Merics

All news and posts of our editorial team on the topic

Survey: China’s relations with the EU are deteriorating
According to a survey conducted by the Merics research institute, an overwhelming majority of the China experts surveyed expect China’s relations with the EU and other Western countries to deteriorate. The majority (55 percent) expect China to stick to its pro-Russian “neutrality” regardless of the ongoing war in Ukraine and that China and Russia will […] continue reading →
Jan Weidenfeld – always in conversation
“I am most productive after talks – and unfortunately at night,” Jan Weidenfeld reveals about his work at the Mercator Institute for China Studies, or Merics for short. This is because Weidenfeld first listens. Preferably to people who have a different perspective on German and European relations with China. In the evening, when the phones […] continue reading →
Katja Drinhausen – A spotlight on the remnants of debate culture
In 2018, Katja Drinhausen decided to leave China for good. At the time, she already lived in the country for twelve years, but then everything fell apart. “The room for debate has narrowed more and more since Xi Jinping took office,” says the current Program Manager at the Merics research institute. By contrast, in the […] continue reading →
Nis Gruenberg – travel fever with no chance for a fast cure
The impressions of his first trip to China have left a lasting impression on Nis Gruenberg. Even today, when he thinks back on it, he is overcome with such intense emotion that the half-Dane is left speechless. “Mindblowing,” the lead analyst of the Berlin research institute Merics told China.Table instead: simply overwhelming. That was 18 […] continue reading →
German companies are social credit role models
China's social credit system poses major challenges for companies. Anyone who makes mistakes can end up on a "blacklist". Stigmatization and punishments could follow. But German companies are proving to be model students. continue reading →
20 years of China’s WTO accession: Clinton’s big mistake
China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001 was met with high hopes in the Western world. The integration of the emerging country into the multilateral organization was supposed to promote not only global prosperity, but also free entrepreneurial activity in China. These hopes were largely disappointed. Although prosperity has increased, China is still not a free market economy. continue reading →
Didi Kirsten Tatlow – China-critical analyst
Didi Kirsten Tatlow (54) grew up in Hong Kong – right in the neighborhood of a huge country. From an early age, she came into contact with her big neighbor China. It became her vocation: “China was my world and the reason to become a journalist.” Because “Europe never understood China very well and still […] continue reading →
‘Mind the Gap’ – How the West can keep up with China
Time grows short. In the race for technological dominance in the world, citizens of many Western countries already see the People's Republic of China as the victor. Because this leading position simultaneously leads to political strength, North America and Europe should quickly join forces. A report by the Munich Security Conference, jointly prepared by Berlin-based research institute Merics and the US think tank Aspen Strategy Group, analyzes its core tasks necessary for a revitalization of transatlantic relations. The paper clearly shows, that there is much work to be done to make up for the failures of the recent past. continue reading →
‘The supply chain remains fragile’
Semiconductors have become the most important supplier parts for many industries. Ning Wang talks to Merics researcher John Lee about the chip shortage in the automotive industry, the prospects for greater independence from Asia in key technologies, and possible strategies for Germany and the EU to deal with the problem. continue reading →
Confrontation does not lead to the goal
The EU is engaged in China-bashing at a time when its own reputation is damaged, and its room for maneuver is dwindling. Fundamentally, the question arises as to the sense and effect of politically motivated sanctions, such as those imposed against China. There are many analyses that come to the conclusion that the effects of sanctions are usually misjudged. And with regard to China, it cannot be assumed that the sanctions will trigger a process that will improve Europe's relations with China and thus open up opportunities for influence. continue reading →