Events

2024 was a period characterized by uncertainty, a word frequently used in this report indeed. However, with the geopolitical changes ongoing since early 2025, we may consider uncertainty as an understatement. We are currently experiencing what seems to be a serious make-over of the rules-based international order, as we’ve known it for decades. Perspectives are changing even more than expected.

The European Union and its member states face growing vulnerabilities due to economic dependencies on China, particularly in health, defence, and energy. As China increasingly employs economic statecraft tactics—using economic tools to exert geopolitical influence—the EU must find ways to safeguard its vital sectors.

Digital fraud has become a pressing issue worldwide, transcending cultural and geopolitical boundaries. One of the newer forms is the “pig-butchering” scam, a sophisticated online fraud scheme where victims—often approached on social media and dating apps—are slowly manipulated into making fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. These scams, which first emerged in China, have now expanded globally, affecting thousands of victims—including in the Netherlands.  They have become more challenging with the help of AI, as seen in a recent case where a French interior designer was conned out of €830,000 by an AI-deep-faked Brad Pitt. 

In this March edition of the CKN Knowledge Sessions, Dr. Covell Meyskens - Associate Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in California, USA - explored Taiwan’s perspectives on Russia’s war in Ukraine. It a very topical subject, given the deal Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are discussing to end the war in Ukraine. Some people in Taiwan might understandably wonder whether something similar could ever happen to them: a deal struck by Trump and Xi without the direct involvement of Taiwan’s leadership.

What did the sudden influx of international users mean for Xiaohongshu’s (RedNote) governance, and what can the platform tell us about societal debates within China? What is the impact of Xiaohongshu in China and around the world? These topics were discussed during this month’s China Knowledge Network Knowledge Session by Dr. Qian Huang and Dr. Carwyn Morris.

The focus of this session will be the rule of law in China, with particular attention to legal disputes in which citizens challenge government entities. Our guest speaker, Ms. Qiao Congrui, will share insights into cases involving labour actions, land disputes, and administrative petitions. After providing a brief overview of the historical roots of China's legal system, Ms. Qiao will argue there’s a paradox of government accountability within China’s singular political structure. She will highlight thought-provoking trends, such as the increasing percentage of court rulings favouring plaintiffs against the government: from just 6% in 2010 to 25% by 2019.

This CKN Knowledge Session is the second of a two-part series about China and the West’s mutual knowledge and understanding. These sessions are two sides of the same coin. This first part (which was held 24 September) featured PhD candidate Vincent Brussee of Leiden University, who explored the challenges for those who try to gain an accurate understanding of China – as China closes off ever more databases and other sources of information to the outside public. Watch Brussee’s presentation here. During this second instalment, Prof. Dr. Reza Hasmath will talk about this challenge when he presents findings from the Chinese Citizens’ Global Perception Survey. This survey tries to answer questions such as: how does China see the world in 2024? How does the Chinese public view global actors and pressing issues of international concern? Hasmath’s presentation will consider how state and non-state actors influence public opinion within China and what this means for China-Europe relations moving forward.

Ambtenaren zijn verantwoordelijk voor het vormgeven van het Nederlandse beleid ten aanzien van China, maar dit brengt ook complexe uitdagingen met zich mee. Hoe vinden we de juiste balans in onze China-notitie en hoe brengen we deze in de praktijk? De sessie is niet bedoeld om het huidige China-beleid en de notitie te evalueren, maar om dieper in te gaan op de beleidsruimtes binnen de China notitie. Het kerndilemma van de sessie gaat over de balans tussen securitisatie en engageren.

The report examines three different areas: 1. Working conditions for Dutch journalists in China. 2. China’s influence and interference in Dutch-language media. 3. China’s influence and interference in Chinese-language media in the Netherlands. Researchers Bouwers and Kamerling interviewed dozens of (former) Dutch correspondents, news editors, and employees of Chinese-language media in the Netherlands about the extent to which they experience China’s attempts to influence and interfere in their work.

This CKN Knowledge Session is the first of a two part series about China and the West’s mutual knowledge and understanding. This first part delves into a critical topic that reveals the challenges the outside world faces in gaining an accurate understanding of China. The central question we'll explore is: If the image of China is incomplete or inaccurate, is it still possible to formulate sound China policy?

China in Africa - Confronting Complexity This themed session focuses on China in Africa, but the scope is broader. This session is intended as a context-setting meeting, providing a basis for policy-making in a later discussion. China's approach to Africa—and Africa’s response combined with Africa’s increasing political agency in its relationship with Europe (more broadly: the West)—says much about the shifting dynamics in the world. It is therefore essential to address the theme of ‘China in Africa’ in a broader context, one that centers on this complexity and encourages us to honestly reflect. The world is in flux. Russia and China are increasingly challenging Western approaches in other parts of the world, sometimes successfully in Africa. Meanwhile, the Netherlands is significantly cutting its development aid budget.

Voor: Medewerkers van het Rijk, provincies en gemeenten die in hun werk te maken hebben met China