The People's Republic is trying to exert influence across the globe with lots of money and even more propaganda, with Confucius Institutes and cultural projects of all kinds. Threats and economic coercion are part of the repertoire. So far, all efforts have been in vain. In the West, Beijing is only running up against ever higher walls. Although it does have effective means at its disposal to exploit its soft powers. One of these, which it once wielded to make foreigners' mouths water, is China's cuisine.
By Experts Table.Briefings
The EU Commission wants to ban the sale of products made from forced labor - and is already accepting verifiable evidence for this. And there is already plenty of evidence in the Chinese region of Xinjiang. However, it will still take some time before the ban is introduced.
By Amelie Richter
The 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva raises serious allegations against the Chinese government. But a possible resolution on human rights crimes in Xinjiang is unlikely. With years of lobbying, Beijing has rallied dozens of states to its side – and hopes that the Western coalition will begin to crumble.
By Marcel Grzanna