EuroHub4Sino Workshop – the Stockholm China Center hosted a closed-door workshop in Brussels

On September 25, ISDP’s Stockholm China Center hosted a closed-door workshop at the Residence Palace in Brussels, titled “Navigating the Dragon’s Tech Leap: European Responses to the PLA’s Technological Transformation.”

Organized under the EU-sponsored EuroHub4Sino (EH4S) project, the event brought together scholars from the EH4S consortium, as well as key members of EU institutions and security experts. The discussions focused on the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) growing integration of advanced technologies into its military capabilities, with a particular emphasis on the implications for European security and defense strategies.

The workshop began with opening remarks by Saban Yuksel from Beyond Horizon and Dr. Niklas Swanström, Director of ISDP and Head of the Stockholm China Center. During the first panel, Dr. Jingdong Yuan of SIPRI and Dr. May-Britt U. Stumbaum of the George C. Marshall Center offered expert insights into the PLA’s technological advancements. In the second panel, Dr. Yifei Zhu from ISDP and Ms. Juliëtte Eijkelkam from the Dutch Ministry of Defense addressed Europe’s strategic responses to these developments and explored future prospects for cooperation.

This event served as a crucial platform for in-depth dialogue and strategic analysis. Participants examined the PLA’s rapid technological advancements and its far-reaching implications for European defense policy. They also addressed the broader challenges surrounding European cohesion and scientific security management. A recurrent theme throughout the discussions was the delicate balancing act between ensuring security and fostering international collaboration to drive innovation, highlighting the complex challenges Europe faces in responding to China’s military modernization.