The rise of China in the Nordic region

How has the rise of China affected the Nordic region over the past couple of decades, and how has each of the five Nordic countries handled the challenges and opportunities posed by China's growing economic and political clout? In this report, commissioned by the Norwegian Institute for Foreign Affairs (NUPI), a group of Nordic scholars present a collection of country-specific analyses of their respective countries' bilateral relations with China.

Writing on Danish-Chinese relations, DIIS researcher Andreas Bøje Forsby claims that Denmark has become "first violinist of the Nordic ensemble". Notably since 2008, when Denmark and China reached an agreement about building a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, bilateral relations have grown ever closer, stronger and more diversified, while a burgeoning trade relationship has quickly turned China into Denmark's second largest non-EU trade partner.

Meanwhile, since the beginning of the century, consecutive Danish governments have opted for a more pragmatic course with respect to sensitive political issues such as the repression of fundamental human rights in China, preferring instead to "outsource" such critical dialogue to other actors or to conduct it in a non-public manner on the sidelines of ministerial meetings.

The report was presented at a NUPI seminar on 20 September 2016: