"It's impossible to know why he has not been seen, because secrecy is part of the political system in China and there is very little information when it comes to public figures," said Frans-Paul van der Putten, a senior researcher at the Clingendael Institute, a Dutch think tank. "What we do know is that this should be a very important...
In the media
The fact that Hong Kong is now chasing dissidents abroad fits with the development we have seen in the Chinese region for some time, says China expert Frans-Paul van der Putten. "Hong Kong used to be a relatively safe space for people with political ideas different from those of the Chinese government. But that has gradually diminished in recent...
Interview: Sanctions on China, a new scenario for supply chains to consider - RailFreight
30-06-2023
Weeks before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the scenario of a full-scale war and its consequences, including sanctions and the disruption and reconfiguration of global supply chains, was deemed unrealistic by many. However, the reality proved even the most dedicated sceptics wrong. It seems that the West has learned some lessons from this and is...
Frans-Paul van der Putten, a researcher and founder of ChinaGeopolitics, a Dutch advisory business, said that given Europe's limited ability to deal with China independently from the US, it was good for Macron to try to make use of his restricted capacity. "While the EU needs to protect its internal cohesion and maintain close relations with the...
According to Dr. Frans-Paul van der Putten, a senior research fellow at the Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael partly backed by the Dutch Ministry of Defense, it is essential that the Dutch government is clear about the long-term aims for its policy on semiconductor technology, that it communicates clearly about these...
Recent events like the war in Ukraine and the domino effect it brought to global trade and supply chains prove that strategies like Germany's are becoming all the more relevant regarding connectivity via rail or even sea. A Germany distanced from China could blow another strike to the fragile Eurasian transport. Yet, according to experts and the...
The Dutch government is looking into reports that Chinese police forces are operating illegally in the Netherlands and attempting to intimidate critics of Beijing. An investigation by two Dutch media outlets, RTL Nieuws and Follow the Money, found that "at least two offices" had been opened by Chinese police without telling the Dutch authorities....
China seems to be overtaking Europe in global infrastructure investments, with EU leaders alarmed about the possible consequences. How does China benefit from expanding the Silk Road to other continents, and what could be Europe's response?
Frans-Paul van der Putten, a senior research fellow and coordinator of the China centre at the Clingendael Institute, a Dutch think tank, said the Pelosi visit had benefited China to some extent as it signals to allies of the US that its behaviour is unpredictable.
Ahead of this year's 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, we take a look at how the country is responding to three potential traps highlighted by President Xi Jinping in the past decade. In the second of a three-part series, we examine the Thucydides Trap and what it means for China's relations with the US....