Statement by European research institute directors

On Monday, 22 March 2021, the Chinese Foreign Ministry imposed sanctions on ten individuals and four institutions in Europe in retaliation at EU sanctions.

The March 21st EU Sanctions were aimed at Chinese government officials accused of being involved in human rights abuses in Xinjiang. However, the Chinese sanctions in response covered not just European officials and political figures, but academics and academic and policy institutions which have a central role in undertaking research in Europe on China. These include researchers from Sweden and Germany, and the largest European China-focused think tank, the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS).

We are directors of diverse European research institutions committed to strengthening knowledge, mutual understanding and exchange between China and Europe. We are deeply concerned that targeting independent researchers and civil society institutions undermines practical and constructive engagement by people who are striving to contribute positively to policy debates. This will be damaging not only for our ability to provide well-informed analysis but also for relations more broadly between China and Europe in the future.

We believe that mutual dialogue is crucial, especially at difficult times, and deeply regret the inclusion of academic researchers and civil society institutions in the current tensions. We will stand by our colleagues who have been targeted this way.

Dr. Mika Aaltola, FIIA
Christer Ahlström, UI
Thorsten Benner, GPPI
Laurent Bigorgne, Institut Montaigne
Steven Blockmans, CEPS
Kerry Brown, Lau Institute
Hugues Chantry, Egmont Institute
Sławomir Dębski, PISM
Ondrej Ditrych, IIR
Kristian Fischer, DIIS
Lykke Friis, Think Tank Europa
Thomas Gomart, IFRI
Charles Grant, CER
Pia Hansson, Institute of International Affairs, University of Iceland
Jerker Hellström, SCCS
Karin von Hippel, RUSI
Thomas Kleine-Brockoff, GMFUS
Mark Leonard, ECFR
Stefan Mair, SWP
Prof Amrita Narlikar, German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA)
Robin Niblett, Chatham House
Xavier Pasco, FRS
Dr. Charles Powell, Elcano Royal Institute
Daniela Schwarzer, DGAP
Monika Sie, Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’
Matej Šimalčík, CEIAS
Dr. Andris Spruds, LIIA
Ulf Sverdrup, NUPI
Velina Tchakarova, AIES
Nathalie Tocci, IAI
Charalambos Tsardanidis, IIER
Guntram Wolff, Bruegel