The End of “Returning to the Past”: Trump in China and Lessons for Europe
From 13 to 15 May 2026, US President Donald Trump paid a state visit to China. It was his second state visit to the country after his 2017 trip, and […]
China
In its Focus on China, Egmont brings together academic inquiry and public engagement through lectures, seminars, and expert discussions. Bridging academic research with contemporary developments, the initiative fosters dialogue on China’s role in Asia and the wider world, with particular attention to intercultural exchange, politics, and international relations. Particular emphasis is placed on connecting Chinese concepts and perceptions with present-day regional and global developments. For this initiative, Egmont works closely together with Ghent University’s EACP (East Asian Culture in Perspective: Identity, Historical Consciousness, Modernity) research group. This research group has established itself as a leading venue where China scholars, students, and practitioners engage critically with the historical, cultural, political, and societal dynamics shaping China and its global interactions.
Head: Bart Dessein
Publications
Commentaries
Trump & Xi: A Balance of Power and Vulnerability
The United States and China are now evenly matched as great powers. Given where China is coming from, that can be seen as a gain for China. *******
Commentaries
While America Bombs, China Builds
At China’s annual Two Sessions, the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) approved the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan and set the economic […]
Commentaries
Cross-Strait Tensions in 2025: Why Escalation Remains Unlikely
Cross-Strait relations, the complex ties across the Taiwan Strait between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Taiwan (officially the Republic of China, ROC), have remained tense since Lai Ching-te […]
Commentaries
Hall of Mirrors: How U.S.–China Export Controls Feed Each Other
On October 9, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce sent shockwaves through global supply chains by announcing sweeping export control measures on rare earth elements (REEs), adding five new categories to […]
Stepping up Engagement in the Sahel: Russia, China, Turkey and the Gulf States
Over the past five years, since the latest wave of coups began in 2020, states in the Sahel have strategically realigned and shifted external partnerships. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger […]