Table.Briefings

Feature

EU and US target Russia's banks

Washington is greatly expanding sanctions against the Russian financial sector. The Europeans are somewhat more restrained. However, experts doubt that the measures will have any effect in the short term.

By Till Hoppe

The eternal struggle for oil and gas

The Ukraine war is also part of a global struggle for oil and gas. The USA wants to sell more of it to Europe. China, in turn, wants to be less dependent on oil and gas from the US and its allies – and is leaning toward Russia. Beijing's long-term commitments give Russian President Vladimir Putin the necessary leeway for this war.

By Frank Sieren

Xi, China und Putin, Russland

Chinese dialectics in the Russia-Ukraine conflict

Russia's invasion of Ukraine plunges China into a deep strategic dilemma: Should Beijing stick to its "borderless friendship" with Vladimir Putin? But this would mean giving up its own interests and foreign policy principles. In any case, it refuses to speak of a Russian invasion.

By Michael Radunski

Can the yuan replace the dollar trade?

If Russia is cut off from international payment flows, China could step in with an expansion of its yuan trade. However, it cannot fully replace the dollar for Russia. Moreover, the Russian financial market would become completely dependent on China.

By

Data Act: the next big data debate

What rules should apply to access to data? The Data Act, which the European Commission presented yesterday, is intended to provide answers. But the proposed regulations are highly controversial.

By Falk Steiner

Supply chains: a directive with loopholes

Yesterday, the European Commission presented the long-awaited supply chain law. The directive goes further than German law. It relates to the entire value chain. Thanks to a liability clause, victims have easier access to EU courts. Nevertheless, the text contains some weaknesses. For example, EU states can determine their own sanctions, which could lead to fragmentation of the internal market. An overview.

By Charlotte Wirth

Interview: How tech sanctions against Russia would work

The first round of sanctions imposed by the U.S. and the EU has mainly hit Russia's financial sector. Now that President Vladimir Putin has ordered the invasion of Ukraine, further measures will follow, including export restrictions on key technologies. In an interview with Falk Steiner, Sophie-Charlotte Fischer of the Center for Security Studies at ETH in Zurich explains what such sanctions against Russia could achieve.

By Falk Steiner

Russia's attack on Ukraine has begun

Vladimir Putin has ordered a deployment of the Russian military in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. However, the Russian military is also striking in other parts of the neighboring country.

By Till Hoppe

(201016) -- CHANGJI, Oct. 16, 2020 -- Aerial photo shows the construction site of Fukang pumped-storage power station in

Power storage – an important component of the energy transition

On the road to a greener electricity mix, power security is also an important matter for China. Just last fall, power shortages even crippled factories in some provinces. A massive expansion of power storage facilities is supposed to ensure that something like that doesn't happen again - but there are difficulties with financing.

By Nico Beckert

The sweet poison of relaxations

The joint venture requirement, which has been criticized by Western companies for many years, has been relaxed. In addition, the Chinese leadership has also simplified direct investment in the People's Republic. However, what sounds like an opening of China's economy should be approached with caution.

By Christian Domke Seidel