EU Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis awaits anything but an easy start to the week at the trade dialogue in Beijing this Monday. The agenda is riddled with delicate issues: EU-China relations were already strained before another sticking point was added with the anti-dumping investigations into Chinese EVs. The high trade deficit will also be a […]
After completing his studies in International Relations and Economics in St. Gallen, a crucial question arose for Joerg Hoehn: Should he pursue a career in Brussels or with one of the European institutions like most of his peers? After all, it was an exciting time. The EU’s eastward expansion had just taken place, and the […]
As far as participation in important international gatherings such as the G20 summit is concerned, representatives of participating countries probably don’t have a “yes,” “no,” or “maybe” selection option as they do with a Teams meeting. Nevertheless, Xi Jinping has canceled his attendance at next week’s summit in India. As to why, speculation is running […]
Who has the bigger exhibition stand – Volkswagen or BYD? It’s not easy to determine without a measuring tape. A paradigm shift is taking place before the eyes of industry professionals in the Munich exhibition halls. BYD is unveiling its premiere vehicle, the Seal, in front of a gigantic screen displaying natural spectacles. Inside the […]
“It doesn’t matter how much you dye your hair blonde, how sharp you make your nose, you’ll never become Europeans or Americans.” Wang Yi, China’s top foreign policy official, used these less-than-diplomatic words to vent his resentment before Joe Biden’s meeting with Japan and South Korea.This Friday at Camp David, China’s neighbors aim to set […]
Unwelcome environmentalists, meanwhile, are somewhat easier to handle than the capers of the climate: Simply lock them up and that’s that. At least that is the logic of the Chinese authorities. Yet a healthy and clean environment has officially been a human right since last year. At least, that’s what the United Nations says.The UN […]
Oppressive heat, heavy rain: Beijing summers have always been hot, and the thunderstorms and downpours in the capital city can sometimes be fierce. However, what happened a few weeks ago was truly extreme. Torrential rains from the sky washed away entire bridges. On other days, temperatures exceeded all records.Climate researchers predict that heatwaves like the […]
German and Chinese universities currently maintain around 1,400 collaborations. But which research projects can still be pursued jointly with Chinese partners in the future and where should caution be exercised? And how should this be evaluated and by whom? Universities are uncertain and the debate surrounding Chinese influence is emotionally charged. Finn Mayer-Kuckuk spoke with […]
China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang disappears – and the government does not say a word about it for an entire month. High-ranking meetings are canceled or postponed, predecessor Wang Yi keeps stepping in. Rumors keep spreading. Finally, there are new developments in the Qin case: Xi Jinping has officially removed his former confidant from office. […]
Once before, he traveled secretly to Beijing when relations between the USA and China were at their lowest point. That was almost exactly 52 years ago, the heads of government were Mao and Nixon. Henry Kissinger displayed remarkable diplomatic skill in 1971, and the ice between the nations began to melt in the following years. […]