Spring 2023 Issue: The China Challenge

The stakes for Europe to recalibrate its policy vis-à-vis Beijing are rising.

In Europe, China’s charm offensive is increasing falling on deaf ears, as attitudes harden, in part due to Beijing’s tacit support for Russia in its war against Ukraine.

The gloves are off between the United States and China. How should the Europeans respond?

The European Union needs to urgently prepare for uncertain times ahead and begin to build the blocks of “de-risking” its relations with China.

Beijing’s more assertive foreign policy has led to an awakening in Berlin. But how far will the German government go in redefining its relations with China?

Beijing is regarding Europe as an increasingly important player, but irritants in the relationship remain.

Germany’s new defense minister hasn't set a foot wrong yet, but the outcome of the fight over the defense budget may define his time in office.

The French president’s current troubles can be traced back to 2005, when the French rejected a Constitution for Europe only for Paris to then ratify the Lisbon Treaty two years later. A return to parliamentarism is the only solution.

Climate change is more than just a collective action problem. In some cases, geopolitical competition can even help reduce emissions.

A battle of egos between Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel is putting the European Union’s post-pandemic solidarity at risk.

President Tsai Ing-wen is traveling the Americas including a “stopover” in the United States for a meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. At the same time, the number of visits to embattled Taiwan has increased. That's not without problems.

In parliamentary and presidential elections in May, the Turkish opposition has the best chance in 20 years of toppling long-term ruler Recep Tayyip Erdogan. However, even then change would only come slowly.

The EU-Mercosur agreement has been dormant since 2019. Its enactment would be an important sign of Brussels’ willingness to engage differently with the so-called Global South.