Berlin — 9DASHLINE

Hungary’s bet on China: Smart move or desperate attempt?

Written by Dr Tamás Matura

Playing a balancing act between the East and the West, Orbán hopes to boost his international political clout and the economic development of Hungary by cosying up to other illiberal world leaders such as China’s Xi Jinping.

Europe and the Indo-Pacific9DLMarch 4, 20249dashline, Hungary’s bet on China: Smart move or desperate attempt?, Dr Tamás Matura, Hungary, China, Viktor Orbán, Beijing, Budapest, illiberal governments, Xi Jinping, Chinese investors, Western investors, China policy, Sino-Hungary, EV industry, Central Europe, EU, Orbán, Eastern Opening Policy, comprehensive strategic partnership, pro-China policies, veto, Council veto, human rights abuses, EU proposals, South China Sea, Russia-Ukrainian war, 16+1 framework, Baltic states, Poland, Czechia, Romania, diplomatic resources, economic resources, friendship, diplomacy, Beijing's strategic interests, EU statements, Hungarian economy, Chinese economic presence, Chinese capital, European automotive industry, Berlin, BRI, Budapest-Belgrade railway line, EU technological standards, Chinese factories, Serbia, multinational manufacturers, transportation corridor, infrastructure, EV, manufacturing exports, European economic crisis, domestic companies, crony capitalism, unemployment, guest workers, hatemongering, migrants, migration, minority groups, foreign workers, countryside, veto power, 16+1 cooperation, middleman strategy

Germany’s Indo-Pacific aspirations and realities

Written by Dr Rafal Ulatowski

Germany is too weak militarily to change the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. Its military presence satisfies the expectations of the regional middle powers and of the United States while having only a minor adverse impact on Germany’s relations with China.

Europe and the Indo-Pacific9DLJanuary 10, 20249DashLine, Germany’s Indo-Pacific aspirations and realities, Rafal Ulatowski, Germany, Indo-Pacific, European Union, EU, bilateral, regional powers, liberal international order, open markets, China, trade, Chinese-German cooperation, intergovernmental consultations, German-Chinese partnership, Policy Guidelines for the Indo-Pacific, National Security Strategy, Strategy on China, German Navy, German frigate Bayern, German National Security Strategy, German Strategy on China, US-Chinese competition, diversifying, diversification, democratic values, German-Chinese relations, comprehensive strategic partnership, Federation of German Industries (BDI), partner, competitor, Italy, important partner, systemic rival, military presence, Bayern frigate, Operation Rapid Pacific, Australia, symbolic, middle powers, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, democracies, shared values, resilient supply chains, German arms exports, investments, export, Taiwan, Hing Kong, Hong Kong, malaysia, Thailand, FDI, Luxembourg, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, de-risking, decoupling, Alliance 90/The Greens, Social Democrats, German companies, sensitive technologies, United Kingdom, Bundeswehr, Zeitenwende, NATO, defence spending, 2 per cent goal, Berlin, United States, confrontation, strategic interests, SIPRI, Russia-Ukrainian war, dependence, great powers, COVID-19 pandemic

German submarines for India: An arsenal for democracies?

Written by Hendrik A. Pasligh

As the European arms industry scrambles to manage the needs of and lessons from Russia’s war against Ukraine, Germany has sought to rekindle its defence-industrial cooperation with India.

Europe and the Indo-Pacific9DLSeptember 21, 20239dashline, German submarines for India: An arsenal for democracies?, Hendrik A. Pasligh, Germany, India, submarines, weapons arsenal, arms industry, Russia-Ukraine war, defence-industrial cooperation, key technologies, domestic defence industry, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Indian Navy, Mumbai, Project-75, geopolitical dynamics, defence industries, US defence, European defence, artillery shells, long-term economic feasibility, Rheinmetall, Zeitenwende, Boris Pistorius, strategic partnership, Berlin, New Delhi, Germany-India partnership, arms sales, border disputes, Pakistan, China, PRC, nuclear powers, Moscow, beijing, Russian arms, strategic interest, Indian Ocean, Pakistan’s navy, uncrewed surface and underwater vehicles, USV, UUV, self-sufficiency, indigenous aircraft carrier programme, international cooperation, ‘Make in India’ policy, technology transfer, domestic industrial capacity, rules-based international order, German National Security Strategy, Annalena Baerbock, feminist foreign policy, gender-based violence, NATO, defence startups, economies of scale

The transatlantic puzzle in the Indo-Pacific

Written by Mathieu Droin

The brewing Indo-Pacific architecture is inherently “flexilateral” due to the breadth of factors and the rapidly changing stakes that determine its many actors’ positions.

