China's Influence in the Nordic-Baltic Information Environment: Latvia and Sweden
China's Influence in the Nordic-Baltic Information Environment: Latvia and Sweden
Contributor(s): Tomass Pildegovičs (Editor)
Subject(s): Media studies, National Economy, Business Economy / Management, Economic policy, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Military policy, Political behavior, Politics and communication, Politics and society, Comparative politics, Social Informatics, Economic development, Financial Markets, ICT Information and Communications Technologies, Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence
Keywords: China's influence on the information space of Sweden and Latvia; Russia; Economic policy; Public communication; Nordic-Baltic countries; exposure to Chinese market; security threat; vaccine diplomacy; politics of pressure;
Summary/Abstract: Given its rapid economic growth and expanded geopolitical ambitions, China’s influence projection has grown globally. The World Economic Forum projected that China may overtake the U.S. as the world’s largest economy by 2024. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), aimed at optimising and expanding China’s economic cooperation with the Eurasian continent, makes Europe a prime destination for Chinese investment. Countries in Europe have largely treated economic cooperation with China as an opportunity, and the Nordic-Baltic region (NB8) has not been an exception to this trend. However, several European countries have grown apprehensive regarding China’s intents, as economic cooperation has become a backdrop to undesirable political influence via bilateral and multilateral fora. At the same time, buoyed by pride from its rapid economic growth, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has become more assertive in defending its national interests, including in the South China Sea region and in response to Western critics of China’s expansionist foreign policy, undemocratic practices and human rights violations. In reaction to these developments, a growing number of European countries have started to look at China’s activities as a challenge or threat to national security. This shift has also become increasingly visible among the countries of the Nordic-Baltic region.
- E-ISBN-13: 978-9934-619-08-3
- Print-ISBN-13: 978-9934-619-07-6
- Page Count: 98
- Publication Year: 2022
- Language: English
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
(INTRODUCTION)
- Author(s):Katherine Nichols, Sanda Svetoka
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Media studies, Supranational / Global Economy, Economic policy, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Political behavior, Politics and communication, Economic development, ICT Information and Communications Technologies
- Page Range:4-14
- No. of Pages:11
- Keywords:China's influence; China's economy; Economic cooperations; Nordic-Baltic states under the influence of China; tool's of influence;
- Summary/Abstract:Given its rapid economic growth and expanded geopolitical ambitions, China’s influence projection has grown globally. The World Economic Forum projected that China may overtake the U.S. as the world’s largest economy by 2024. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), aimed at optimising and expanding China’s economic cooperation with the Eurasian continent, makes Europe a prime destination for Chinese investment. Countries in Europe have largely treated economic cooperation with China as an opportunity, and the Nordic-Baltic region (NB8) has not been an exception to this trend. However, several European countries have grown apprehensive regarding China’s intents, as economic cooperation has become a backdrop to undesirable political influence via bilateral and multilateral fora. At the same time, buoyed by pride from its rapid economic growth, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has become more assertive in defending its national interests, including in the South China Sea region and in response to Western critics of China’s expansionist foreign policy, undemocratic practices and human rights violations. In reaction to these developments, a growing number of European countries have started to look at China’s activities as a challenge or threat to national security. This shift has also become increasingly visible among the countries of the Nordic-Baltic region.
FOG ON THE BALTIC: RUSSIA’S AND CHINA’S INFLUENCE IN THE REGION
FOG ON THE BALTIC: RUSSIA’S AND CHINA’S INFLUENCE IN THE REGION
(FOG ON THE BALTIC: RUSSIA’S AND CHINA’S INFLUENCE IN THE REGION)
- Author(s):Edward Lucas
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Media studies, National Economy, Economic policy, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Political behavior, Politics and communication, Comparative politics, Economic development, ICT Information and Communications Technologies, Peace and Conflict Studies
- Page Range:15-32
- No. of Pages:18
- Keywords:Russia; China; Nordic-Baltic states; political stability; Information attacks; China’s foreign and domestic policies; Media coverage;
- Summary/Abstract:Russia and China are both superpowers. They are not allies, and they are not rivals, but they have overlapping aims, occasionally similar tactics – and wildly differing resources. In both countries, all policy, internal and external, stems from the overriding goal of regime stability. China regards the West as a threat to its economic development and political sovereignty. The Kremlin too sees the West, particularly the European Union (EU) and NATO, as illegitimate constraints on its decision-making, and as potential instigators of ‘colour revolutions’ that will exploit Russia’s ethnic, religious, political, and other fissures.
