China
DIN: China standards + Emirates on the Silk Road
Dear reader,
Today's technological standards do not yet possess the political significance that they will have in 20 years' time. Simply because many future technologies have not yet reached broad market maturity. But Europe must be prepared for the People's Republic of China to turn the development of standards into geopolitical power. The experience made during the Covid pandemic serves as a blueprint.
During the crisis, China has learned how to use delays and shortages in global supply chains to its political advantage. Beijing has also begun to simply threaten all critics with its market power. Should the People's Republic one day enforce its standards in key areas, its political pressure on other players will increase massively – especially on Germany. It would be naïve to doubt it.
In today's interview with China.Table, Sibylle Gabler from the German Institute for Standardization notes: "China's activities have increased here". My prediction would be: this is just the beginning.
