China.Table

Feature

Stephan Thome Taiwan

'The pressure on Taiwan is increasing'

With his novels, bestselling author Stephan Thome wants to open the horizons of German readers to China and Taiwan. "If you want to tell something substantial about these countries, two years of residence and a few language skills are not enough," says the sinologist, who has now lived in Taiwan for 12 years. A conversation about fear of war, cultural appropriation and best-case scenarios for an island constantly overshadowed by a looming Chinese invasion. Fabian Peltsch spoke with Thome.

By Fabian Peltsch

Sinologists without China experience

A bachelor's degree in sinology takes an average of six semesters, or three years. Now the Covid pandemic also enters its third year. At the end of this summer semester, the first sinologists who have never set foot in the People's Republic will graduate. How are students handling this?

By Amelie Richter

China, USA, EU: Wettlauf um die Spitzen-Chips

China, USA, EU: race for the chips lead

Two-thirds of all chips currently come from East Asia. The Europeans and the Americans want to change that. Both have passed enormous subsidy programs to promote their respective semiconductor industries. In the meantime, China creeps quietly to the top.

By Felix Lee

SHANGHAI, CHINA - JUNE 10: Citizens purchase food at Aldi supermarket on June 10, 2019 in Shanghai, China. China s import and export of trade in goods reached 12.1 trillion yuan in the first five months of this year, increasing 4.1 percent year-on-year, according to the General Administration of Customs on Monday. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY Copyright: xVCGx CFP111220502854

Aldi opens hundreds of new stores in Shanghai

The Aldi Group plans to open hundreds of new stores in the People's Republic. They are seen as prestigious high-end supermarkets. The main focus will be set on the Shanghai region. A mistake?

By Redaktion Table

Oliver Blume Porsche

Oliver Blume's success is decided in China

The surprising change of leadership at Volkswagen is largely related to the company's ailing China business, for which the previous CEO Herbert Diess was in charge. His successor Oliver Blume knows China inside out – and thus has a decisive advantage.

By Felix Lee

Widodo offers Xi foreign policy support

Xi Jinping receives a foreign head of state in China for the first time since the Winter Olympics. The meeting with Indonesia's President Joko Widodo is a strategic move – on both sides.

By Michael Radunski

Luftaufnahme des Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center: Es läuft die zweite Auflage der neuen Messe auf der Tropeninsel

Hainan Expo: promises for the future – without German interest

The country presentations at the Consumer Products Hainan Expo show the status of German-Chinese relations – and how other countries deal with China. German exhibitors are not even mentioned by the exhibition and are only active on the sidelines. France, on the other hand, is the guest of honor.

By Frank Sieren

Deutschland Abhängigkeit von China

Dependencies lead to turning point for China business

Strong economic dependencies are dangerous. This is currently demonstrated by the shortage of Russian gas. But Germany's economic dependencies on China are much larger. Many companies, as well as the German government, are now rethinking their China strategy. It could be the beginning of a turning point.

By Nico Beckert

Taiwan Militärmanöver

Taiwan prepares for the worst

Like every year, the island nation of Taiwan is preparing for a possible Chinese attack with a major military maneuver and civil defense drills. But for decades, the threat of war has not been as realistic as it is now. Tangible threats from Beijing and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have put Taiwan on high alert.

By David Demes