A Joint Workshop with SCRIPTS, the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), the Federation of German Industries (BDI) and the German Federal Foreign Office.

Based on ongoing discussions on the question whether China is a “strategic partner”, an “economic competitor” or a “systemic rival” (EU Commission 2019), the SCRIPTS Knowledge Exchange Lab hosted a joint workshop with academics from SCRIPTS, the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), the Federation of German Industries (BDI) and the German Foreign Office on June 30 2021. The discussion was held online.

In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, Beijing has not only highlighted its own authoritarian approach to crisis management with a self-confident international appearance, but at the same time has openly questioned the ability of democratic systems to counter essential crisis in an effective way. It seems as if the liberal model of order based on the principles of freedom, equality and individual self-determination is being fundamentally called into question. But what appears to be a provocative challenge to liberalism is, if we examine it more closely, far from clear-cut. For while the People's Republic clearly benefits economically from the principles of the liberal market economy, at home political rights to freedom and self-determination are being undermined. In view of these developments, both European politics and the economy must reorient themselves.

The discussion between actors from academia, the German industry and foreign policy centered around the following questions: Is there a distinct Chinese script? Does China export its own political model and if yes how? How does this impact economic and political relations between China and the EU and Germany? To what extent do foreign policy and foreign economic instruments (of Germany and the EU) have to be realigned in order to find strategic answers to Chinese actions?

The workshop was divided in two distinct sessions. In a first part, the new role of China in the world order and the global economy were examined from the perspective of German foreign policy, and German Industry. Researchers of SWP and SCRIPTS gave insightful inputs on how to assess Chinas role in the world, also with regard to the Chinese position in the current liberal international order. The second session of the workshop focused on the operational consequences for German and European foreign policy and economic institutions with regard to the changing role of China in the world. In particular, the question was raised to what extend foreign policy and business actors could adjust their economic and policy strategies towards an actor that increasingly pushes forward its own narrative of an international order.

Speakers:

• Prof. Dr. Tanja Börzel, Speaker of SCRIPTS
• His Excellency Dr. Clemens von Goetze, Ambassador of Germany to China
• Dr. Stefan Mair, Director SWP
• Wolfgang Niedermark, Member of the Executive Board BDI
• Petra Sigmund, Head of Asia-Pacific department, Federal Foreign Office
• Dr. Angela Stanzel, SWP
• Prof. Dr. Thomas Risse, SCRIPTS
• Moderator: Dr. Gregor Walter-Drop, Director SCRIPTS Knowledge Exchange Lab

Wednesday, 30 June 2021