China and Europe along the Belt and Road
‘What Needs the Bridge Much Broader than the Flood?’
Date: Thursday, 30 March
Venue: AM 101, Alan MacDiarmid Building, Kelburn Campus
Speaker: Dr Marc Lanteigne
Abstract
When the government of Xi Jinping began to piece together China’s ‘Belt and Road’ trade initiatives in 2013, it was apparent at the onset that a major partner for these endeavours would be Europe, given that both the land and sea routes Beijing proposed to enhance Chinese trade included major European economies and ports. Since that time, China has deepened engagement with Europe on bilateral and regional levels, including with the European Union, but also on a sub-regional level, with dialogues underway with the Central and Eastern European economies (the ‘16+1’ group), and the Nordic region. Beijing is hopeful that with these new trade routes and agreements being constructed, the Sino-European economic relationship can be further enhanced, especially at a time when Chinese relations with other major economies, including the US and Japan, have become more problematic. However, Europe’s place along the Belt and Road has run into obstacles. These include the EU’s still shaky financial situation and concerns among members about Beijing’s trade practices, the uncertain ‘Brexit’ process and the United Kingdom seeking separate relations with China, a rightward, isolationist lurch among some major European governments, as well as Beijing’s ongoing conundrum about who one speaks to when one wants to deal with ‘Europe’.
About the speaker
Dr Marc Lanteigne is a Senior Lecturer (China, East Asia, Polar Regions) at the Centre for Defence and Security Studies (CDSS), in Auckland, New Zealand. Originally from Montréal, his research interests include Chinese and East Asian foreign policy, China’s engagement and cooperation with regional and international organisations, Arctic and Antarctic politics and security, Sino-European relations, and non-traditional security in Asia.
He is the author of China and International Institutions: Alternate Paths to Global Power (2005) and Chinese Foreign Policy: An Introduction (2009, 2013, 2015), and the co-editor of The Chinese Party-State in the 21st Century: Adaptation and the Reinvention of Legitimacy (2008) and China’s Evolving Approach to Peacekeeping (London and New York: Routledge, 2012).
As well, he has written numerous chapters and articles on subjects which include China’s East Asian diplomacy, China and Japan’s regional engagement of the South Pacific, and Beijing’s evolving strategic policies, including peacekeeping, maritime security, free trade and economic security. More recently, he has researched on Chinese interactions with Northern Europe and the Arctic region. In addition to China, he has researched and taught in Copenhagen, Fairbanks, London, New Delhi, New York, Nuuk, Prague, Reykjavík, Seoul, Tokyo, Vancouver, Washington and Zürich.
To register, please email Lai Ching or call 04 4639549.