Etienne Soula
@etiennesoula.bsky.social
620 followers 270 following 30 posts
China-focused researcher at GMF, foreign authoritarian interference, disinformation, economic coercion, and more. It’s a brave new world out there.
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Reposted by Etienne Soula
fbermingham.bsky.social
The US is demanding the EU water down its landmark supply chain law and parts of its green legislation just months after agreeing a tariff pact to avoid an all-out transatlantic trade war

on.ft.com/3VX93nT
Reposted by Etienne Soula
nickbouchet.bsky.social
"Putin’s deep suspicion toward non-Russians reflects his anxiety that the country’s regions...might one day follow the path of the former Soviet republics and break away. And yet, by russifying the leadership of his security services, Putin may be only weakening his most important tool of control."
Reposted by Etienne Soula
fbermingham.bsky.social
New: European Commission has unveiled sweeping measures to shield the EU’s struggling steel industry from a flood of overcapacity it says is emanating from China, slashing tariff-free quotas by nearly half and doubling duties on excess shipments to 50%
Eyeing China, EU unveils sweeping measures to shield struggling steel industry
If approved, plan tackling overcapacity would slash tariff-free quotas by nearly half and double duties on excess shipments to 50 per cent.
www.scmp.com
Reposted by Etienne Soula
etiennesoula.bsky.social
So, to summarize: EV tariffs aren't working, the EU is now more dependent on China than ever, member states are cooling on a joint response, and the continent's two biggest economies are either paralyzed or lethargic. Everything is going great @noahbarkin.bsky.social.

www.gmfus.org/news/watchin...
Watching China in Europe—October 2025
www.gmfus.org
Reposted by Etienne Soula
henryjfoy.ft.com
Brussels to curb the travel of Russian diplomats within the EU, in response to a surge in sabotage attempts that intelligence agencies say are led by spies operating under diplomatic cover.

Czech-led initiative backed after Hungary drops its veto. With @andybounds.bsky.social

on.ft.com/46Umr0T
EU to curb Russian diplomats’ travel as suspected spy attacks mount
[FREE TO READ] Intelligence agencies say sabotage operations are often led by spies posing as diplomats
on.ft.com
etiennesoula.bsky.social
Comme d'habitude, le secteur privé fait passer ses intérêts financiers étroits avant toute considération de sécurité nationale et européenne.
Reposted by Etienne Soula
jakubjaraczewski.bsky.social
🇺🇸🇸🇰🇭🇺🇵🇱 Once again, NGOs in the US would benefit greatly from talking to civil society in Hungary, Poland, Slovakia (and several other places) about how to deal with a government that's hostile to the part of the third sector that doesn't align with its ideology. 1/
Reposted by Etienne Soula
fbermingham.bsky.social
The torrent of UK China news keeps coming. So much for the reset...

China threatened to retaliate against the UK government if ministers targeted parts of its security apparatus under foreign influence rules, the Guardian can disclose.
China threatened to retaliate against UK over foreign influence rules
Exclusive: Chinese officials warned that targeting its security apparatus would negatively affect relations
www.theguardian.com
Reposted by Etienne Soula
sensehofstede.nl
China provides Russia with satellite data for missile strikes on Ukraine, intelligence says – Ukrinform: ‘in particular on foreign investors’ facilities.’ ‘This was reported by Oleh Aleksandrov, an employee of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, in a comment to Ukrinform.’
China provides Russia with satellite data for missile strikes on Ukraine — intelligence
The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine has recorded evidence of China providing Russia with satellite intelligence data for missile strikes on Ukraine, in particular on foreign investors' facilit...
www.ukrinform.net
Reposted by Etienne Soula
consilium.europa.eu
The EU has renewed until 9 October 2026 its sanctions regime in response to Russian hybrid threats.

These sanctions target individuals and entities responsible for destabilising activities against the EU, its member states and its partners.

