Welcome to my website!

I am the Senior Analyst for Asia/Global China at the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS). My research focuses on China's foreign, economic and technology policy, EU-China relations, economic security, German-China policy, and Hong Kong affairs. I am also working on the politicization of technical standard-setting and China's role as a security actor in the Pacific and beyond.

Before joining the EUISS, I worked at the European Commission for DG I.D.E.A., the in-house advisor hub of President Ursula von der Leyen, with a focus on China's technology policy. Previously, I was a Senior Research Fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) and a Research Fellow at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI).

I am the founder of the Digital Power China (DPC) research consortium that brings together European engineers, computer scientists as well as China scholars and economists. I am also chairing the Working Group on "high technology and innovation" of the China in Europe Research Network's (CHERN), an EU Cost Action. And I am a participant of the European Think-tank Network on China (ETNC), which I coordinated in 2018.

Among my publications is the monograph "China's Foreign Policy Contradictions" which appeared in 2022 with Oxford University Press.

Thanks a lot for your interest in my work. You can also find and follow me on Bluesky and X.

News:

Personal news: I join the EUISS

I am proud, honored and happy to share the news that I joined the European Union Institute for Security Studies on 15 September.

The new Digital Power China (DPC) report is out now: "Reverse Dependency: Making ­Europe’s ­Digital ­Technological Strengths ­Indispensable to ­China"

Despite Europe's efforts to reduce tech dependencies on China it will continue to rely on China. The tech ecosystems are too interwoven. Therefore, Europe needs to keep China reliant on Europe too.

Expert hearing at the German parliament's economic affairs committee on economic security

On 10 April 2024, I testified to the German parliament's committee on economic affairs. The topic of the hearing was economic security from China.

Out now: The Sources of China's Innovativeness. Why China's "Unstoppable" Innovation Powerhouse Might Falter

Only a few years ago, many believed that China was a copycat incapable of innovation. Today, China is an innovation powerhouse. What have we missed? Will China remain innovative? What should the West do about it?

Two new papers: German public opinion on China & European public opinion on 5G cooperation with China

Germans view China skeptically, but are concerned that the country cannot efford de-risking from the PRC. European views on cooperating with China on 5G shows equal skepticism – mostly for political reasons. Find out more.

New documentary: How should Germany deal with its dependencies from China?

German public television ZDF has aired a new documentary discussing Germany's dependencies from China. I have had the honor to feature in the film with some comments.

Flagship activities:

Monograph: China's Foreign Policy Contradictions

My book "China's Foreign Policy Contradictions" is published by Oxford University Press! Read the blurb and join one of the book launches!

Digital Power China

Digital Power China (DPC) is a European research consortium consisting of engineers, computer scienists, China scholars and economists tracking and analyzing China's digital tech development and its implications for Europe.

Testimony to the US-China Economic Security Review Commission of the US Congress

On 15 June 2023, I have had the honor to testify to the US-China Economic Security Review Commission of the US Congress. I spoke about transatlantic cooperation to meet China's growing influence on technical standardization.

Read my report on Chinese tech standardization: "The Shape of Things to Come: The Race to Control Technical Standardisation" (2021) jointly published by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China & The Swedish Institute of International Affairs

The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, partnering with the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, published my comprehensive study "The Shape of Things to Come: The Race to Control Technical Standardisation".

Expert hearing at the German parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on technical standardization

In June 2021, I have testified as an expert to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the German parliament (Bundestag) discussing China's technical standardization power.