China's technical standardization power
We are hardly aware of the existence of technical standards; but technical standards are omnipresent product specifications. USB is a standard for cables, connectors and protocols that enables charging and the exchange of data on a wide range of devices regardless of manufacturer. The A4 paper format is standardized. Similarly, Wi-Fi is a family of radio technologies built upon technical standards that allow wireless local area networking of a wide range of technological equipment. A final example is the standardization of screws with far-reaching implications ranging from the production of screwdrivers to furniture. Without technical standards, we would not be able to call mobile phones of a different manufacturer than our own. More generally, globalization would be same because technical standards make sure we can use products and technology across national borders as well as across suppliers.
At first glance, technical standardization appears to be a non-political, consensual search for the technically most appropriate solution. Companies send technicians to meetings searching for the optimal technical solutions. However, the emerging political confict over technology challenges the commercial logic of liberal globalization. In this context, technical standardization is turning into a crucial arena for commercial, normative and political conflict. The capacity to influence standard-setting is a tool of power in itself, though largely overlooked.
This project aims to understand the changing role of technical standardization by tracing China’s increasing involvement in international standardization and how the West reacts. Empirically, I analyze three layers of China’s standardization policy, Western responses and implications for Europe.
China’s domestic standardization system is undergoing reform. I trace this transformation as it unfolds, describe the underlying rationale, and contrast China's state-permeated approach with Europe's private-driven public private partnership.
Recently, China has prioritized its engagement in the established international standardization organizations such as ISO, IEC, 3GPP, and ITU. The project maps Chinese activities and its growing influence in these institutions.
As part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China aims to internationalize its domestic technical standards. I analyze the general standardization policy of the BRI and exemplarily investigate the role of technical standards in selected BRI projects.
The project mainly focuses on technical standardization in strategic emerging technologies.
The goal of the project is not only to better understand China’s standardization policy but to carve out the political importance of standardization. I am particularly interested to understand the impact of the politicization of technical standardization.
As a result of this project, I was appointed a member of the European Standardization Organization's Task Force China and an observing member of the European Commission's High-Level European Forum on Standardization as well as its Sherpa on digital standardization.
Related projects, selected publications & media appearances:
Forthcoming (2023): The new geopolitics of technical standardization: A European perspective, in: European Liberal Forum.
Publication (in German): 2022: Die neue technische Standardisiungsmacht China. Eine Herauforderung für Europa, in: Freimuth, Joachim/Schaedler, Monika (eds.): Die veränderte Rolle von Normung und Standardisierung in China und Indien – eine industriepolitische Perspektive und ihre Bedeutung für Europa und Deutschland. Spinger, pp. 461-484.
Publication (in German): 2022: Chinas unsichtbare Macht technischer Standards. Eine Herausforderung für Deutschland und Europa. Berlin: Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung.
Publication: 2022: Chinese Influence through technical standardization power, in: Journal of Contemporary China.
Publication: 2022: Will China Set Global Tech Standards? China File. New York: Asia Society’s Center on U.S.-China Relations.
Publication: 2022: The Rise of Tech Standards Foriegn Policy: Brussels goes strategic. Online Commentary. Berlin: DGAP.
Publication (in German): 2022: Standardisierung. Deutschland ist am Zug. Berlin: DGAP Online Commentary.
Publication: 2021: China, Europe and the new power competition over technical standards. Stockholm: UI Brief.
Media (in German): "Wer die Norm setzt, hat die Macht", 7 December 2022, Frankfurter Rundschau.
Media (in German): "EU stoppt Einfluss chinesischer Unternehmen auf europäische Normen", 2 February 2022, Handelsblatt.
Media (in Dutch): "Europa bindt strijd aan met China: wie bepaalt wat de standaard is?", 2 February 2022, NRC.
Media (in German): "Deutschland ist am Zug. Die Europäische Standardisierungsstrategie", 2. February 2022, Tagesspiegel.
Media (in German): "China, Europa und das Rennen um technische Normen", 14 December 2021, Factory.
Media (in German): "China kocht bei technischen Normen eigenes Süppchen", 13 December 2021, K-Zeitung.
Media (in French): "Comment la Chine cherche à imposer ses normes", 9 December 2021, Les Echos.
Media: "Europe’s far right seeks to form an alliance, yet again", 3 December, Financial Times.
Media (in Vietnamese): "Thiết lập tiêu chuẩn công nghệ của Trung Quốc gây lo ngại", 3 December 2021, Cong Nghe.
Media (in German): "EU-Unternehmen warnen: China nutzt Technologiestandards als Instrument der Industriepolitik", 2 December 2021, Handelsblatt.
Media (in German): "«Schlimmer als im Kalten Krieg» – China fordert auch bei technischen Standards die USA und Europa heraus", 2 December 2021, Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
Media (in German): "EU-Handelskammer: Unternehmen bleiben bei Normung außen vor", 2 December 2021, China Table.
Media (in Chinese): "欧盟商会:中国在全球科技标准方面获得优势 会损害欧洲利益" 2 December 2021, DW News.
Media (in Chinese): "歐盟商會指中國在全球科技標準方面具優勢", 2 December 2021, On.CC
Media (in traditional Chinese): "歐盟商會:中國在全球科技標準方面獲得優勢", 2 December 2021, Yahoo!
Media: "EU Chamber of Commerce in China on Global Tech Standards", 2 December 2021, Bloomberg.
Media: "The China challenge", 14 January 2021, Financial Times.
Media (in German): "Wie China mit neuen Tech-Standards die Welt prägt – und was das für Europa bedeutet", 1 January 2021, Handelsblatt.
Media (in German): „Wie China weltweit technische Standards an sich reißt“, 2 May 2020, Wirtschaftswoche.
Media (in German): “Herr Xi fährt die Ernte ein“, 28 March 2020, Wirtschaftswoche.