- Beijing won’t allow new members for LinkedIn
- China’s women seek equality in job market
- Joint moon base with Russia
- Hardt: Hyperloop cooperation makes sense
- Diplomats: EU sanctions against China decided
- EU vaccine passport leaves choice of Chinese vaccine open
- USA sanctions 24 Chinese officials
- Profile: Philipp Staab
Expectations for the meeting between the foreign ministers of China and the United States in Alaska, which begins today, could not be more different. While the US side first wants to discuss security and human rights issues with its Chinese counterparts, the Chinese side speaks of an opportunity that Washington and Beijing should use to conduct high-level strategic dialogues. We’ll analyze for you the extent to which the talks are really with each other or rather at cross purposes. In any case, despite mild temperatures in Anchorage, the mood couldn’t be frostier; at the moment, not even a joint dinner is planned.
The EU has sent a clear signal ahead of the meeting in Alaska. Shortly before the China-US meeting, EU diplomats in Brussels let it be known that they had agreed on sanctions against China because of human rights violations against the Muslim minority of the Uyghurs. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also resorted to sanctions to criticize Beijing’s electoral reforms in Hong Kong.
The business platform LinkedIn has received an equally clear signal from the Chinese authorities. For the time being, no new users can register with LinkedIn in China. Beijing dislikes the accusation by LinkedIn parent Microsoft that the hacking attacks in early March were directed by China. But the interdependencies are too great for there to be any severe dislocation, Finn Mayer-Kuckuk predicts.
I still join the wish of Philipp Staab, whom China.Table presents in the Profile today. The professor of sociology in Berlin, who talks to his students about geopolitical developments in China, the US, and Europe, would like to learn more about China in the Tagesschau – at least as much as USA.
Ning Wang
Feature
No new members for LinkedIn
Microsoft has received a warning in China: LinkedIn, the professional social network owned by Microsoft, is not allowed to accept new members there for the time being “until it has ensured to be in compliance with applicable laws”. Since then, no new signups have been possible. However, there were no other restrictions for the 45 million Chinese users.
Initially, there was hope that the dropout would be short-lived. LinkedIn is an important networking tool between the Chinese and Western business communities. There are not many common platforms that bridge both worlds. Facebook/WhatsApp are difficult to access in China, while Europeans and Americans generally don’t use WeChat. With its professional feel, LinkedIn also suits people who prefer to talk about factual topics and can do without the political discussions that other social media occupy.
Speculation is now already taking place in the Chinese business community about the consequences of a long-term LinkedIn ban. The impact is thought to be minor in the short term because all interested parties already have an account. But in the long term, a loss of access would be considered a loss for LinkedIn.
Continue reading now
… and get free access to this Professional Briefing for a month.
Are you already a guest at the China.Table? Log in now