On November 5th 2019, the LeidenAsiaCentre presents an Interactive China Lecture. Under the supervision of René Cuperus, Senior Associate Fellow at the Clingendael Institute, students are challenged to design their own China strategy. Registration (mandatory) is free and includes drinks. See the website of Leiden Asia Centre for further details. 

Design your own China strategy

In recent years, China’s government has demonstrated that it will not, despite the expectations of many in the West, simply accept the existing rules and norms of the international political and economic order, but that it means to actively shape them. Western political actors have responded to this development in various ways: Donald Trump initiated a trade war with China, the European Union updated its 2016 China strategy and the Dutch cabinet came up with a new strategy altogether.

All of these efforts contain different strategies to cooperate with China and to respond to Chinese takes on complex issues related to the global economy, international security, technological innovation, human rights protection, and the international political order.

After a presentation by the Netherlands Asia Honours Summer School (NAHSS) on their experiences in China and a lecture by René Cuperus on the two faces of modern China, it is up to students to design, present and discuss their ideal China strategy. Everyone is invited for drinks after the discussion.

Column: China-bashing

René Cuperus recently wrote a column about the European perspective on China, criticising the lack of understanding and misconceptions about China in Europe. He recited the column at our Talking China Strategy event in June 2019.