CHINA’S INFLUENCE IN THE LATVIAN INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT
CHINA’S INFLUENCE IN THE LATVIAN INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT
(CHINA’S INFLUENCE IN THE LATVIAN INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT)
- Author(s):Una Aleksandra Bērziņa-Čerenkova, Egle Klekere
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Media studies, Economic policy, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Political behavior, Politics and communication, Politics and society, Economic development, ICT Information and Communications Technologies
- Page Range:33-58
- No. of Pages:26
- Keywords:China; Latvia; Information space and its manipulation; Public communication; media outlets; parliamentarian relationships; Xi Jinping;
- Summary/Abstract:Different opinions have been expressed regarding the avenues and scope of influence of the People’s Republic of China in the Nordic-Baltic region. This study approaches the research topic by examining the Latvian information environment. There are several reasons behind the choice of Latvia for analysis. First, it is the country with the most populous city in the Baltics – Riga, which serves as a transport, political, cultural and financial hub. Second, with reference to the previous point, the overseas representations of various PRC institutions, including the government, state media (e.g. Xinhua), and public diplomacy (e.g. China Cultural Centre), have chosen Riga, the capital of Latvia, as the headquarters of their Baltic network. Third, during the period from 2012 to 2016, the early days of China’s engagement with the region, Latvia invested significant political capital into the idea of pragmatic cooperation with China, most notably in the transit sector, export, and FDI attraction. It is the only Baltic country to have hosted a ‘16+1’ Summit (the 5th Summit of China and Central and Eastern European Countries, 2016).
CHINA’S INFLUENCE IN THE SWEDISH INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT
CHINA’S INFLUENCE IN THE SWEDISH INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT
(CHINA’S INFLUENCE IN THE SWEDISH INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT)
- Author(s):Viking Bohman
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Economic policy, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Political behavior, Politics and communication, Politics and society, Comparative politics, Economic development, ICT Information and Communications Technologies
- Page Range:59-86
- No. of Pages:28
- Keywords:China; Sweden; Information environment; threats against media outlets; accessing the Swedish market; Security; investments; diplomatic measures;
- Summary/Abstract:Sweden provides one of the most striking examples of the Chinese government’s ‘wolf warrior diplomacy’. Between 2018 and 2021, the Chinese Embassy in Stockholm was engaged in an intense campaign of public criticism and threats against media outlets, journalists, human rights activists, scholars, politicians and authorities. The campaign targeted media reporting and policy decisions described as biased against China. Meanwhile, Sino-Swedish relations deteriorated, Swedish media reporting became more critical, and Swedish public opinion on China plummeted. Points of contention include China’s treatment of Gui Minhai, a Swedish citizen imprisoned in China, and more recently, the decision to exclude the Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE from some parts of Swedish 5G telecommunications networks.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
(CONCLUSION)
- Author(s):Not Specified Author
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Media studies, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Political behavior, Politics and communication, ICT Information and Communications Technologies
- Page Range:87-96
- No. of Pages:10
- Keywords:Latvia; Sweden; China's influence in Nordic-Baltic region; information space; media and China's mentioning in it;
- Summary/Abstract:The case studies of Latvia and Sweden offer a test case for analysing China’s influence in the Nordic-Baltic information environment. Although limited in scope, the findings can provide valuable insight into China’s potential to influence public discourse in the specific countries of the region. Both case studies illustrate the main channels of the CCP’s communication efforts and demonstrate how tactics differ depending on the nature of relationship and reaction to China’s perceived ‘red’ lines by the country of analysis. China’s communication efforts towards Latvia thus far can be characterised as non-confrontational, focusing on prospective cooperation between the two countries. In instances of criticism levelled against China, it is not confronted publicly. By contrast, Sweden has experienced a more confrontational side of China’s public communication, with Chinese diplomats publicly reacting to Swedish criticism regarding human rights abuses and aggressive foreign policy.