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Chinese 'sharp power' will challenge EU governments

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Subject

Chinese 'sharp power' in Europe.

Significance

Beijing is pursuing its foreign policy agenda in Europe using ‘sharp power’ tools, inserting its voice into the European media sphere and attempting to shape the tone and content of output by Western think tanks and universities. It is also using its economic leverage to undermine EU unity on disputes between China and the major European countries.

Impacts

  • Smaller EU economies are most susceptible to Chinese influence; they may exploit fear of China to win concessions in Brussels.
  • Major European media outlets will remain effective watchdogs.
  • Europe did not traditionally share US geopolitical concerns about China’s ‘rise’; Chinese interference in European politics changes that.
  • A less mercurial US administration would find much scope to cooperate with the EU to counter China’s illiberal influence.
  • Exposure of ‘sharp power’ efforts will worsen the suspicion Chinese firms and individuals face on account of presumed government links.

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