The Maldives has a new strategic partner: China. For years, the small island state in the Indian Ocean maintained close ties to neighboring India. Now, however, Malé looks to the much more distant People’s Republic. This is an important geostrategic gain for China. The Maldives may be small, but they play an important role in […]
This Tuesday could prove uncomfortable for China’s leadership. The Human Rights Council’s country review will be held at the League of Nations Palace in Geneva. This time, particular focus will be on Tibet. Marcel Grzanna predicts that Beijing will probably have to expect unpleasant questions: The sinicization of Tibetans has reached a new dimension in […]
As the Ministry of Defense in Taiwan announced on Monday, another six Chinese balloons have been spotted in its airspace or its immediate vicinity. China is currently deploying more of these balloons around Taiwan. Of the six balloons now spotted, one passed close to the southern city of Pingtung, the others north of the port […]
Taiwan has held elections, and with Lai Ching-te, a China-critical democrat, becomes the new president – and China has not attacked. Is the situation not as dire as it seems?Only hysterical individuals who do not delve deeper into the issue could speculate that there would now be a military attack. On another level, China is […]
Everyone agrees on one thing: Germany is in urgent need of more China expertise. This is what we hear from the business community and companies, and this is what the German government’s “Strategy on China” drafted by the Federal Foreign Office says. The problem: Although China expertise is demanded everywhere, it is hardly ever promoted.Now, […]
According to a media report, the parent company of Chinese car manufacturer Brilliance is considering selling its shares in the joint venture with BMW. Brilliance Auto Group Holdings Co is undergoing restructuring and is looking for ways to raise fresh capital, Bloomberg reported on Monday. Options include a sale of the 25 percent stake in […]
Nauru has severed its diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The small Pacific island state with a population of around 12,500 wants to turn its diplomatic attention to the People’s Republic of China instead.This is a bitter blow to Taiwan’s foreign policy just a few days after the presidential election: Only twelve countries now recognize Taiwan as […]
Lai Ching-te (William Lai) becomes Taiwan’s new president. But Lai and his DPP also suffered a bitter defeat: In parliament, the Legislative Yuan, the ruling party, lost its former majority. The KMT is now the strongest force with 52 seats. The DPP follows with one seat less.The two different results reflect a split among voters: […]
This weekend, Taiwan will witness the election of a new president and a new parliament. A free, democratic election in the Chinese cultural sphere! This event impressively refutes the absurd notion that Chinese people and democracy are incompatible. It will be a compelling event with far-reaching consequences for international politics and global trade, as well […]
China’s President Xi Jinping has emphasized the role of ordinary people in US-China relations. In a letter to Sarah Lande from Muscatine, Iowa, Xi encouraged more personal exchange between the two superpowers.Xi seems to be signaling to the public that he is genuinely interested in stable relations with the US beyond the political and economic […]
