Events

This online briefing assessed what the summit reveals about the next phase of China–US relations, the role of the China–Russia partnership, and the implications for Europe's economic security and geopolitical position.

In this closed-door discussion, we examined China's current resilience outlook, focusing on political signals, economic pressures, and elite dynamics, and explored how this might impact China’s foreign policy and external relations, including implications for the European Union.

Recent purges in the PLA have drawn renewed attention to China’s long-term military objectives and its push to build a “world-class military” by 2049. As defence spending rises and the armed forces rapidly modernise, China aims to facilitate “reunification” with Taiwan and project power in the Western Pacific, with far-reaching implications for European security. This briefing explored three scenarios for 2049: a blockade of Taiwan, a U.S.-China war in the Indo-Pacific, and China's emerging primacy in regional seas. Discussing how Europe can contribute to regional stability and reduce its vulnerabilities to a potential crisis.

Following the Two Sessions, the Chinese leadership clarified its plans for the next Five-Year Plan cycle. The 15th Five-Year Plan takes a two-pronged approach: stabilizing internal growth, employment, and the environment for the private sector, while advancing industrial upgrading, innovation, and national and economic security to strengthen China’s position in intensified geoeconomic competition. This closed-door briefing explored what these developments mean for China up to 2030 and how the EU should react amid growing trade, supply chain, and strategic competition.

The European China Knowledge Network (ECKN) is a collaborative initiative founded by the China Knowledge Network (CKN), MERICS, and the Swedish National China Centre. This seminar, the fourth in ECKN’s founding series, will reflect on the value of policy-relevant knowledge exchange on China at the EU level.

The European China Knowledge Network (ECKN) is a collaborative initiative founded by the China Knowledge Network (CKN), MERICS, and the Swedish National China Centre. This seminar, the fourth in ECKN’s founding series, will reflect on the value of policy-relevant knowledge exchange on China at the EU level.

The European China Knowledge Network (ECKN) is a collaborative initiative founded by the China Knowledge Network (CKN), MERICS, and the Swedish National China Centre. This seminar, the fourth in ECKN’s founding series, will reflect on the value of policy-relevant knowledge exchange on China at the EU level.

The European China Knowledge Network (ECKN) is a collaborative initiative founded by the China Knowledge Network (CKN), MERICS, and the Swedish National China Centre. This seminar, the fourth in ECKN’s founding series, will reflect on the value of policy-relevant knowledge exchange on China at the EU level.

The European China Knowledge Network (ECKN) is a collaborative initiative founded by the China Knowledge Network (CKN), MERICS, and the Swedish National China Centre. This seminar, the fourth in ECKN’s founding series, will reflect on the value of policy-relevant knowledge exchange on China at the EU level.

The European China Knowledge Network (ECKN) is a collaborative initiative founded by the China Knowledge Network (CKN), MERICS, and the Swedish National China Centre. This seminar, the fourth in ECKN’s founding series, will reflect on the value of policy-relevant knowledge exchange on China at the EU level.

The European China Knowledge Network (ECKN) is a collaborative initiative founded by the China Knowledge Network (CKN), MERICS, and the Swedish National China Centre. This seminar, the fourth in ECKN’s founding series, will reflect on the value of policy-relevant knowledge exchange on China at the EU level.

The European China Knowledge Network (ECKN) is a collaborative initiative founded by the China Knowledge Network (CKN), MERICS, and the Swedish National China Centre. This seminar, the fourth in ECKN’s founding series, will reflect on the value of policy-relevant knowledge exchange on China at the EU level.