Malta’s engagement with China is a relatively recent phenomenon. Although cooperation began in 2009, activity has increased sharply over the past two years. Contrary to the growing skepticism and the publication of research guidelines across European countries, Malta appears to remain open to Chinese students and researchers. As part of this project, we have investigated… Continue reading Malta: Recent rise in cooperation with Chinese universities lacks discussions on potential risks
This report analyzes a dataset of academic engagement between the Netherlands and China. There are some areas of concern, but overall, the relatively advanced Dutch approach offers lessons for other European countries. Yet the cooperative model is running into its limitations as the extent of universities’ compliance diverges from the government’s policy priorities. The dataset… Continue reading The Netherlands: Can cooperative knowledge security policy mitigate risky cooperations with China?
Ireland’s expanding academic ties with China have created opportunities for universities, but the accompanying risks of authoritarian influence warrant closer scrutiny. The main concerns relate to Irish institutions’ growing involvement in transnational education (TNE) programs in China and to the presence and influence of controversial Chinese-linked entities, such as Confucius Institutes and Huawei. This study… Continue reading Ireland: Increasing exposure to authoritarian influence through educational partnerships with China
This CEIAS report offers the first comprehensive, bottom-up analysis of Europe-Taiwan relations across 30 European countries. By systematically examining bilateral ties rather than treating Europe as a single actor, it provides a new empirical foundation for assessing the scope, depth, and current limits of Europe’s engagement with Taiwan. Since 2020, Europe’s approach to Taiwan has… Continue reading Partners in need, partners indeed? Tracking Europe-Taiwan relations amidst global disruption
There is no intellectual justification for the West’s obsession with labeling China experts as “hawks” or “doves.” Rooted in Cold War binaries, it prevents viable policy and mirrors the very friend-enemy dichotomy liberal democracies claim to reject. An alternative framework—“autocracy competence”—combines the desire for cooperation with an awareness of systemic autocratic limitations. Key takeaways: Drop… Continue reading Why the China “hawk-dove” framing is an own goal; “autocracy competence” points the way
