Marked bold is a part that I found interesting. Please ingore if you found it unnecessary.
police officers from the two countries will be able to jointly carry out patrol duties in the future, thus helping to improve communication between citizens and authorities of the two countries
As Világgazdaság points out, it is worth noting that according to the 2022 census, there were 18,154 people of Chinese nationality living in Hungary, compared to less than 10,000 ten years earlier. Estimates of their actual number are much higher. Chinese citizens living in the country typically only have Chinese citizenship.
The last two years have seen unprecedented levels of Chinese investment in Hungary. However, the agreement that has now been concluded goes far beyond the economic sphere. China is planning several billion-euro projects in Hungary, including a railroad line, factories for the e-car industry and a campus for Shanghai’s elite Fudan University. In the fall, Viktor Orbán was the only EU head of government to take part in the “Belt and Road Initiative” forum in Beijing.
Marked bold is a part that I found interesting. Please ingore if you found it unnecessary.
I remember reding article that its actually happens quite often that Chinese gov have separate Chinese police in a countries where lives thosands of Chinese people. Wiki:...
Yes, but they're usually kept relatively secret and they masquerade as something else. This the first time I'm aware of that it's been an official agreement and where they're actually doing law...
Yes, but they're usually kept relatively secret and they masquerade as something else. This the first time I'm aware of that it's been an official agreement and where they're actually doing law enforcement and not just applying pressure to--or even kidnapping--dissidents.
I remember reading an article about this subject years back, where China was running police services in Canada while calling them something else like public information offices or service stations...
I remember reading an article about this subject years back, where China was running police services in Canada while calling them something else like public information offices or service stations or something like that (going on memory there). From what I remember, they (the Chinese police) were targeting Chinese nationals who had emigrated away from China to either force them back to China or otherwise control or influence their behavior and willingness to speak on certain topics. Threatening their families back home I believe was one of the tactics used.
I did a brief search, and while I did find articles about Chinese police operating in other nations (including articles about them in Canada), I wasn't able to find the specific article I remember from years back.
Major investments, a university branch, and Chinese police officers on Hungarian soil — all that's next for Hungary is to announce a name change to "Far West China"
Major investments, a university branch, and Chinese police officers on Hungarian soil — all that's next for Hungary is to announce a name change to "Far West China"
Is this something actually worrisome or are the comments here knee jerk reactions? Why should we believe it's any more out of the norm than what Hungary does with Croatia and Austria as noted in...
Is this something actually worrisome or are the comments here knee jerk reactions? Why should we believe it's any more out of the norm than what Hungary does with Croatia and Austria as noted in the article? Or China and Serbia?
Comparative power and Hungary's involvement in the EU. China is much more powerful than Hungary, and has resources to throw around. That makes who has the power in the partnership clear. Hungary,...
Comparative power and Hungary's involvement in the EU. China is much more powerful than Hungary, and has resources to throw around. That makes who has the power in the partnership clear. Hungary, while still being in the EU has been on the outs for the last decade or so over a number of issues regarding rule of law, treatment of minorities, proper use of funds from the EU, etc. They've also been a thorn in the side of some votes that required full consensus, making it clear that a Chinese-aligned Hungary could block any anti- Chinese actions by the EU.
As a point of concern. Imagine if the US were to set up police stations in Eastern European nations, or other places, under the guise of "protecting its nation's tourists." The final goals would...
Exemplary
As a point of concern.
Imagine if the US were to set up police stations in Eastern European nations, or other places, under the guise of "protecting its nation's tourists." The final goals would likely be different, but the power dynamics at play and the questions of jurisdiction would be nearly identical. There would be similar responses, likely all justified and nearly identical questions asked.
Another point where this is troubling is China is trying to exert a cultural force on the world. The US already does to a large degree, and did so fairly organically (being centrally positioned after WWII helped, as did the US's global meddling in places that we could also call "less than organic"). China is using economic and "cultural exchange" systems to trade with countries and tie others into its alliance.
If I may go back to the Chinese/US international police comparison, there is one thing that fundamentally separates the US and China: An institutional belief in individual freedoms. As an American citizen we've got a ton of issues with law enforcement, but these ideas generally hold true, and criticizing and making fun of our leaders is not considered to be a crime. To compare the two countries, in the US I can say "Fuck President Biden, he looks like Winnie the Pooh," and not go to jail. The only way for me to go to jail with my words would be to 1) Threaten a government official's life, and 2) be found to be an actual threat to said official. I would likely be investigated, but could potentially not even know about it if the respective agency just writes me off.
In China, the state would treat my first sentence like the US would treat a credible death threat. I would be subject to detention, thorough investigation, and likely prosecution then incarceration. The presence of Chinese police stations in foreign countries mostly presents a threat to Chinese nationals for this reason, but also a not insignificant threat to the locals and any other tourists in the region due to the risk of doing something that falls under Chinese jurisdiction and criminal code. I would like to think these stations are only for Chinese, but the next question is "Why?" I sincerely doubt they're just trying to keep Chinese tourists safe, and would wager it's a more bold-faced strategy similar to Chinese stations in major cities, where the goal is to also ensure they are behaving in a manner that generally doesn't go against the government in any significant ways.
EDIT: Minor refinement. This is quite a nuanced topic, and I'm trying to answer more questions than I would reasonably leave somebody with.
Actually worrisome. My limited understanding is that China's belt and road initiative is not an equal partnership with the countries that participate in it. Instead, China puts these countries...
Actually worrisome.
