities of outside partners and leveraging them for their own benefit, making sure not to become anyone’s playground. As Russia’s standing comes under question and China holds its ground, Western countries need to come up with an approach that is attuned to the region’s preferences.  

The European Foreign Subsidies Regulation: Effective Means of Protecting Strategic Infrastructure or an Investment Impediment?

The European policy discourse is shifting away from economic openness to emphasizing security concerns in the context of Chinese stakes in strategic infrastructure. The European Foreign Subsidies Regulation is another piece of the puzzle that could change the balance of power between the EU institutions and national governments. While the mechanism promises to bring a more cohesive handling of Chinese bids for public contracts and M&A transactions buttressed by subsidies, it could also spark tensions within the EU.