In recent years, countries like Russia, Iran and China have started to ramp up their efforts to influence public opinion, interfere in democratic process, and undermine democratic regimes. Influence operations, including propaganda, disinformation, and psychological warfare have become one of the key avenues through which powers aim to exert influence. Taiwan, which is under continuous and growing pressures from China, has been at the forefront of developing strategies to increase population's resilience and effectively combat threats stemming from malign influence operations. So what is the current state of Taiwan's information ecosystem and what can the EU learn from Taiwan? And are there any areas where the EU and the US could cooperate with Taiwan? This and more will be discussed in this new episode of Voice for CHOICE, with a special guest, Puma Shen.

This month's guest

• Puma Shen, Legislator in Taiwan's Legislative Yuan, Founder of Doublethink Lab and Kuma Academy

See notes

• Testimony for the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission Taiwan’s Experience and Response to China’s Influence and Interference
• China Index
• Narrative Intelligence: Detecting Chinese and Russian Information Operations to Disrupt NATO Unity

• Influence Campaigns from Iran, China, Russia Ramping up Ahead of Elections, Microsoft Finds
• The Chinese Communist Party’s Political Warfare Directed Against Taiwan: Overview and Analysis
• An analysis on the impact of false information on Taiwanese voters

Despite growing interest in China and its global role, women analysts in Europe face several challenges, including limited access to professional networks, underrepresentation, and a lack of visibility. WiCH is a proactive response to these challenges, aiming to build a pan-European community where women in China studies can thrive. By fostering connections, providing mentorship, and amplifying the contributions of women, the initiative seeks to address gender imbalance and ensure diverse perspectives in China-related research and policy discussions.

This month's guest

• Ivana Karásková, China Team Lead at Association for International Affairs (AMO)

Show notes

• Introducing WiCH: Empowering Women in China Studies Across Europe
• NüVoices
• NüVoices Won’t Let Beijing Silence Women

Amidst the broader geopolitical tensions, the EU-China relations have seen significant changes. De-risking, economic security and strategic autonomy are at the forefront of such changes, with electric vehicle and raw material supply chains driving the EU’s concerns. As the EU continues down the de-risking path, we discuss the anti-subsidy probe into made-in-China electric vehicles and the Critical Raw Materials Act, with a special focus on their implications for the CEE region. This month's guest

• Dominika Remžová, China Analyst at Association for International Affairs (AMO)

Show notes

• From Zero to Hero? Chinese Investment in Electric Vehicle Supply Chains in the Visegrád Four
• “WIN SOME, LOSE SOME”: China's Involvement in the Extractive and Raw Materials Industries in the Western Balkans

• Balancing Act: Managing European Dependencies on China for Climate Technologies
• US and Europe: 2 Different Approaches to Restricting Chinese EVs
• Ain’t No Duty High Enough
• Reverse Dependency: Making Europe's Digital Technological Strenghts Indispensable to China

North Korean regime has increasingly benefited from deepening cooperation with Russia, a development not fully welcomed by its traditional ally, China. North Korea has supplied the Russian Federation with munitions and other military equipment in exchange for food, raw materials, and components for weapons manufacturing. This growing partnership enables North Korea to circumvent international sanctions, sustain its regime, and bolster its military capabilities, further complicating regional and global security dynamics.

This month's guest

• Dr. Niklas Swanström, Director of the Institute for Security and Development Policy

Show notes

• EU-Taiwan Semiconductor Supply Chain: Resilience amid the Digital and Green Transition

• China as a Mediator in North Korea: Facilitating Dialogues or Mediating Conflicts?

• Why Taiwan Matters to Europe

• EU-Japan-Taiwan Cooperation: Building a Blue Supply Chain
  

The European Union's engagement in the Indo-Pacific has grown significantly in recent years, driven by the region's strategic importance and economic dynamism. The EU aims to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific through enhanced cooperation with regional partners like Japan, India, and ASEAN. Moreover, it has become increasingly clear that Europe and Asia are not separate theatres but are deeply intertwined.

This month's guest

• Abigaël Vasselier, Head of Program Foreign Relations at MERICS.

Show notes

• China-Russia alignment: a threat to Europe's security

• Navigating Taiwan relations in 2024: Practical considerations for European policy makers

• Profiling relations of European countries with China
  

In recent years, we have seen increased tensions in the Taiwan Strait. China has intensified its military drills around the island and increased coercive tactics against Taiwan, sparking debates about a potential contingency. Discussions revolve around whether Beijing might choose a blockade or a full-scale invasion to alter the status quo. The role of the U.S. and the EU will be crucial in maintaining stability in the Strait and deterring China from making unilateral changes to the current situation.

This month's guest

• Bonnie Glaser, Managing Director of the German Marshall Fund's Indo-Pacific Program.

Show notes

• Why UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 Does Not Establish Beijing’s “One China” Principle: A Legal Perspective

• Taiwan's Most Pressing Challenge is Strangulation, Not Invasion

• Transcript: Situation in the Taiwan Strait
  

NATO's growing interest in the Indo-Pacific region has stemmed from the Alliance's recognition of the strategic implications of China's rise. Furthermore, the war in Ukraine has underscored the growing geopolitical interdependence between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions. That is why NATO has strengthened dialogue and cooperation with its partners in the Indo-Pacific region – Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand and NATO members have increased their presence in the region.

This month's guest

• Prof. Dr. May-Britt U. Stumbaum, Professor of Security Studies and Strategic Competition at the George C. Marshall Center and Director of The SPEAR Institute.

Show notes

• ⁠L’impact de la polarisation entre la Chine et les États-Unis dans l’espace indopacifique : le point de vue de la Chine⁠

• ⁠HOE DE EUROPESE DEMOCRATIE TE WAPENEN TEGEN CHINA⁠

• ⁠China’s power politics 2.0: Regime survival and global leadership⁠

• ⁠War By Narrative?⁠

Australia has been a prominent target of China's foreign interference. Beijing has been involved in various covert operations, including cyber espionage, attempts to infiltrate local politics, and efforts to sway public opinion through media and social platforms. Chinese government-linked entities have been accused of leveraging Chinese student associations to promote Beijing's agenda. Hacker groups associated with Beijing have carried out attacks against the computer networks of the Parliament and the three main political parties, as well as individual MPs who are part of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC). Furthermore, an Australian politician was offered a financial contribution in exchange for changing their stance on China-related issues. These activities aim to undermine Australia's sovereignty, democratic institutions, and strategic interests. In response, the Australian government passed legislation criminalizing foreign interference and introduced the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme. Despite these efforts, the challenge of countering China's sophisticated and persistent tactics persists.

This month’s guest

• Justin Bassi, Executive Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

Show notes

• Dialogue with China’s Premier Li was a missed opportunity
• Stabilising relations with China mustn’t come at the expense of Australia’s security
• Collective consistency is the answer to Beijing’s trade coercion
• Time for the Quad to bare its teeth on regional security