Category: Relations

Switzerland is caught between the fronts of the geopolitical confrontation between the USA and China | NZZ

“The US and some of their close friends are protesting against China – and Switzerland is not participating. In terms of content, the statement hits the bull’s eye. But the Federal Council is trying to avoid a confrontation with the leadership in Beijing. This balancing act will no longer be possible for a long time.”

Read the full commentary @ NZZ (paywall):

Streit um WHO-Papier: Die Schweiz zwischen den USA und China
Die USA und einige ihrer engen Freunde protestieren gegen China – und die Schweiz macht nicht mit. Inhaltlich trifft das Statement ins Schwarze. Doch der Bundesrat versucht die Konfrontation mit der Führung in Peking zu vermeiden. Lange wird dieser Balanceakt nicht mehr möglich sein.

Swiss China strategy causes outrage in Beijing: Why the great power is now switching to attack | Aargauer Zeitung

““Malicious labels”, “unfounded allegations”, “fake news”: the Chinese ambassador to Switzerland criticizes the Federal Council’s China strategy. How are his words to be classified?
So it was generally expected: that the Chinese would not just let this sit on them. But the circumstances in which they spoke up turned out to be unusual. The Chinese ambassador to Switzerland, Wang Shihting, spoke aggressively and on all channels about Switzerland’s new China strategy.”

Read the full article @ Aargauer Zeitung:

Reaktion – Schweizer China-Strategie sorgt für Empörung in Peking: Warum die Grossmacht jetzt auf Angriff schaltet | Aargauer Zeitung
«Böswillige Labels», «unbegründete Anschuldigungen», «Fake News»: Der chinesische Botschafter in der Schweiz kritisiert die China-Strategie des Bundesrats. Wie sind seine Worte einzuordnen?

China Strategy 2021-2024 – A balanced, coherent and coordinated approach to China | Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

“China has developed rapidly in recent decades. Relations between Switzerland and China are becoming closer all the time, but this also means that differing values are coming to light more frequently and more clearly than before. The number of actors in Switzerland who maintain contact with China is also rising. In light of this, the Federal Council adopted a new strategy for China at its meeting on 19 March. The strategy was drafted in a process that involved all government departments.”

Read the full statement @ FDFA:

A balanced, coherent and coordinated approach to China
The Federal Council adopted a strategy for China at its meeting on 19 March. The strategy was drafted in a process that involved all government departments.

➔ Brochure – China Strategy 2021-2024 (FDFA)

Switzerland’s China strategy put to the test | Handelszeitung

Swiss companies are disadvantaged and spied on in China. The Federal Council should finally demand equal rights, it is said from the economy.

Nobody wants to confirm it. But the case is exemplary of obstacles in China. Two Swiss baby food manufacturers have been waiting for a sales license for almost two years. These are Nestlé and Hochdorf. Nobody knows where it’s stuck. It can’t be because of the quality. “We have successfully passed Chinese audits here on site,” says a Hochdorf spokesman.

Wait, wait, and wait again.”

Die China-Strategie der Schweiz auf dem Prüfstand | HZ
Schweizer Firmen werden in China benachteiligt, ausspioniert. Der Bundesrat soll endlich gleiche Rechte einfordern, heisst es aus der Wirtschaft.

Switzerland and China to deepen finance fies | Finews

“Despite the increasing discord between China and the U.S., Switzerland wants to further deepen its cooperation in financial matters with the Far East nation.

Swiss Finance Minister Ueli Maurer exchanged views with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He at a virtual ministerial meeting (yesterday) Wednesday, according to a statement from the Federal Department of Finance (FDF). The two politicians each had a high-ranking delegation at their side.

Maurer and Liu He thus developed perspectives on deepening bilateral relations in the areas of stock market trading, sustainable financial services, asset management, and digital central bank money. The central banks of both countries are known to be working on projects for digital central bank money, although the respective approach differs greatly in terms of the user base.”

