We're so sad to see our research fellow, @itstheelliekoep leave the office! I wish you well on your journey to the US, Ellie, and hopefully we can continue collaborating remotely!
Ellie, it has been an absolute joy having you as part of the team. We're so proud of your contributions, and we'll miss you - but I also can't wait to watch you succeed in the USA! You always have a home with us here at NextGen 😁
In my conversation with @RFA_Chinese, I comment on the 🇫🇷🇨🇳 confrontation over the planned visit of the chairperson of the French Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group, Alain Richard of the ruling @enmarchefr to Taiwan.
rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao…
Why does China's attempt to stop the visit of French Sentators to Taiwan matter? [🧵]
🇫🇷is playing an increasingly important role within the EU; particularly given the looming dprtr of Angela Merkel. @EmmanuelMacron's moves can thus influence the bloc's overall policy towards 🇨🇳
Yet, @CEIAS_eu's survey shows 🇫🇷 public is decisively negative about China: 62% of those polled have a negative or very negative opinion. It is thus important to see how 🇫🇷 approach towards 🇨🇳&🇹🇼 evolves as Paris plays an increasingly big role in 🇪🇺. ceias.eu/wp-content/uploads/…
European China watchers, incl. @AntoineBondaz, have noted that Macron's calls for "boldness" in the approach towards China have been pure rhetorics, as the French president has sought to "avoid offense at all cost."
echo-wall.eu/knowledge-gaps/…
The looming 🇫🇷 presidency is particularly important given that @EmmanuelMacron's policy towards 🇨🇳 has differed from the approach preferred by Merkel. While Macron has been calling for an assertive, unified strategy over natl policies, Merkel has taken a more pragmatic approach.
France's moves towards #Taiwan will be monitored closely by other 🇪🇺 countries:
1) @StuartKLau aptly calls @EmmanuelMacron EU's new "interlocutor-in-chief" as Merkel retires
2)🇫🇷will take over the presidency of the @EUCouncil in Jan '22 when #CAI is supposed to come into effect
So what exactly happened? @AmbassadeChine deployed its favorite tool - petty intimidation - as it spoke against the planned visit of the chairperson of the French Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group, Alain Richard of the ruling @enmarchefr, to Taiwan.
en.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/2…
Why does China's attempt to stop the visit of French Sentators to Taiwan matter? [🧵]
🇫🇷is playing an increasingly important role within the EU; particularly given the looming dprtr of Angela Merkel. @EmmanuelMacron's moves can thus influence the bloc's overall policy towards 🇨🇳
We call on France to exercise its sovereignty and rights as a nation and engage with whichever countries it sees fit, and to ignore the political maneuvering of the Chinese state.