DIN: China standards + Emirates on the Silk Road • China.Table

Interview: Sibylle Gabler (DIN) on technology standards
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USA expands bases in Indo-Pacific
EU demands information about Peng Shuai
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Dear reader,

Today’s technological standards do not yet possess the political significance that they will have in 20 years’ time. Simply because many future technologies have not yet reached broad market maturity. But Europe must be prepared for the People’s Republic of China to turn the development of standards into geopolitical power. The experience made during the Covid pandemic serves as a blueprint.

During the crisis, China has learned how to use delays and shortages in global supply chains to its political advantage. Beijing has also begun to simply threaten all critics with its market power. Should the People’s Republic one day enforce its standards in key areas, its political pressure on other players will increase massively – especially on Germany. It would be naïve to doubt it.

In today’s interview with China.Table, Sibylle Gabler from the German Institute for Standardization notes: “China’s activities have increased here”. My prediction would be: this is just the beginning.

In practice, the People’s Republic is already anchoring the basic framework of its standards in large parts of the world. In the United Arab Emirates, Chinese companies are investing in almost all future key industries as players on the new Silk Road. We have taken a first-hand look at developments in Dubai.

The conclusion: The European Union’s global infrastructure program Global Gateway as an answer to the new Silk Road comes not a day too soon. It is high time for Europe to increase its presence in locations where the People’s Republic has long since begun to stretch out.

Your
Marcel Grzanna

Interview

‘China is taking big steps towards becoming a world standardization power’

Sibylle Gabler, Director Government Relations German Institute for Standardization

Beijing’s “China Standards 2035” initiative has caused experts to turn heads. The project shows that China has discovered standardization as an industrial, geopolitical and power-political instrument. The EU Chamber of Commerce in China will present a report on standardization in the People’s Republic on Thursday. Germany and the EU still have some catching up to do, especially in key technologies, says Sibylle Gabler, Director Government Relations at the German Institute for Standardization (DIN). Speaking to Amelie Richter, however, she gives the all-clear: China is still a long shot from reaching superiority. But there is still a lot of work to be done.

Standardization is considered a rather dry topic. Why would we be interested in standardization at all?

There are many answers to this. First of all, standardization is simply an important tool for the competitiveness of the economy. The phrase “he who makes the standard has the market” still applies. So if you manage to include content in a standard that is beneficial for your company, you will have an easier time getting your products onto German or even international markets. And of course, it is also important for the economy as a whole. Because standards are a common language and a common basis. Purely national standards can have the opposite effect. They potentially seal off markets. And standards of course also play a role in safety and consumer protection. Standards have, for example, improved occupational health and safety in the mining industry, thus saving lives. Standardization can also make a significant contribution to environmental protection.

China is now regarded as the new superpower in standardization. What is your take on this? Is it already there?

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