Read the full article @ Finews:

Switzerland and China to Deepen Finance Ties
Despite the increasing discord between China and the U.S., Switzerland wants to further deepen its cooperation in financial matters with the Far East nation.

China has too much influence over Switzerland, finds study | swissinfo.ch

“According to Basel University, Ralph Weber’s study is the “first work to explore tactics of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) influence and United Front activities in Switzerland”. It focuses on personal and institutional networks, and lists efforts to exert influence on “issues Beijing regards as sensitive, including questions concerning Tibet, Taiwan, or Xinjiang”.

Based on the study, the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper highlights a “spin doctor” living in western Switzerland: Yuming Yang, who is currently on the board of the Bern-based Swiss China Investment Platform Association – along with Hans-Ulrich Bigler, the director of the Swiss Trade Association (SGV).”

Read the full article @ swissinfo.ch:

China has too much influence over Switzerland, finds study
Research from Basel University suggests that on various levels, the Chinese party-state has too much influence over Switzerland.

Why a controversial Chinese-Swiss agreement has been left to expire | swissinfo.ch

“The Swiss government has put on hold a deal that allowed agents from China to come to Switzerland to identify Chinese nationals, following public outcry and pressure from various groups. But questions about the nature and purpose of the arrangement continue to dog migration officials.”

Read the full article @ swissinfo.ch:

Why a controversial Chinese-Swiss agreement has been left to expire
The Swiss have put on hold a deal to identify Chinese nationals but questions about the nature of the arrangement continue to dog authorities.

Unified message, rhizomatic delivery: A preliminary analysis of PRC/CCP influence and the united front in Switzerland | Sinoptic

“Documenting Overseas Chinese united front networks and contacts between Swiss social, economic and political circles and the Chinese party-state’s co-optation apparatus.

This study sets out to trace some of the personal and institutional networks used by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to influence society and economic and political circles in Switzerland. These efforts address issues sensitive from a CCP point of view (Tibet, Taiwan, Xinjiang etc.), but also aim to shape the image of China in Switzerland overall. The focus is on Swiss-based actors, who appear to be co-opted, and, in a classic pattern, might or might not be aware of their co-optation. The study highlights the grey zones that these tactics of influence and sometimes interference are conducted in and the rhizomatic manner by which a unified message from various actors in Beijing gets projected into a target society like Switzerland.”

Read the full text @ Sinoptic:

Unified message, rhizomatic delivery: A preliminary analysis of PRC/CCP influence and the united front in Switzerland – Sinopsis
Documenting Overseas Chinese united front networks and contacts between Swiss social, economic and political circles and the Chinese party-state’s co-optation apparatus.

➔ A preliminary analysis of PRC/CCP influence and the united front in Switzerland (PDF – Sinoptic)

The United Front: A Lesser-Known Side of Chinese Presence in Switzerland | The Geneva Observer

“The influence of China on the world economy and international politics increases from day to day. Many economic or diplomatic actors are wondering about their relationship with the Chinese state, struggling to grasp all its facets. One facet of the Chinese party-state that we have difficulty identifying, despite its presence in Switzerland, is the United Front.”

Read the full article @ The Geneva Observer:

The United Front: A Lesser-Known Side of Chinese Presence in Switzerland
By Ralph Weber* December 15, 2020 OPINION-ANALYSIS The influence of China on the world economy and international politics increases from day to day. Many economic or diplomatic actors are wondering about their relationship with the Chinese state, struggling to grasp all its facets. One facet of the …

Sino-Swiss migration deal sparks controversy | swissinfo.ch

“Elected officials and NGOs have raised concerns about an accord between Bern and Beijing that allows Chinese agents to visit Switzerland to identify and deport illegal residents. Defenders of the agreement argue it is a mechanism that facilitates the application of the law.”

Read the full article @ swissinfo.ch:

Sino-Swiss migration deal sparks controversy
The deal signed with China in 2015 allows Beijing officials to enter Switzerland and question Chinese citizens residing here illegally.