Europe and the Indo-Pacific9DLJune 28, 20239DashLine, The transatlantic puzzle in the Indo-Pacific, Mathieu Droin, European Union, Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, AUKUS, transatlantic, minilateral, Indo-Pacific, Japan, China, Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), India, strategy, flexilateral, Thucydides trap, geoeconomic, trade, geostrategic, ASEAN, ASEAN centrality, clubs, biannual EU-US high-level consultations on the Indo-Pacific, Washington, France, overseas territories, Indian Ocean, Pacific, strategic autonomy, puissance d’equilibres, power of balances, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Pacific Islands, Netherlands, Germany, Council of the EU, EU presidency, Italy, Rome, Tempest programme, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Raisina Dialogue, Denmark, maritime domain, Hungary, Chinese coercion, Lithuania, dependence, Berlin, Beijing, German Indo-Pacific strategy, Central and Eastern Europe, Xi, Putin, Czech Republic, Poland, Russia-China axis, NATO, EU Indo-Pacific forum, South Korea, New Zealand, President Macron, GLOBSEC Forum, North Macedonia, Sweden, Djibouti, Laos, transatlantic Quad, Anglo-Saxons, aspiring powers, rising powers, strategic autonomists, GCAP, Franco-Indian-UAE initiative, freedom to manoeuvre, Quaderateral Security Dialogue, Quad, EU, UK, Thucydides, Giorgia Meloni, Ukraine, Czech, Nato, GLOBSEC, NZ, UAE, CSIC, CSIS

In Brief with Ambika Vishwanath, co-founder of the Kubernein Initiative

9DASHLINE recently had the chance to catch up with Ambika Vishwanath, co-founder and director of the Kubernein Initiative, one of our key partner organisations. Here, we share some of the highlights from our conversation which touched on a range of issues including feminist foreign policy, India-Germany relations, and climate security.

In Brief9DLMay 29, 20239dashline, Ambika Vishwanath, Kubernein Initiative, India, feminist foreign policy, European decision-makers, decision-making, Margot Wallstrom, rights, representation, and resources, policy-making, structural and systemic change, gender inequality, women’s rights, National Action Plans, NAPs, UN Women, Peace, and Security, WPS, FFP, Canada, France, Luxembourg, Mexico, Sweden, International Women’s Development Agency, IWDA, Feminist International Assistance Policy, FIAP, Official Development Assistance, OECD, Germany, German Foreign Ministry, Mexican Foreign Service, Munich Security Conference, Kosovo, post-conflict scenario, inequality, structural changes, gender lens, foreign policy, Australia, mainstream a gender perspective, gender perspective, inclusive foreign policy, Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy, CFFP, International Center for Research on Women, ICRW, International Women's Development Agency, United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP25, COP27, Zeitenwende, New Delhi, Berlin, development assistance, bilateral groupings, multilateral groupings, climate, climate change, EU, Europe, geopolitics, Russia-Ukraine war, post-war, colonialism, women, international women's day, India-Germany relations

In Brief with Reinhard Bütikofer MEP

This week, 9DASHLINE enjoyed the opportunity to have a candid discussion with Member of the European Parliament, Reinhard Bütikofer, where we sought to gauge his views on Europe, its interests in the Indo-Pacific, and its ties with China.

Best of 2022: The Indo-Pacific

Take this opportunity to review some of our most-read analyses from the past year on the evolving strategies of several countries toward the Indo-Pacific.

