Two-Pager: Undercurrents: essays below the surface of China's geopolitics

Disclaimer: This two-pager has been prepared by the CKN Secretariat and should not be considered the work of the individuals listed as authors of the report.

Key Takeaways

• The text introduces “undercurrents” as hidden beliefs, emotions, and dynamics shaping China–US relations and broader geopolitics, often beyond what is visible in policy or rhetoric.
• A central “paradox of understanding” emerges: as geopolitical tensions rise, the need for insight increases, yet channels for obtaining that understanding shrink.
• The essays highlight four major undercurrents: irony (mutual mimicry between China and the US), history (the weight of narratives shaping policy), psychology (emotions and identity in geopolitics), and Europe’s self-conception.
• The collection argues for deep, context-heavy understanding of China, emphasizing that simplistic or reductive interpretations risk misjudging both China’s role and Europe’s strategic positioning.