Thread by @AMFChina

In this German-language report @FriederikeBoege and @MichaelaWiegel write about the Chinese Communist Party's attempts to 'control the global narrative about China' with the help of 'defamation and intimidation' /1

faz.net/aktuell/politi…

This report is remarkable for various reasons. In the past there has been a great reluctance among German elites to pick a fight with the Chinese Communist Party. But now that the party-state has sanctioned the widely respected German think tank @merics_eu, things will change /2

As @FriederikeBoege and @MichaelaWiegel rightly point out, @merics_eu is hardly a hawkish think tank. Under @m_huotari's leadership it has gained a reputation of being both critical and constructive. Merics is widely respected, both within the German government and academia /3

It should go without saying that it is completely unacceptable for the CCP to sanction an independent think tank. But I would add that for the CCP to single out the widely respected @merics_eu is also a colossal strategic blunder by Xi's 'wolf warriors' /4

In the following I would like to highlight and translate some of the key points of @FriederikeBoege and @MichaelaWiegel's excellent article in @faznet. The two authors write that by sanctioning @MericS "Beijing wants to decide who in Europe talks or writes about China and how" /5

The article quotes @m_huotari as saying that "we are apparently seen as an institute that has an influence on European debates". The authors bemoan the "closing of dialogue channels" which will deprive Europe of insights into the complex political situation in China /6

The authors also quote Duchâ­tel @mtdtl from Insti­tut Montaig­ne. He critiques the CCP's lack of willingness to engage in a robust debate with its critics in Europe. He also points out that Beijing's retaliatory sanctions far exceed the initial Western human rights sanctions /7

The two authors @FriederikeBoege and @MichaelaWiegel also critique the Chinese party-state's instrumentalisation of western foreigners - e.g. 'obscure academics and YouTubers' who are willing to 'sing Beijing's songs' /8

In the following the two authors recount how European China specialists who are critical of the CCP have been at the receiving end of defamation and intimidation. They describe how @AntoineBondaz, @adrianzenz & I myself have been subject to smear campaigns and cyber bullying /9

In one of their concluding paragraphs the authors rightly point out that "of course, none of this has meant that criticism of China has subsided. On the contrary." It is my sincere hope that Western China specialists will continue to speak their mind without fear or favour /End