By Many a commentator have been criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump for his way of working in high politics and diplomacy. His candid and direct – almost obtrusive – style of handling trade and political exchange is undoubtedly one of his signature moves not just vis-a-vis his opponents on the world stage but also with his allies, most notably, the European Union. Trump’s loudness has created a constant variable in international politics and defense, damaging a lot of parties but the buildup of Chinese influence in Europe is way more effective… And could pose risks to other nations, especially in the West.
International conferences are sometimes grand and truly provide a way forward for the world but sometimes they can be tedious, forums of self-assurance.. A vanity fair if you wish. One thing is common however in many high-profile professional events: Voss, the mineral water served. A water which is Norwegian but is not sold in Norway and the water whose distribution is not part of Norwegian soft power but which advances the agenda of China since a new Chinese owner took over the company.
As per the reporting by German news outlet Deutsche Welle (DW), the fact that the premises where Voss is produced are connected to the nearby port of Kristiansand by railway and that the water was usually shipped by sea means that the otherwise rightful owner gained access to Norwegian railway and port safety standards which could be used to the detriment of the Nordic nation. DW interviewed Kristiansand port’s security officer who was full of misgivings about the situation.
Kristiansand harbour, Norway (Photo: Tecfan / Wikimedia Commons)
It could very well be that China has invented a way of spying that has been virtually unheard of: gaining information about a country’s systems and standards by establishing companies in or connected to sensitive infrastructure. It is not about what the Chinese-influenced companies produce but what they have access to. This new branch of espionage could be called entrepreneurial intelligence.
While most of the Western world has been loud either of Donald Trump’s tariffs or Europe’s infighting or the newfound prevalence of assertive right-wing policies, China has devised a way to build up in said Western world by silently doing business fully or partially to further its own interests. Adhering to the rules that tell maybe more but certainly quicker than employing traditional strategies.
The way to get all the information is investing in smaller but well-known companies – like Voss – or having the financial and professional means to design and manufacture equipment, instruments or vehicles which can be viable and economic alternatives – see the many BYD buses in different European cities or the ones exported by Yutong. Yutong buses turned out to be able to be shut down remotely by the company. Many of its buses run in, well, one could have already guessed it, Norway. Norwegian media also highlighted that this could potentially be detrimental to evacuation in case of a natural disaster or other emergencies.
Chinese leaders have never been as hot-headed as Trump but they have never been naive like European leaders or decision-makers either. It would be beneficial if China was seen on every level as what it truly is: a potent superpower which has the means and the willing to be silent but efficient, believing that knowledge truly is power. Because we do not seem to know what China has known for decades: information has become a valuable and truly double-use asset.
