In my new book ‘The Struggle for Democracy in Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong’ I critique the ‘winner-takes-all’ (你死我活) conception of politics in the People’s Republic of China /1
On p.73 I cite Thomas Gold’s definition of Chinese political culture /2
I subsequently quote Joseph Fewsmith who “suggests that a ‘winner-take-all conception of politics has been the hallmark of CCP politics’”/3
Why am I revisiting these paragraphs in my new book? This morning I read Andrew Higgins New York Times report from Monday, 26 August on Jimmy Lai, the 71-year old Hong Kong tycoon, owner of the online Next magazine and staunch supporter of the pro-democracy movement /4
Higgins points out that Chinese state-media has vilified Lai “as a CIA agent, a ‘black hand’, and a member of an American-directed ‘gang of four’ supposedly responsible for orchestrating the Hong Kong protest movement”.
These accusations reveal the paranoia among CCP leaders /5
But the most remarkable paragraph in Higgins excellent New York Times report comes a bit later, which reveals the real-world implications of the CCP’s political culture of ‘you die, I live’ (你死我活) /6
Higgins writes: “China’s relentless campaign of vilification against Mr. Lai took a particular nasty turn this month when his name was purged from the genealogical records of his family across the border in southern China” /7
This act of ‘eliminating names’ — in this case Jimmy Lai’s — supports Thomas Gold’s definition of Chinese political culture /8
Higgins reports: “His relatives, according to a report in Ta Kung Pao, a Communist Party-controlled newspaper in Hong Kong that invariably refers to him as ‘fatty Lai’, deleted his name from a family tree going back 28 generations, declaring him a ‘traitor’ to his ancestors... /9
... and his country who is no longer part of the clan.”
Anyone vaguely familiar with Chinese culture and society will understand how crass this campaign of demonization of Chinese party-state critics like Jimmy Lai is /10
Anyone who still believes that the Chinese Communist Party is a guardian of ‘Chinese culture’ and anyone who argues that the cultural identity of China is somehow pre-political should reflect on what has just happened to Jimmy Lai, a very good and decent man /End
Do you think that China can be a reliable partner in the fight against climate change? Then think again /1
It is true that the Chinese leadership has formulated ambitious climate targets. In 2020, Xi Jinping declared the goal of making the People's Republic climate-neutral by 2060 /2bbc.co.uk/news/science-e…
But the reality is different: Coal remains the undisputed central source of energy, and China is consistently undermining the goal of climate neutrality by rapidly expanding coal-fired power plants, at home and abroad /3 bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
Steinmeiers Wutausbruch nach Martins Kritik zeigt, warum wir bei der Entwicklung einer neuen deutschen strategischen Kultur nicht vorankommen. Wenn sich die besten Ideen durchsetzen sollen, brauchen wir robuste öffentliche Debatten. Doch Widerspruch ist leider nicht erwünscht /1
Steinmeier war unter Merkel zwei Mal Aussenminister, 2005-2009 und 2013-2017. Sein Konzept "Annäherung durch Verflechtung" war ein wenig durchdachtes Imitat von Bahrs Ostpolitik "Wandel durch Annäherung". Steinmeiers außenpolitische Doktrin wurde sukzessive zu einem Dogma /2
Wie ich in meinem Buch "Germany and China" (Bloomsbury, 2024) dargelegt habe, zielte die Steinmeier-Doktrin nicht auf Liberalisierung autokratischer Länder ab, sondern ermöglichte billige Gasimporte aus Russland, stärkte den Handel mit China und normalisierte damit Diktaturen /3
35 years after Germany's peaceful revolution of 1989, the renowned author Marko Martin has publicly criticised President #Steinmeier. His excellent critique was long overdue. But it is not enough. Once a new government is formed Steinmeier should resign /1
First the Russian invasion of Ukraine, then the mass murder by Hamas terrorists in Israel: following the 'Zeitenwende' of 24 February 2022 our world is coming apart at the seams. The misguided foreign policy of the incumbent German President has contributed to this outcome /2
Steinmeier was foreign minister twice under Merkel, 2005-2009 and 2013-2017. He was the author of the "rapprochement through interweaving" approach, a poor imitation of Bahr's Ostpolitik "Change through rapprochement". It morphed into a highly dogmatic foreign policy doctrine /3
I am not convinced that institutional funding by @AuswaertigesAmt for @merics_eu is such a good thing. China competence sounds great, but we need to understand the multitude of our relationships with China better. This will require a (self-)critical introspection. A short 🧵/1
I am mindful that think tanks need to diversify their funding streams. So I can understand why @merics_eu is happy to accept support also from @AuswaertigesAmt. But there is a catch: when it comes to China policy, the AA has struggled to assert itself vis-à-vis the Chancellery /2
@merics_eu @AuswaertigesAmt Of course @merics_eu could use AA funding to publish more insightful reports about China. But in my view we do not simply need more knowledge about China. In addition, think tanks should regularly assess the state of our relationships with China. But that is quite challenging /3
In #ChinaLeaks (C.H. Beck, 2024) investigative journalist Markus Frenzel uncovers Beijing's secret influence network in Germany. A must-read for those concerned about Western elites' complacency towards the Chinese Communist Party's illegal interference in liberal democracies /1
Frenzel’s book is the result of a two-year investigation with twenty-one journalists across ten countries. It explains the 'friend-enemy' mentality underpinning the CCP's United Front work at home and abroad. It draws on specific examples of elite capture in Germany /2
While making an uncomfortable reading for Chinese citizens on the leaked #UnitedFront list, it is important to recognise the book's focus on political critique rather than racial bias. Frenzel emphasises the need for critical awareness over discrimination /3
Strategic blindness in Germany’s approach to China has led to mounting costs in terms of national sovereignty, economic independence and civil liberties. Learn how entanglement with China erodes Germany's strategic autonomy. A short 🧵/1 rusi.org/explore-our-re…
Beyond the partner, competitor, and systemic rival trifecta. A neo-totalitarian Chinese Communist Party (CCP) threatens freedom, prosperity, and security, at home and abroad /2
Why the CCP struggles against its opponents. A key feature of both Maoism and Stalinism, 'perpetual struggle', informs Xi Jinping's thinking and fuels the party's friend-enemy mentality /3