Thanks to Martin Holland, @nrsmith.bsky.social and Jenny Wilson for the excellent organisation, and to @ceps.eu for hosting us in Brussels.

I particularly enjoyed exchanges with colleagues from and on #China, #Taiwan, #Japan, #SouthKorea, #India, #Thailand, #Australia and #NewZealand. Given the global changes over the past three years, it is crucial to stay connected and explore opportunities for long-term cooperation.

It was therefore fascinating to hear how #ASEAN is reframing the concept by shifting the focus away from security issues, with #Thailand’s perspective being especially insightful.

Key takeaway: EU is seldom perceived as a central actor in the region. Nations, especially #France with its territories, appear more relevant. Since the Indo-Pacific concept is still strongly tied to #security policy, #NATO and its cooperation with #SouthKorea & #Japan were seen as more important.

I would also like to sincerely thank my colleagues at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg for a wonderful academic year of collaboration and learning 😊

Das Buch:

-Zeigt die Grenzen des akteurzentrierten Institutionalismus und der politischen Steuerung auf

-Leistet einen Beitrag zur internationalen Fußballforschung und zur zeitgenössischen Chinaforschung

-Ermöglicht ein Verständnis von Xi Jinpings China durch den Fußball

I'm sorry to hear that. My solidarity also goes out to you, Scott. I think I speak for the vast majority of my German and European colleagues here.

Happy to present alongside Hannes Gohli, Vivien Markert and Ceren Ergenc. I'm looking forward to engaging and insightful discussions in our panel "The State’s Guiding Role in Resource Allocation: Contributions to Political Steering Theory in China", chaired by Sabrina Habich-Sobiegalla.

This presentation is based on a chapter from my book "The Politics of Football in China" (Palgrave, lnkd.in/eJYH9kSg). My PhD supervisor, Albrecht Sonntag, will surely smile when he sees me using "soccer" instead of "football" - a deliberate choice to connect with American colleagues, sorry Albrecht

The book...

-Provides an understanding of Xi Jinping’s China through football

-Makes a contribution to international football studies and contemporary China studies

-Highlights the limitations of actor-centred institutionalism and political steering

Please add me to the list