More info ➡️ link.europa.eu/q6kkmt
Collage including an antenna, a ballot box and a laptop. The text on the visual reads "EU renews sanctions in response to Russia's hybrid threats".
Reposted by Etienne Soula
fbermingham.bsky.social
Europe hunts for chokepoints it can weaponise against China in age of economic warfare

My report on the search for leverage against coercion from Beijing and Washington.

The elephant in the room: would it take for Brussels to act?
Europe hunts for chokepoints it can weaponise in a new age of economic warfare
Bureaucrats look for leverage against coercion from Beijing and Washington but what would it take for Brussels to act?
www.scmp.com
Reposted by Etienne Soula
Reposted by Etienne Soula
csds.bsky.social
💬 "The concept of strategic autonomy is gaining traction in Japan, especially in economic and diplomatic domains, though full military independence remains constrained by legal, political and logistical limits", writes Céline Pajon for CSDS.

Read
csds.vub.be/publication/... @cpajon.bsky.social
Reposted by Etienne Soula
en.afp.com
"Disinformation" is fast becoming a dirty word in the United States.

The label is so contentious in a hyperpolarized political climate that some researchers who study the harmful effects of falsehoods are abandoning it altogether and opting for "more precise" language

u.afp.com/SWUq
Reposted by Etienne Soula
romanad.bsky.social
Dans une vidéo qui circule sur les réseaux sociaux, 3 hommes présentés comme des "musulmans pro palestiniens" menacent la France. Il s'agit d'une mise en scène.

Tout porte à croire que sa diffusion fait partie d'une opération de déstabilisation pilotée par la Russie.
www.tf1info.fr/internationa...
VÉRIF' - Qui se cache réellement derrière cette vidéo de déstabilisation visant la France ? | TF1 INFO
[VIDÉO] Dans une vidéo qui circule sur les réseaux sociaux, trois hommes présentés comme des "musulmans pro palestiniens" menacent la France. Il s'agit d'une mise en scène. Tout porte à croire que sa...
www.tf1info.fr
Reposted by Etienne Soula
fbermingham.bsky.social
Breaking: Von der Leyen says the EU will target "petrochemical companies in third countries, including China", who are buying Russian oil .

"We are now going after these who fuel Russia's war in purchasing oil in breach of sanctions"
Reposted by Etienne Soula
sensehofstede.nl
India revs up alternate EV motor tests as China curbs rare earths exports – Reuters: ‘remains effectively cut off due to political tensions with Beijing.’
‘Sterling and several other firms are expediting work on alternate technologies that eliminate magnets or use ferrite or “light” rare earths’
India revs up alternate EV motor tests as China curbs rare earths exports
In a 3,500 square foot laboratory in Faridabad, northern India, engineers are fast-tracking tests on an EV motor that could help alleviate one of New Delhi's most pressing trade and diplomatic challenges: its reliance on China for rare earths.
www.reuters.com
Reposted by Etienne Soula
fbermingham.bsky.social
70% of Europeans are ready to boycott the US market
76% oppose the investment part of the EU-US trade deal
52% felt "humiliated" by the tariff deal with Trump
60% want von der Leyen to resign

Findings of a new survey by Le Grand Continent this morning

legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2025/09/0...
Reposted by Etienne Soula
fbermingham.bsky.social
China's trade data for August came out this morning - I've run the numbers on what it says for Europe.

Big picture:

In August vs a year earlier, China's trade surplus with the EU jumped 22.5% to US$28.9bn (in a single month)

In the first 8 months of 2025, it's up 21.5% to US$197bn
Reposted by Etienne Soula
robertscotthorton.bsky.social
BREAKING: ICE is sending Russian dissidents back to Russia. When the dissidents arrived in Russia, the Russian authorities were given documents relating to their asylum applications in the US which under US law are confidential. This seems to be part of a secret agreement between Trump and Putin.
‘I escaped a Russian prison — only to end up in an American jail’
Dozens of Russian dissidents have been expelled from the US and forcibly returned to Russia with the co-operation of immigration authorities
www.thetimes.com