Civic Idea’s Chairperson, Tinatin Khidasheli, live on BBC About PROTESTS
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Baerbock Confronts China Over Support for Russia in Ukraine Conflict
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has sharply criticized China for providing economic and military support to Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine, warning that Beijing’s actions are threatening peace in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific. In a statement ahead of her visit to Beijing next week, Baerbock accused China of undermining global security by opposing core European interests through its backing of Russia.
“Instead of taking responsibility for peace and security in the world as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, China is opposing our core European interests with its economic and weapons aid to Russia,” Baerbock said. The minister is scheduled to meet with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, to discuss a range of issues, including the war in Ukraine.
Baerbock emphasized that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is not only a direct threat to European peace but also has global ramifications. She noted that the war shows how European security is closely tied to security in Asia, particularly when North Korea sends soldiers and weapons to support Russia while Moscow helps Pyongyang to advance its nuclear program. “If North Korea sends soldiers and weapons against Ukraine, while Russia supports Pyongyang’s nuclear programme, then this jeopardises peace both here and in the Indo-Pacific,” she said.
In response to Baerbock’s comments, a Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Lin Jian, rejected the accusations. “China firmly opposes baseless accusations and scapegoating, as well as political manipulation,” Lin said, reiterating China’s long-standing position on the Ukraine conflict. China has maintained that it is neutral in the war, stating that it does not provide lethal assistance to either side, unlike the United States and other Western nations. However, China’s close political and economic ties with Russia have led NATO members to label Beijing a “decisive enabler” of the war, which it has never condemned.
The German foreign minister has been a strong advocate for Ukraine, consistently calling on Beijing to take a firmer stance against Russia’s invasion. In an interview last year, she made a direct comparison between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, suggesting that a Russian victory would embolden other dictatorships around the world. “If Putin were to win this war, what sign would that be for other dictators in the world, like Xi, like the Chinese president?” Baerbock said in September 2023.
As Baerbock prepares for her visit to China, the future of the German-Chinese relationship is at a crossroads, with competing priorities on issues of economic cooperation, global security, and human rights. They will have to balance these challenges so that China-Europe relations are stable in the coming years.
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Lithuania expelled three employees of the Chinese embassy
According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Lithuania, the country declared three Chinese embassy staff as personae non grata and gave them three weeks to leave the country. The ministry based its decision on the Vienna Convention and Lithuanian legislation but provided no further details.
Even before the expulsion, the relations between China and Lithuania were tense. Two main reasons thereof are the support of Taiwan and the suspected involvement of a Chinese ship in the damage of sea cables. The latter refers to the severing of two Baltic Sea telecommunications cables, including one connecting the Swedish island Gotland and Lithuania, at the start of November. The suspicions over Chinese involvement are based on the route of a Chinese ship, Yi Peng 3 – according to the tracking sites, the ship sailed over the cables around the time of the damage. Finland, Sweden, and Lithuania started the investigation into the severing of the cables as a joint team, with the assistance of Eurojust, the European Union criminal law cooperation agency.
According to the statement made by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, China strongly condemns and opposes the decision made by Lithuania and reserves the right to implement countermeasures. The Ministry underlines that Lithuania has presented no reasoning for deeming Chinese staff unwelcome. The subject of Taiwan is discussed in the same statement as well and mentions the „serious violation of the One-China principle“ by Lithuania, which, according to the Ministry, created challenges in Chinese-Lithuanian relations. For context, the mentioned „violation“ refers to allowing the creation of a De Facto Taiwanese embassy in Lithuania.
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Chinese and Russian military air patrol in the airspace of the Sea of Japan
The Chinese and Russian military have carried out their ninth joint air patrol, which, in this case, took place in the airspace of the Sea of Japan. The project is part of a cooperation agreement between the two countries since 2019.
According to the Chinese media platform CCTV, the patrol aims to test and improve joint training and enhance the two air force operational capabilities.
Some of the aircraft involved in the training appeared in the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) of South Korea, after which the country launched its fighter jets. However, Chinese and Russian aircraft left the zone after 4 hours without incident. South Korea underlined that air patrol was organized without alerting the country beforehand.
Despite the fact that, in general, countries demand the identification of the aircraft that enter their ADIZs, these zones are not a part of any sovereign state and some of the ADIZs even overlap.
Chinese National Defense Ministry spokesperson commented on said training and stated that it „does not target any third party and has nothing to do with the current international and regional situations“.
Chinese state-backed media Global Times writes according to a Chinese military expert and underlines the strategic importance of used territories in the program. It states that it is normal when two countries organize patrol on their „doorstep“.
