Dessert
The relationship between China and the Czech Republic is in tatters. Czech politicians are taking a confrontational course, also because the People's Republic is not fulfilling the expectations it has raised. Promised investments have largely failed to materialize. Chinese money, however, is flowing into local media companies to manipulate public opinion in Beijing's favor. In this series, China.Table reports on the relations of all EU member states with China.
By Marcel Grzanna
China's government leader Li Keqiang opened this year's plenary session of the Chinese People's Congress in Beijing this morning. The main points are: stronger market economic reforms, accelerating research and development, strengthening smaller businesses, more domestic consumption, expanding the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). At the same time, China plans to increase its military budget by 6.8 percent this year. That is 0.1 percent more than last year. In addition, Beijing wants to further restrict the leeway of the Hong Kong parliament.
By Frank Sieren
Wang Huning is exceptional among Chinese leadership technocrats. He has served as chief adviser to three presidents since 1995. His signature can be found in the teachings of Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, and Xi Jinping. But Wang's once aspirational goal of greater democracy has since receded into the distant future.
By