China - Dancing with the Dragon

China seems to be omnipresent now and is shaping numerous topics, problems and social discourses. As China’s economy has grown stronger over the last 30 years, so has its political self-confidence. China is increasingly asserting its own interests and claims on the global political stage. This is leading to growing tensions both with neighboring countries in the Indo-Pacific region and with the West, with which there is increasing socio-economic and political systemic competition, as postulated by both sides. At the same time, due to China’s size and population as well as its international economic interdependence, global crisis and challenges such as climate change can only be successfully tackled in cooperation with China.
 
In the events of this module, we will take a closer look at China’s traditions and values, as well as its politics and economy. We will address current topics such as the new Silk Road, environmental protection, ongoing trade disputes and the debatable human rights situation, but we will also look at RWTHs long-standing relationship with China. For example, RWTH has a double master’s program with the Chinese elite university Tsinghua University in Beijing and a joint research laboratory. The more than 2.800 Chinese students make up by far the largest group of international students at RWTH Aachen University. The series of events will also offer the opportunity to exchange ideas with experts on the individual topics through various guest lectures, so that student contributions are always possible and welcome.