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Reposted by Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽

The China-Global South Project @chinagsproject.bsky.social · 12h

Kenya and China have agreed to restructure the East African country’s loan portfolio by converting an estimated $3.5 billion of outstanding debts from U.S. dollars into Chinese yuan.

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Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · 1d

These trends clearly indicate that Chinese companies are increasingly cautious, fearing possible secondary sanctions. However, this does not mean they will refrain from finding ways to circumvent them — for example, through third countries.

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Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · 1d

Overall, in the first eight months of 2025, trade between the two countries decreased by almost 9%, amounting to around US$145 billion. Russian exports to China fell by 8.8%, while Chinese imports to Russia declined by 8.2%.

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Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · 1d

At the same time, China has quietly halted deliveries of high-precision machine tools from China, Moscow Times reports (lnkd.in/emRQrU5r). According to Chinese Customs, in August 2025 Chinese exports to Russia fell by 16.4% year-on-year — twice the decline recorded in July, when the drop was 8.6%.

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Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · 1d

The answer is that China is, ultimately, on its own side. It will support Russia just enough to ensure the war in Ukraine continues—but not enough for Russia to win. In that sense, the Chinese envoy to the Un was right to note that if China had fully supported Russia, the war would already be over.

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Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · 1d

Had the opportunity to share my thoughts with the Poland-based Russian-language news service Vot Tak (vot-tak.tv) on the recent leak suggesting that China is providing intelligence to Russia regarding the war in Ukraine. The fundamental question remains: whose side is China on?

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Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · Aug 30

ChatGPT just hallucinated a paper I didn't write but probably should:
Rudyak, M. (2023). On China’s selective policy learning from DAC and Paris Club practices

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Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · Jul 24

🔋 Beijing’s recent decision to restrict exports of critical materials—such as graphite and rare earth magnets used in electric vehicles—has added to the anxiety.

Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · Jul 24

🚗 “There’s growing alarm about Chinese EV overcapacity being dumped on the EU market at prices European manufacturers can’t match,” I told Al Jazeera. “The fear is that subsidised Chinese exports will crowd out Europe’s industrial backbone.”

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Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · Jul 24

Unlike the U.S., where the trade conflict with China is often framed as a strategic rivalry over global dominance, Europe’s concerns are more structural. The focus is on safeguarding core industries from being undercut.

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Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · Jul 24

Trade is another flashpoint. ⚖️
The EU has long accused China of overproduction & dumping. Now the focus is on EVs: Europe fears subsidised Chinese overcapacity is crowding out its core industries. 🚗

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Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · Jul 24

📌 In short: China’s position is not just pro-Russia or anti-West—it’s about maintaining a strategic balance that serves its own regional priorities.

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Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · Jul 24

But here’s the flip side—what wasn’t said:
Beijing doesn’t want Russia to win either.
A Russian victory could embolden moves in former Soviet spaces—some of which share long borders with China, including regions adjacent to Xinjiang, where Beijing has deep economic stakes and security interests.

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Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · Jul 24

On Ukraine: Beijing continues to call for “negotiation, ceasefire, and peace.”
But in June, Wang Yi reportedly told the EU China doesn’t want Russia to lose the war—fearing it would free up U.S. attention elsewhere.

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Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · Jul 24

Despite delays in setting a date, Beijing is framing the upcoming EU–China Summit as an opportunity to reset ties.
🇨🇳 “From the Chinese side, the message has been fairly consistent: normalise the relationship, prioritise pragmatic cooperation, and accommodate disagreements” I told Al Jazeera.

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Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · Jul 24

Ahead of the EU–China Summit, I shared some reflections with Al Jazeera on the state of EU–China relations and what to expect from the meeting.
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/...

Expectations low ahead of EU-China 50th anniversary summit in Beijing

The meeting of top Chinese and EU officials will be overshadowed by old grievances, even as Beijing tries to hit reset.

www.aljazeera.com

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Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · Jul 22

Chan Koonchung argues against using “China” and “Chinese” (because it’s a colonial term) and for using “Zhongguo” for mainland. Then, “Chinese” is not the appropriate term.
Having said that, “of China” parallels the Russian for CPSU, but 中国 can be translated as both, so it’s an “ideology” question 🤷🏻‍♀️

Reposted by Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽

XingWu🐉ChineseFolklore @xingwu.bsky.social · Jul 18

In Chinese mythology, ink holds spirit, and its keepers are the Longbin (龍賓), the Dragon Attendants. Every person blessed with literary talent is said to carry twelve of these divine beings within their ink, guardians of thought and expression.
When Emperor Xuanzong spotted a tiny Daoist 1/2

玄宗禦案墨，曰「龍香劑」。一日，見墨上有小道士如蠅而行。上叱之，即呼萬歲曰：「臣即墨之精，黑松使者也。凡世人有文者，其墨上皆有龍賓十二。」上神之，乃以墨分賜掌文官。~ 《陶家瓶余事》

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Reposted by Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽

Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · Jul 18

Ihr Rückzug aber wäre, wie Johannes Schneider in seinem @zeit.de-Kommentar richtig schreibt, nach all den ungerechtfertigten Vorwürfen und verbreiteten Halbwahrheiten ein Triumph des Kulturkampfes über die Aufklärung - und somit ein größerer Schaden für die Gesellschaft.
www.zeit.de/kultur/film/...

Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf: Wenn sie es nicht wird, dann geht etwas kaputt

Für Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf läuft derzeit einiges auf einen gütlichen Rückzug zu. Das darf doch nicht wahr sein.

www.zeit.de

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Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · Jul 18

Ihr Rückzug aber wäre, wie Johannes Schneider in seinem @zeit.de-Kommentar richtig schreibt, nach all den ungerechtfertigten Vorwürfen und verbreiteten Halbwahrheiten ein Triumph des Kulturkampfes über die Aufklärung - und somit ein größerer Schaden für die Gesellschaft.
www.zeit.de/kultur/film/...

Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf: Wenn sie es nicht wird, dann geht etwas kaputt

Für Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf läuft derzeit einiges auf einen gütlichen Rückzug zu. Das darf doch nicht wahr sein.

www.zeit.de

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Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · Jul 18

Merz stellt sich vor Brosius-Gersdorf, Dobrindt legt ihr den Rückzug nahe. Es wäre im Sinne des Verfahrens und des Landes angebracht, wenn sich die CDU/CSU Fraktion intern einigt, was sie will.

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Reposted by Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽

Countess Mora @jedikat71.bsky.social · Jul 16

Happy Strange New Worlds Eve! Remember to leave out chicken tuna sandwiches, barbeque ribs, and Saurian Brandy for Captain Pike tonight. 🖖🏼

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Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · Jul 16

Beauty of working at CATS at Heidelberg University: Sat down in my favourite café by the Asia Center to work on an abstract on strategic narratives — and the guy at the table next to me was explaining to his companion how all the global disorder is a symptom of Kali Yuga and how everything is Maya.

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Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · Jul 6

Running is not the only way to get involved.

Marina Rudyak 卢玛丽 @rudyakmarina.bsky.social · Jul 5

The price of not getting involved in politics is being governed by the worst.

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