Table.Briefings

Feature

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Urban exodus and the renaissance of 'beautiful villages'

More and more young Chinese flee the stresses of city life and head for the countryside. The government encourages this trend by creating "beautiful villages" for young creative individuals and by shaping poor farmers into better consumers.

By Fabian Peltsch

Hongkong Lee: Grundsatzrede

Hong Kong: compliant in principle

Parallel to the National Party Congress in Beijing, Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee delivers the first keynote speech of his term in office. The former police officer plans to create housing and solve the shortage of skilled workers. But the central element remains national security, which brought large parts of the political opposition behind bars.

By Marcel Grzanna

Time window for e-fuels is closing

The co-legislators want to compromise on combustion engine phase-out and fleet limits in a single trilogue session on Oct. 27. This indicates that a favorite of the FDP election campaign will be cleared away: Synthetic fuels are then unlikely to play a crucial role in decarbonizing passenger cars.

By Markus Grabitz

Continued disagreement over gas price cap

The Commission presented its package of measures against higher energy prices, two days before the heads of state and government meeting. But the member states are still pursuing different goals.

By Manuel Berkel

Nis Grünberg

Climate policy under Xi: much light, much dark

China is the world's largest carbon emitter. Emissions per capita in the People's Republic are now at a similar level to those in Germany. Climate protection is important to Xi Jinping, also as a prerequisite for the CCPs claim to power, explains Merics researcher Nis Gruenberg. But in the short term, other goals rank even higher on Beijing's agenda. The interview was conducted by Nico Beckert.

By Nico Beckert

Hu Chunhua Premier?

Hu Chunhua: A jack of all trades as future premier?

The question of who will be China's new premier in March 2023 is an important one, especially for the German economy. The earliest indication of who might become premier will come at the end of the current 20th Party Congress: When the new Politburo Standing Committee presents itself to the public. Businesses see one candidate particularly promising to get China's economy back on track: Vice-Premier Hu Chunh

By Frank Sieren

EU Commission wants dynamic gas price cap

Today, the Commission presents its package against high energy prices. According to the draft, there will be joint ventures for the joint gas purchase. Households could be forced to cut their energy use even further.

By Manuel Berkel

EU strategy: China increasingly becoming a competitor

The China strategy of the European Union is from 2019 – since then, the relationship between Brussels and Beijing has deteriorated noticeably. The EU wants to stick to the three-part assessment of China as partner, competitor and systemic rival. However, the middle part increasingly shifts into the focus of the relationship. A new, clear assessment by the European External Action Service also recommends this.

By Amelie Richter

China's long arm strikes in Manchester

Employees of the Chinese consulate violently ended a protest in Manchester by punching and kicking marchers. Activists and British politicians were outraged and demanded severe consequences. They warn that China's assertiveness is growing. The country would be encouraged to use brutal methods in the future, even abroad, to quell criticism of the Communist Party's policy. The arms of the Chinese security forces already reach far into democratic countries – including Germany.

By Marcel Grzanna