Faultlines9DLJanuary 2, 2023Preparing for a crowded Indo-Pacific: where to next?, Gabriele Abbondanza, Korea, indonesia, Australia, South Korea, Europe, indo-pacific, Is South Korea’s new Indo-Pacific strategy finally forthcoming?, Wongi Choe, Moon Jae-in, south korea, japan, australia, Elli Pohlkamp, Elli-Katharina Pohlkamp, Tokyo, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Free and Open Indo-Pacific, United States, China, Christiane Heidbrink, Putin, Germany, Scholz, Bundeswehr, Asia-Pacific, France, Rafael Loss, Elisabeth I-Mi Suh, Hamburg Institute for Peace Research, Berlin, The Bundeswehr in the Indo-Pacific, German Council on Foreign Relations, DGAP, The fate of the Indo-Pacific: Lessons from Ukraine and US diplomacy towards Taiwan, Reuben Steff, Martin Jirušek, US, Taiwan, The US should prioritise the Indo-Pacific over Ukraine, Aine Cooke

Taking stock and looking ahead with 9DASHLINE

As we say farewell to an incredibly rewarding year and look forward to taking a brief but well-deserved break, 9DASHLINE’s leadership — David MacSweeney, Dr Manali Kumar, and Dr Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy — answer some frequently asked questions about our goals and hopes for the platform in 2023.

News9DLDecember 23, 20229DASHLINE, Hunter Marston, Tereza Novotna, Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy, Manali Kumar, David MacSweeney, La Trobe Asia, Kubernein Initiative, indo-pacific, europe, Feminist Foreign Policy, Brussels, Berlin, Korea, Taiwan

The Bundeswehr in the Indo-Pacific

Written by Rafael Loss and Elisabeth I-Mi Suh

Adopting a rather transactional take and framing the Bundeswehr’s regional engagement in the context of Washington’s focus on China is not wrong, but it is short-sighted.

Europe and the Indo-Pacific9DLDecember 1, 20229DashLine, The Bundeswehr in the Indo-Pacific, Rafael Loss, Betty Suh, Elisabeth I-Mi Suh, Bundeswehr, Indo-Pacific, Germany, Berlin, diplomacy, German federal armed forces, armed forces, joint exercises, NATO, NATO allies, Australia, China, military posture, National Security Strategy, China Strategy, German frigate Bayern, German Navy, navy, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Eberhard Zorn, Pakistan, Guam, Japan, south korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, India, South China Sea, innocent passage, Taiwan Strait, Beijing, Shanghai, German Air Force, Eurofighter, jets, transporters, tankers, Rapid Pacific, Pitch Black air combat exercise, Kakadu maritime combat exercise, F-35 stealth aircraft, F-35, Talisman Saber, United States, NATO sumiit, Nato Summit, NATO Strategic Concept, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, New Zealand, cyber, cyber defence, maritime security, climate change, Disinformation, hybrid threats, Canberra, Tokio, Tokyo, Enhanced Opportunity Partner, Multilateralism, Asia-Pacific, deterrence, Taiwan, North Korea, missile tests, Rheinmetall, Russia, Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy, People's Liberation Army, Russian Navy, authoritarian revisionism, White House

The US-Japan Alliance and Europe: Furthering the existing web of trilaterals and minilaterals

Written by Alice Dell’Era

From Europe’s perspective, these potential trilateral and/or minilateral consultative mechanisms could give European actors the space to voice their own outlook, ensuring that European viewpoints are incorporated into Japanese and American perspectives.

Europe and the Indo-Pacific, East Asia9DLNovember 25, 20229DashLine, The US-Japan Alliance and Europe: Furthering the existing web of trilaterals and minilaterals, Alice Dell’Era, US-Japan, security partnership, Indo-Pacific Strategy, Cold War, Japan, US, United States, allies, bilateralism, bilateralism-plus, trilateral, minilateral, minilateral regional mechanisms, bilateral alliance, Republic of Korea, ROK, Australia, India, Europe, Biden administration, France, UK, Germany, Abe Cabinet, Arc of Freedom and Prosperity Initiative’, European partners, 2+2, dynamic strategic partnership, Japan-France Comprehensive Maritime Dialogue, Working Group on the Indo-Pacific, Reciprocal Access Agreement, RAA, extra-regional partner, Tokyo, Berlin, Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, defence, Franco-Japanese bilateral exercises, joint military training, goodwill training, Indo-Pacific deployment, Japan’s Air Self-Defence Force, ASDF, quadrilateral, Washington, La Perouse, ARC21, US-Japan 2021 ANNUALEX, ANNUALEX, US-Japan Alliance-Plus

A tall order: Germany’s comprehensive China strategy

Written by Christiane Heidbrink

For the first time in history, the German government is drafting its own China strategy. Although much is still up in the air, it is becoming apparent that Chancellor Olaf Scholz is trying to strike a balance between cooperation and tough-talking.