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Trump’s Trade War Architect, Jamieson Greer, Set to Lead U.S. Trade Strategy in Second Term
US President-elect Donald Trump announced that he has chosen trade lawyer Jamieson Greer to be the next U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), a critical position that will shape the administration’s economic and trade strategies in his second term. Greer, a seasoned expert in trade law, is being tapped to lead the charge on the administration’s aggressive trade policies, particularly toward China and North America.
Trump highlighted Greer’s pivotal role in his first term’s major trade actions, including the high-stakes trade war with China and the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which became the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). “Jamieson played a key role in the success of my first term trade policies, including standing firm in the trade war with China and making USMCA a much better deal for American workers,” Trump said in a statement.
Greer, who previously served as Chief of Staff to Robert Lighthizer, Trump’s former U.S. Trade Representative, was deeply involved in the negotiations that led to the “Phase 1” trade deal with China in 2020. Under that deal, China committed to purchasing $200 billion in U.S. goods over two years—though this target was never fully met, partly due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Greer’s selection signals that Trump’s second-term trade policies will double down on confronting China, whose state-driven trade practices have long been a focus of the administration. Greer has been vocal about the need for a tougher approach to China, especially in areas like technology and manufacturing. He recently testified before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, advocating for more robust tariffs and export controls to protect U.S. industries. “The Chinese government’s use of trade to support its military and state-owned enterprises is a critical threat,” Greer told lawmakers, underscoring the national security risks posed by China’s growing influence in global markets.
Greer’s selection as USTR is just one part of Trump’s broader strategy to overhaul U.S. economic policy and trade relations. As the administration begins to set its course for the next four years, Greer’s role will be pivotal in shaping the future of U.S. trade policy and in ensuring that Trump’s economic vision remains a central focus of his presidency.
No Deal About EU Tariffs on Chinese Electric Vehicles; EU Proposes New Sanctions Against Chinese Companies
EU and Chinese officials are discussing alternatives to EU tariffs on Chinese electric cars this week. EU officials said on Monday that there was no prospect of an immediate resolution to the issue.
Bernd Lange, chairman of the European Parliament’s trade committee, hinted to a German broadcaster on Friday that a deal between the 27 countries to replace tariffs between the EU and China with another measure is nearing completion.
However, Reuters reports that EU officials, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations with Beijing, refuted this claim. They clarified that while discussions are ongoing, significant obstacles remain, preventing a deal from being finalized.
Negotiations were preceded by Xi Jinping’s conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. During the G20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro, President Xi Jinping urged Scholz to facilitate the resolution of the EU’s tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, as reported by state television CCTV.
In early October, The EU green-lit significant tariffs on imports of Chinese electric vehicles after receiving broad support from member states. These tariffs are expected to increase from the current 10% to as much as 45% over the next five years. The European Commission, which conducted the vote, emphasized that the EU and China would “work hard to explore an alternative solution” to the tariffs. In response, China’s Commerce Ministry denounced the decision as “unfair” and “unreasonable,” but acknowledged the possibility of resolving the issue through negotiations.
EU member states were divided on imposing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Germany, whose automotive industry relies heavily on exports to China, opposed the tariffs. Many EU members abstained from the vote. However, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Poland supported the import taxes. The proposal for tariffs could only have been blocked if a qualified majority of 15 member states had voted against it.
Amidst the escalating trade tension between the two blocs, there are calls for cooperation on the Chinese side. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlighted on Monday that China and the European Union should see each other as partners rather than adversaries. He encouraged both sides to think from each other’s perspective and seek partnership.
Despite efforts on both sides, it is clear that EU measures against China will not be limited to import tax increases in certain sectors. As of Monday, it became known that the EU is set to sanction several Chinese firms alleged to have assisted Russian companies in developing attack drones used in Ukraine.
“Examining the Environmental and Social Impact of the Belt and Road Initiative: Civic IDEA Leads Panel at CITW 2024 Summit”
On November 24, Ani Kintsurashvili, Senior Researcher at Civic IDEA, alongside Tinatin Khidasheli, Chairwoman of Civic IDEA, led a panel discussion titled “Lessons Learned from the BRI: Examining Environmental Hazards and Regulatory Shortcomings” at the CITW 2024 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The panel examined environmental and social challenges from Chinese BRI projects in Africa and the South Caucasus. The speakers highlighted that since the launch of the BRI, Chinese investments have attracted significant global attention, increasingly burdening many developing states worldwide and sparking controversies related to environmental concerns, and debt sustainability.
The session also emphasized the risks to communities, ecosystems and biodiversity and emphasize the need for stronger monitoring, regulatory frameworks, due diligence, and improved information sharing to mitigate spillover effects.
