“While members of the EU are clearly signaling a more independent foreign policy, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s getting closer to China. Of course not.”
Ivana Karásková, Voice of America“We find ourselves in the same situation as last spring when China launched its ‘mask diplomacy’. Today it is leading a ‘vaccine diplomacy’. But unlike last year, China is not the only producer and distributor of vaccines. So there is very significant competition. In the Czech Republic, we haven’t heard much about Chinese vaccines, we mostly talk about the Russian Sputnik V vaccine.”
Ivana Karásková, Radio Prague“The reason for this is increasingly widespread disillusionment – in many Eastern European governments there are growing doubts that their countries would benefit too much from China’s growing influence…it’s an end to naivety”.
Ivana Karásková, Süddeutsche Zeitung“There was a big mismatch between the expectations of the region and what China was actually offering,” says Bachulska. “China did not really understand that the 17 countries are very different,” disregarding cultural and economic differences between the western Balkans, which are not part of the EU, the Baltic states, the Visegrad Group members. China was not delivering.”
Alicja Bachulska, Radio France International“On the China issue, there is a split in the European Union between old member states and new member states …In 17+1 you have a number of U.S. allies that are more receptive to American goals.”
Ivana Karásková, Radio Free Europe“For China, propaganda has positive connotations, it is seen as a proactive tool in educating and shaping opinions to contribute to a ‘harmonious society.”
Ivana Karásková, Deutsche Welle“Šimalčík pointed out that Slovakia and Taiwan can develop R&D and investment projects in areas with unique cooperation potential such as ICT, materials science, and automobiles. As for responding to disinformation, the two parties can cooperate in the training of relevant professionals and the use of technology.”
Matej Šimalčík, CNA“Researchers at MapInfluenCE suggest that under the Sobotka-led government that governed from 2014 to 2017 – which featured Babis’s ANO as a junior partner – Czech foreign policy “deviated from its previous course” that had been somewhat cool towards China.”
MapInfluenCE, Balkan Insight“With prestige in mind, I would expect Fudan to settle in London, Berlin or Paris. But today’s Hungary, which Orban is holding tight, is a much safer environment. In Western Europe, Fudan might face oversight or control, possibly criticism, but here they have nothing to fear.”
Tamás Matura, The Financial Times“Members of the European Parliament have not seen the text yet, and it is too early to make a conclusion. From now to 2022, there are still many things that may happen.”
Ivana Karásková, Radio Free Asia“From Beijing’s perspective, having the EU sign an investment treaty after this sequence of events and in the phrase of power transition in the US, amounts to a strong endorsement of its political trajectory, if not an encouragement to behave more assertively.”
Ivana Karásková, EU Observer“Yesterday was one big victory for the Czech political opposition. Dukovany II is a huge topic right now in the Czech Republic, and any technology tender would be the biggest tender that the government has launched for the last 30 years.”
Pavel Havlíček, Energy Intel