Europe and the Indo-Pacific9DLOctober 24, 20229DashLine, Christiane Heidbrink, Germany, China, German government, coalition, China strategy, A tall order: Germany’s comprehensive China strategy, systemic rivalry, EU-China policy, German Social Democrats, SPD, Greens, Alliance 90/The Greens, Free Democratic Party, FDP, Sino-German relations, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Green BRI, Belt and Road Initiative, Green Belt and Road Initiative, climate goals, greenwashing, climate action, environmental protection, Scholz administration, Berlin, Beijing, EU Global Gateway Initiative, G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, Supply Chain Law, supply chains, German Foreign Trade and Payments Regulation, Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, 13th Mechanical Engineering Summit, decoupling, diversification, Chinese Dual Circulation Strategy, Indo-Pacific Guidelines, Indo-Pacific, diplomatic efforts, NATO 2022 strategic concept, Jens Plötner, tough-talking

Italy pushes back against China’s technology transfer

Written by Francesca Ghiretti and Rebecca Arcesati

Mario Draghi’s new unit to screen FDI in strategic sectors should be concerned with more than inbound investments. Particularly, the new division should consider turning its attention towards research and innovation (R&I) exchanges.

Faultlines9DLJune 23, 20229DASHLINE, Francesca Ghiretti, Rebecca Arcesati, FDI, Foreign Direct Investment, Mario Draghi, Italy, Rome, China, Beijing, Europe, R&I, research and innovation, Technology, Golden Power, Shenzhen Investment Holdings, Lpe, semiconductors, epitaxy reactors, Verisem, Sygenta, Sinochem, Swiss, Zhejiang Jingsheng Mechanica, Hong Kong, American Applied Materials, solar power, EFORT, ROBOX, drones, Alpi Aviation, Mars Information Technology Co, Iveco, FAW Jiefang, Center for Security and Emerging Technology, China-Italy Technology Transfer Center, CITTC, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, Milan Polytechnic University, National University of Defense Technology, NUDT, University of Pavia, Microelectronics Innovation Lab, Huawei, US Department of Commerce’s Entity List, 5G, Sardinia, Xianjiang, COPASIR, Germany, Berlin, EU, Council of Ministers, cybersecurity, banking, insurance, water, healthcare, agriculture, food, Italy pushes back against China’s technology transfer, Syngenta, CCP, Xinjiang, Human Rights, MERICS, Mercator Institute for China Studies

Thailand’s long-anticipated submarine deal hits yet another snag

Written by Zachary Abuza

Thailand’s submarine deal with China has been put on hold, not due to the public backlash, parliamentary scrutiny, or a lack of strategic rationale; the Gulf of Siam is too shallow for submarines to operate effectively. But since the military coup of 2014, the Thai military usually gets its way regardless of strategic rationale.

Shouldn’t we just close all Confucius Institutes?

Written by Matthias Niedenführ

The West must ask itself serious questions about its desired relationship with China but a blanket closure of Confucius Institutes seems a politically expedient knee jerk reaction.

Women’s participation in peace and security: Why it matters

Written by Julia Strasheim

The debate on how women get to participate in matters of international peace and security is both a timely and a relevant one. While there has been improvement, continue to be woefully underrepresented in the peace and security domain.

Scholz’s €100 billion surprise: A paradigm shift in Germany’s security policy?

Written by Christiane Heidbrink

Due to the complexity of weapon systems and personnel requirements, a financial injection alone is not enough to solve the Bundeswehr’s structural challenges. Consequently, the one-time sum of €100 billion does not represent a militarisation trend but a necessary investment to plug serious holes in its equipment.

In Brief: Tereza Novotna — South Korea Associate at 9DASHLINE

This week we are delighted to announce the arrival of Tereza Novotna as our new South Korea Associate. In joining our expanding network of associates her arrival marks the next stage of our development in seeking to connect Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

2022: Where to for climate mitigation?

China and the US can suspend the superpower competition with goodwill and scientific imagination to mobilise a techno-war on carbon that will improve the quality of life not just for American and Chinese citizens but also for the planet.