Mar 2Member-onlyChina’s support for Russia one year into the warPro-Russian neutrality, the Beijing straddle, sitting on the fence, a Chinese balancing act — different labels have been ascribed to China’s position on the war in Ukraine. But Chinese rhetoric and action over the last year and its new paper “Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis” provide…China4 min readChina4 min read
Feb 28Member-onlyGermany’s ‘Zeitenwende’ is still under constructionWhen Russia invaded Ukraine, Germany painfully realized that its business-oriented approach to geopolitics and Moscow had failed. Decades-long criticism of Germany’s energy ties with Russia, and its failure to meet the 2 percent gross domestic product (GDP) defense target for NATO members, had come to a head. Against this backdrop…Politics4 min readPolitics4 min read
Feb 6Member-onlyChina forecasts 2023: Don’t expect too much from China’s re-engagementStrong domestic pressures on Xi and the CCP mean tensions with the West won’t disappear. 2023 is a year of great expectations for China. Having abandoned its zero-Covid policy and international isolation, there’s hope that an economic rebound could stave off a global recession and optimism that better relations with…China4 min readChina4 min read
Oct 12, 2022Member-onlyNot all sunshine and roses — how Russia views ChinaMuch as they see the uses of so powerful an ally, Russian foreign-policy experts have growing concerns about Moscow’s relationship with Beijing. Moscow and Beijing have taken to calling their relationship a “friendship without limits.” Official declarations and joint statements offer important insights into the strategic thinking behind the bilateral…Russia4 min readRussia4 min read
Jun 19, 2022Member-onlyChina and Russia: united in oppositionJoint statements by China and Russia have over the last three decades shifted from an emphasis on rapprochement and economic development to employ a globalized and revisionist vocabulary under China’s party and state leader Xi Jinping. Our analysis shows China-Russia communiqués have since 2013 put global issues center stage and…China6 min readChina6 min read
Apr 8, 2022Member-onlyGermany’s changing China policyGermany’s China policy is all at sea; drifting without anchor. In the past, it was dominated by a clear number of people, principles, and policies. It was driven by the Merkel Chancellery, under the guiding principle of Wandel durch Handel (change through trade), pursuing a clear policy of engagement in…China5 min readChina5 min read
Mar 1, 2022Member-onlyWill Germany’s geopolitical awakening last?Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shaken Berlin out of a longtime geopolitical stupor and shattered the notion of reasoning with the dictator in the Kremlin. For too many years, naïveté and business interests have defined German foreign policy. Now, a range of German politicians are undertaking a rite of penance. …Politics5 min readPolitics5 min read
Feb 22, 2022Member-onlyWhat can we expect from China in 2022?Working as a long-range weather forecaster in the US army, economist and Nobel laureate Kenneth Arrow once asked his superiors to be relieved of duty. His forecasts were no better than guesswork, he argued. His request was refused outright: “The commanding general is well aware that the forecasts are no…China5 min readChina5 min read
Feb 22, 2022Member-onlyBalancing China in the Indo-Pacific: the role of France and GermanyFrance and Germany have an opportunity to jointly pursue Europe’s interests in the Indo-Pacific and bolster regional security, argue Mathieu Duchâtel and Roderick Kefferpütz. This article is the first in a series called “A Franco-German approach to China,” originally published by Institut Montaigne and MERICS. The shadow of Russian military…China6 min readChina6 min read
Jan 19, 2022Member-onlyIt’s time for climate competition with ChinaThe European Union has long considered China a partner in mitigating climate change. After all, this is a global issue that requires all countries to curb their greenhouse gas emissions. As the world’s largest emitter, this holds particularly true for China. Cooperation has therefore been the defining prism of EU-China…Climate Change7 min readClimate Change7 min read
