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Opinion

Opinion

'Xi breaks with key lessons from the Cultural Revolution'

Sinologist Daniel Leese analyzes the recently concluded 20th Party Congress of the Chinese Communist Party and Xi's speech for China.Table. His verdict: More than ever, China's strongman propagates the idea of a leader's party that must fight institutional weaknesses with an iron fist. The cult of personality, believed to have been overcome, is now seen as crucial to the fulfillment of Xi's "historic mandate": The resurgence of the nation.

By Experts Table.Briefings

Opinion

Xi's true colors

Our “China Perspective” column is written by authors from the People’s Republic who wish to remain anonymous. On the occasion of the current 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, our authors look at the values of President Xi Jinping.

By Experts Table.Briefings

Opinion

COP27: Developed countries must uphold their end of the bargain

The UN Climate Change Conference COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, comes at a tense time in geopolitical terms. But the president-elect of COP27, Sameh Shoukry, expects the global community to nevertheless take action against climate change. He sees the rich countries, in particular, as having a duty.

By Experts Table.Briefings

Opinion

If you sit between two chairs, you sit uncomfortably!

China's stance in the Ukraine war is a source of much discussion: Beijing calls itself neutral, while critics speak of "pro-Russian neutrality" at best. But a closer look reveals how China attempts to take the "middle" ground.

By Experts Table.Briefings

Opinion

How Xi Jinping can strengthen the Chinese economy

It's time to take stock of Xi's economic successes, says economics professor Nancy Qian. China's economy thrived when Xi took office ten years ago. But since then, GDP either stagnated or even declined due to strict Covid measures. Many previously unaddressed problems worsened.

By Experts Table.Briefings

Opinion

What's Cooking in Brussels – the EP building swap

Tartes flambées are on today's menu. Next week, the MEPs in Strasbourg will vote on the EP buildings. Underneath the administrative aspect of this vote lies an entanglement of political and national interests. A situation that only could only exist in the Brussels bubble.

By Claire Stam

Opinion

Say it in Chinese: 2-4-4-2

The ideologists among China's party leaders are clearly fond of numbers. They can be found in many of Mao Zedong's slogans, and Xi Jinping also likes to use catchy ciphers. In the last ten years, the political language in China changed; with a dictionary alone, some terms in the party language cannot be deciphered. Very good language skills, effort and the Internet can help.

By Experts Table.Briefings

Opinion

Blowing down the CCP's house of cards

Deng Xiaoping understood that a rules-based system was essential to avoid a repeat of the fanatical terror unleashed under Mao Zedong. But his conviction could not overcome his self-interest, and, as President Xi Jinping has shown, the institutional edifice Deng built in the 1980s turned out to be hollow.

By Experts Table.Briefings

Opinion

The diplomatic approach to fundamental political difference

The purpose of diplomatic language is to prevent political differences that lead to a deterioration of relations between two states. Ralph Weber of the University of Basel sees in a diplomatic verbal exchange with authoritarian states a risk of undermining own democratic values. Especially when they have existed for 50 years, as between Germany and the People's Republic of China. Therefore, democracies should pay meticulous attention to their choice of words and avoid the use of numerous terms.

By Experts Table.Briefings

Opinion

What's cooking in Brussels: dining table and bridge

The menu of the day is the art of culinary diplomacy. Today is the day of European summits, which seem to favor the end of the week since the start of the war in Ukraine. The table order plays an important role during negotiations – and increasingly also the passerelle, a small bridge.

By Claire Stam