My limited understanding is that China's belt and road initiative is not an equal partnership with the countries that participate in it. Instead, China puts these countries into debt which gives it power over those states - like we're talking beyond soft power at that point. The mining operations that China has going on in Africa for example are highly problematic for those countries' populations and I would not be surprised if in the near future, some of them become so reliant on Chinese loans etc. that they become directly dependent, maybe even to the extent that they approach vassal state territory.
Again, I am not an expert in any way so take this with a grain of salt/as an opinion. And I'm sure the EU would be able to stop that, but it is very worrisome. China and EU was for a time more of a trade thing, but in the last decade or so (?), many in the EU are starting to seem them as a rival. See the 5G stuff in the UK or the thing about Huawei spying in Germany as an example of countries (and their populations) becoming very cautious of China.
It is not quite seen as an enemy yet, like the US does, where there is also talk about it being a cold war between the two. But it is a rival to the EU and Hungary doing this is problematic to say the least. However it helps Orban stay in power which is his only goal.
Marked bold is a part that I found interesting. Please ingore if you found it unnecessary.
I'm curious how the EU courts will respond when somebody gets arrested in Hungary by a Chinese police officer.
I remember reding article that its actually happens quite often that Chinese gov have separate Chinese police in a countries where lives thosands of Chinese people.
Wiki: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_police_overseas_service_stations
Yes, but they're usually kept relatively secret and they masquerade as something else. This the first time I'm aware of that it's been an official agreement and where they're actually doing law enforcement and not just applying pressure to--or even kidnapping--dissidents.
I remember reading an article about this subject years back, where China was running police services in Canada while calling them something else like public information offices or service stations or something like that (going on memory there). From what I remember, they (the Chinese police) were targeting Chinese nationals who had emigrated away from China to either force them back to China or otherwise control or influence their behavior and willingness to speak on certain topics. Threatening their families back home I believe was one of the tactics used.
I did a brief search, and while I did find articles about Chinese police operating in other nations (including articles about them in Canada), I wasn't able to find the specific article I remember from years back.
Major investments, a university branch, and Chinese police officers on Hungarian soil — all that's next for Hungary is to announce a name change to "Far West China"
Is this something actually worrisome or are the comments here knee jerk reactions? Why should we believe it's any more out of the norm than what Hungary does with Croatia and Austria as noted in the article? Or China and Serbia?
Comparative power and Hungary's involvement in the EU. China is much more powerful than Hungary, and has resources to throw around. That makes who has the power in the partnership clear. Hungary, while still being in the EU has been on the outs for the last decade or so over a number of issues regarding rule of law, treatment of minorities, proper use of funds from the EU, etc. They've also been a thorn in the side of some votes that required full consensus, making it clear that a Chinese-aligned Hungary could block any anti- Chinese actions by the EU.
As a point of concern.
Imagine if the US were to set up police stations in Eastern European nations, or other places, under the guise of "protecting its nation's tourists." The final goals would likely be different, but the power dynamics at play and the questions of jurisdiction would be nearly identical. There would be similar responses, likely all justified and nearly identical questions asked.
Another point where this is troubling is China is trying to exert a cultural force on the world. The US already does to a large degree, and did so fairly organically (being centrally positioned after WWII helped, as did the US's global meddling in places that we could also call "less than organic"). China is using economic and "cultural exchange" systems to trade with countries and tie others into its alliance.
If I may go back to the Chinese/US international police comparison, there is one thing that fundamentally separates the US and China: An institutional belief in individual freedoms. As an American citizen we've got a ton of issues with law enforcement, but these ideas generally hold true, and criticizing and making fun of our leaders is not considered to be a crime. To compare the two countries, in the US I can say "Fuck President Biden, he looks like Winnie the Pooh," and not go to jail. The only way for me to go to jail with my words would be to 1) Threaten a government official's life, and 2) be found to be an actual threat to said official. I would likely be investigated, but could potentially not even know about it if the respective agency just writes me off.
In China, the state would treat my first sentence like the US would treat a credible death threat. I would be subject to detention, thorough investigation, and likely prosecution then incarceration. The presence of Chinese police stations in foreign countries mostly presents a threat to Chinese nationals for this reason, but also a not insignificant threat to the locals and any other tourists in the region due to the risk of doing something that falls under Chinese jurisdiction and criminal code. I would like to think these stations are only for Chinese, but the next question is "Why?" I sincerely doubt they're just trying to keep Chinese tourists safe, and would wager it's a more bold-faced strategy similar to Chinese stations in major cities, where the goal is to also ensure they are behaving in a manner that generally doesn't go against the government in any significant ways.
EDIT: Minor refinement. This is quite a nuanced topic, and I'm trying to answer more questions than I would reasonably leave somebody with.
Actually worrisome.
My limited understanding is that China's belt and road initiative is not an equal partnership with the countries that participate in it. Instead, China puts these countries into debt which gives it power over those states - like we're talking beyond soft power at that point. The mining operations that China has going on in Africa for example are highly problematic for those countries' populations and I would not be surprised if in the near future, some of them become so reliant on Chinese loans etc. that they become directly dependent, maybe even to the extent that they approach vassal state territory.
Again, I am not an expert in any way so take this with a grain of salt/as an opinion. And I'm sure the EU would be able to stop that, but it is very worrisome. China and EU was for a time more of a trade thing, but in the last decade or so (?), many in the EU are starting to seem them as a rival. See the 5G stuff in the UK or the thing about Huawei spying in Germany as an example of countries (and their populations) becoming very cautious of China.
It is not quite seen as an enemy yet, like the US does, where there is also talk about it being a cold war between the two. But it is a rival to the EU and Hungary doing this is problematic to say the least. However it helps Orban stay in power which is his only goal.
I'm sure the native Hungarians will love that. /s