Shanghai Frans Vandenbosch 方腾波   21/10/2025 The paradox of ATMs in China’s cashless society What purpose do ATMs serve in a society that has entirely abandoned cash? During my four weeks in China, I have not used physical currency once. Everything, from street food ...

Beijing, Shenyang, Dandong Frans Vandenbosch 方腾波 07/10/2025 Westerners in China Walking along the streets of Beijing, Shenyang, Dandong and Shanghai, compared to 10 years ago, it is remarkable how few young Europeans or Americans are left in China. These days, there are many Russia ...

Beijing Frans Vandenbosch 方腾波 30/09/2025 The barbarians in Beijing The Old Summer Palace, the Yuanmingyuan “圆明园” in Chinese, located in the Haidian district of Beijing, was a large imperial garden that the emperors of the Qing Dynasty operated for over 150 years. It was known as th ...

Beijing Frans Vandenbosch 方腾波 23/09/2025 Core values The 12 core socialist values: 富强 (Fùqiáng) – Prosperity and Strength民主 (Mínzhǔ) – Democracy文明 (Wénmíng) – Civility和谐 (Héxié) – Harmony自由 (Zìyóu) – Freedom平等 (Píngděng) – Equality公正 (Gōngzhèng) & ...

Beijing Frans Vandenbosch 方腾波 16/09/2025 A short report of the first few days in Beijing Hainan Airlines flight HU494 BRU – PEKLast week, Hainan Airlines quickly swapped its scheduled Airbus A330-300 for a Boeing 787-9. Almost 10 hours in the air. Departed from Zaventem half an hou ...

My next adventure unfolds in China and beyond! Frans Vandenbosch 方腾波  09.09.2025 Seventeen Arched Bridge, The Summer Palace, Beijing, China I’m thrilled to announce that my annual journey to Asia is almost here! This Sunday,  14 September, I’ll be embarking on my ...

How China’s Mandate of Heaven redefined legitimacy Frans Vandenbosch 方腾波  20.08.2025 Qing Dynasty (Taoist) painting of the Chinese pantheon, Hunan Museum For millennia, rulers have sought divine justification for their power but none framed it as conditionally as China’s Mandate o ...

When language becomes a weapon The Frontier Man (Larry Johnson) 08/07/2028 Artwork: Rebellion of the Soul. The Frontier Man August 2024 This article is re-published here with the approval of the author at “Sonar21” On 5 February 2003, U.S. Secretary ...

A plea for a fundamental rethink of Europe’s approach to the conflict in Ukraine. Guestauthor: Steven Arrazola de Oñate 09/05/2025 Steven Arrazola de Oñate served his country in the Belgian army.He was stationed in Kandahar (Afghanistan),an experience about which he wrote his most r ...

National identity as a catalyst for collective progress Frans Vandenbosch 方腾波 11.04.2025 A synthesis of cultural heritage and modern nationalism Introduction The interplay of peace (和平, hépíng), harmony (和谐, héxié), and happiness (幸福, xìngfú) in China is deeply rooted in its ...

Whistle-blowers, dissidents, and exiles fighting for free speech Frans Vandenbosch 方腾波 26.03.2025 Bo Phut Resort, Koh Samui, Thailand The outcasts of the West In an era where Western governments claim to uphold free speech and human rights, an increasing number of dissidents find th ...

Embracing Cultural Diversity in a Multipolar World Frans Vandenbosch 方腾波 03.02..2025 The unipolar world order imposed by US hegemony is gradually being challenged by a multipolar vision—one that allows various civilisations and cultures to coexist without subjugation. This alternative ...

America in Crisis: Navigating Chaos, Despair, and a Fading Dream. Frans Vandenbosch 方腾波 15.12.2024 The American people This essay focuses on the United States, the country located in North America. However, it is not about the common people of the United States, for whom I hold a d ...

Exploring modern perspectives beyond historical preconceptions Frans Vandenbosch 方腾波 30.07.2024 The first National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Shanghai  23 July 1921 (own picture 03.06.2023) Communism, good or bad ? The answer to that question entirely depends on ...

A Comparative Study of Think Tanks in China and the World. Frans Vandenbosch 方腾波 21.07.2024 . Think tanks are crucial in shaping public policy and strategic planning worldwide. This article compares the distinctive roles and challenges of think tanks in China with those in other co ...