EU Indo-Pacific strategy + How to avoid the Beijing Blues

China is being surrounded. At least that’s how Beijing’s must feel. First, the US, the UK, and Australia agreed on a security pact directed at China. Then, on the very same day, the EU presents its Indo-Pacific strategy at long last. In addition, Japan’s navy has begun a large-scale maneuver off the Chinese coast. It almost seems as if there had been collusion. But this much communication between major nations would be too much to ask in this day and age. The timely proximity was a mere coincidence.

But those who become so clearly constrained at their coast swerve in the other direction. No wonder China is looking for new allies along the Silk Road in Central Asia. And it’s no wonder, either, that the foreign ministry in Beijing reacted quite peeved to the astonishingly parallel initiatives, as Amelie Richter reports. In any case, the increasingly official siege in the Pacific is not helping the country open up.

Conversely, China is currently doing everything in its power to deter visitors and expats. Western vaccinations are not approved for exemptions; the quarantine is particularly long; the hurdles for visiting family in Germany are higher than ever. In addition, a newfound nationalism and less favorable tax laws are vexing. Marcel Grzanna took a closer look at how this affects the German community. Settling in is currently even harder than usual, and worries are even greater. We give tips on how to deal with the situation.

Johnny Erling has taken this week off. So instead of his weekly column, today’s edition features a profile of Chen Qiufan, a science fiction author who focuses primarily on ecological issues. The best-selling author has probably done more to help people understand the gravity of ecological destruction than all United Nations studies combined. In his latest project, Chen now turns his attention to the dangers of artificial intelligence.

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Finn Mayer-Kuckuk