Tap to see the presentation:
Trump’s Tariff Gambit: Steep Taxes on China, Mexico, and Canada to Combat Immigration and Drug Crisis
Donald Trump has announced that he will impose steep tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada on his first day back in the White House. He said these steps are necessary to get these countries to take more serious measures against illegal immigration and drug trafficking into the United States.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump detailed his plans, stating that he would sign an executive order on January 20 imposing a 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico and Canada. Following one more post, Donald Trump attacked China for failing to act on promises to impose the death penalty on those trafficking fentanyl, a drug he claims is entering the U.S. in unprecedented amounts, mostly via Mexico. To take care of this problem, he announced plans to put an additional 10% tariff on all Chinese imports until the flow of drugs into the U.S. is stopped. Trump framed this as a necessary measure to combat the crisis and urged attention to the matter.
In response to Trump’s announcement of additional tariffs on Chinese goods, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, stated that economic cooperation between China and the U.S. is mutually beneficial, warning that “no one will win a trade war or a tariff war.” The Chinese spokesperson pointed to ongoing cooperation between the two nations’ counternarcotics authorities, citing resumed communication since the San Francisco Summit. China, the spokesperson said, has shared updates with the U.S. on its drug enforcement efforts and responded to U.S. requests for information, rejecting claims that China knowingly permits fentanyl-related exports.
According to Swati Dhingra, a member of the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee, any proposed 60% tariffs by Donald Trump on imports from China might have complex implications for the global economy by compressing global inflation, “because goods are cheaper for everybody else.”. Speaking at a London conference, Dhingra explained that Chinese exporters might react to such steep tariffs through price-cutting in alternative markets in their efforts to maintain the volumes of trade, an action which could make goods cheaper worldwide, including in the UK.
However, she qualified that the effect will be variable, pending the reaction of other countries. Should governments retaliate by imposing their own tariffs or protectionist moves, a trade war could spiral out of control, damaging the world economy. Higher inflation may be in store for the U.S. since American consumers bear the tariff cost; however, global prices of those kinds of goods may drop as Chinese exporters adjust to new trade barriers.
As Trump’s proposals spark debate, the implications of his aggressive trade policies remain uncertain. What is clear is that his return to office would bring a sharp shift in U.S. economic and foreign policy, with tariffs once again taking center stage.
NATO Leader Urges Businesses to Prepare for Wartime Amid Rising Dependence on China and Russia
A senior NATO military leader has urged companies to prepare for a possible wartime situation by rethinking their supply chains to reduce pressure from rival countries such as Russia and China. Admiral Rob Bauer, chairman of NATO’s Military Committee, stressed that economic reform is as important as military capability in maintaining national security.
Speaking at an event organized by the European Policy Institute in Brussels, Bauer explained that deterrence is not limited to military force but includes the ability to maintain critical goods and services in any situation. ”If we can make sure that all necessary services and resources can be provided no matter what, that’s an important part of our prevention,” he said.
He highlighted growing threats, including acts of sabotage and geopolitical pressures that have already tested Europe’s resilience. “We thought we had a deal with Gazprom, but in reality, it was a deal with Vladimir Putin,” Bauer noted, referring to Russia’s use of energy supplies as a tool for political leverage. “The same goes for Chinese-owned infrastructure and goods. When we make deals with Chinese companies, we’re effectively making deals with President Xi Jinping.”
Bauer warned that the West is overly dependent on China for basic supplies. China currently produces 60% of the world’s rare earth resources and processes 90% of them, materials needed for technology, defense and renewable energy. Furthermore, he noted that many medicinal products, such as sedatives, antibiotics, antibiotics, and antihypertensives, come from China.
“We are naïve to think that the Chinese Communist Party never uses this leverage,” Bauer warned.
Civic IDEA’s Senior Researcher Ani Kintsurashvili Leads Panel Discussion on Georgia’s Foreign Policy Challenges in Samarkand
On November 21-22, the Senior Researcher of Civic IDEA, Ani Kintsurashvili, attended the “Mapping Spheres of Influence” data journalism conference, which was organized by Anhor.uz and held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The event brought together experts and practitioners to explore key issues in data journalism, focusing on the role of reporting in Central Asia, especially in the context of international economic cooperation, as well as the region’s challenges and opportunities.
During the conference, Ani took the lead in the panel discussion titled “Surviving the New Cold War,” where she shared her insights on the complex foreign policy dynamics facing Georgia. She highlighted the challenges the country faces in navigating its foreign policy, particularly as the ruling party increasingly aligns with Russia and China. Her analysis also contrasted Georgia’s situation with that of the Central Asian nations, providing a broader regional perspective on the shifting geopolitical landscape.
