China Monitor Articles
Chinese Media Condemn AUKUS Pact
U.S. President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on September 15 announced a new working group now known by the acronym AUKUS. A cooperation scheme between countries fearful of the rise of Chinese power drew strong political reaction in China.
Entertainment Industry Under the Watchful Eye of the Chinese Communist Party
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has recently taken up the issue of regulating China’s entertainment industry, focusing not only on the messages promoted by Chinese celebrities, but also the financial aspect in this domain. The impact of video games on young people was also addressed.
Wolf warriors against European hawks. Can the European Parliament spearhead EU foreign policy on China?
Recent research on the European Parliament’s party groups’ voting patterns in the European Parliament has revealed that the EP is among the most resilient European institutions when it comes to foreign malign influence. This is especially true in the case of China, which has almost no soft power tools in its arsenal to influence the European decision-makers in the European Parliament. Beijing, even more so than the Kremlin, needs to resort to relations with individual member states on a case-by-case basis to pursue its interests within the EU, which is a highly effective strategy in the eastern part of the EU.
China–Arab States Expo: The Latest Event of the New Silk Road
The fifth China–Arab States Expo, held in Yinchuan, the capital of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (Northwest China), concluded on August 23, 2021. During the four-day event, 277 agreements worth CNY 156.7 billion (around USD 24 billion) concerning digital economy, clean energy, agriculture, cross-border e-commerce, and tourism, were signed. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the organizers of the trade fair.
Antony Blinken and Wang Yi Hold Talks on Afghanistan
On Monday, August 16, a telephone conversation was held between Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Its main topic was the tense situation in Afghanistan.
More Chinese Vaccines Head to Thailand
Faced with a surge of COVID-19 cases, the Thai government announced on August 17, 2021, that it will purchase 12 million vaccines from the Chinese company Sinovac Biotech. This is part of Thailand’s plan to combat the pandemic, which includes mixing vaccines from different manufacturers.
Canadian Businessman Convicted of Espionage in China
On August 11, 2021, a court in the Chinese city of Dandong sentenced Canadian businessman Michael Spavor to 11 years in prison on espionage charges. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the sentence as “unjust” and “absolutely unacceptable.”
Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Turkey
At the beginning of August 2021, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The occasion was the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Turkey. Relations between the two countries can be considered good and favorable.
Beijing’s New Initiatives to Counter Indian Influence
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is once again proving that the Southeast Asian region is extremely important to the government in Beijing. Two more projects dedicated to the countries of the region were officially launched in July.
Is the Dispute over the Chinese University in Budapest a Measure of the Hungarians’ Sympathy for the PRC?
In 2021, we may observe a gradual improvement in relations between Warsaw and Beijing. This is indicated by a number of factors, most notably the increasing frequency of talks and high-level meetings, during which more openness to cooperation and the maintenance of current joint initiatives was expressed. However, this is not synonymous with a change of course in Poland’s foreign policy.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Criticizes the Ambivalent Position of the EU towards the PRC
During the meeting with the Maltese Minister of Foreign Affairs Evarist Bartolo, held on July 23 in the Chinese city of Chengdu, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed his doubts about the European Union’s multiple policies towards the People’s Republic of China.
Will the Chinese Replace the Americans in Afghanistan?
The impending deadline for the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan is not only a sign of an end of an era in US foreign policy, but could also be significant in terms of Chinese involvement in the region.
China’s Foreign Minister Meets with Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus
The Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met with the First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Nikolai Snopkov in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on July 15, 2021. Both sides reaffirmed very good relations and mutual support.
Anniversary of the China-North Korea Treaty
Sunday, July 11, 2021 marked the 60th anniversary of the signing of the China-DPRK Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance. It was an opportunity to exchange diplomatic courtesies between the leaders of the two countries. The partnership between them is still working well, despite the passage of time, but it has some disadvantages too.
Warsaw Institute
