How Is Northern Europe Pushing Back Against China's Nordic Charm Offensive? | Taiwan Talks EP896

The Nordic countries are cautiously reopening dialogue with China after years of strained relations, welcoming Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi while balancing opportunities for economic cooperation against growing security concerns. Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway see potential in green technology, shipping and trade, but remain wary of Beijing's expanding ambitions in the Arctic, its close partnership with Russia and warnings from NATO about China's long-term intentions. At the same time, the US is sharpening its own Arctic focus, underscoring the region's growing role in great-power competition. Can the Nordics successfully engage China without compromising their security interests? In this episode, we examine how Northern Europe is navigating its relationship with China, why the Arctic matters and what the region's evolving strategy could mean for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific.

*Recorded on July 30, 2026 at 3pm Taiwan Standard Time

Host: Wen-Ti Sung
Producer: Suvam Pal
Videographer: Celest Kao

Our guests:

Julie Yu-Wen Chen
- University of Helsinki Chinese Studies Professor and Director of the Master’s Programme in Area and Cultural Studies
Marc Cheng
- Tamkang University Diplomacy and International Relations Adjunct Lecturer

Chapters:
00:00:00 – Chinese FM Tours of 4 Nordic Nations
00:01:36 – Why Is China Focused on the Nordics?
00:10:53 – US, China Compete for Arctic
00:15:20 – What Does China’s EU Trip Mean for Taiwan?





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