Insightview

Interview with Jens Eskelund: Why is the EU's dependence on China increasing?

In this podcast [min. 55 - English], Insightview asks Jens Eskelund to help navigate both the Chinese economic reality and Europe’s strategic dilemma regarding China. Jens Eskelund is President of the European Chamber of Commerce in China. ‌‌‌Insightview asks Jens how he would describe the actual state of the Chinese economy behind the official data, including deflationary pressures, falling fixed investment, the government’s approach to the property sector, and the impact of rapid automation and AI on household sentiment. We also discuss why Europe’s de-risking remains so limited in practice, what structural barriers European companies face when trying to diversify, and whether Europe risks unintended consequences if it attempts to accelerate the process. Listen to the answer to “whether there are examples where the EU has managed to de-risk?”‌‌‌China’s economy stands at a critical juncture, shaped by a widening gap between what the official data suggest and what underlying trends appear to reveal. On the surface, the country continues to post respectable headline growth and substantial export numbers. However, beneath that, the domestic economy looks significantly more fragile. Monetary data, investment trends and the deepening downturn in the property market all point to conditions that, had they appeared in the United States or the Eurozone, would almost certainly have triggered a return to quantitative easing.‌Against this backdrop, Europe is pursuing a strategy of de-risking its relationship with China. However, the reality on the ground differs from the political messaging. Despite rising geopolitical tensions and growing calls for strategic autonomy, European dependence on imported Chinese goods remains unchanged. Several sectors still rely heavily on Chinese components, materials, and technologies, and shifting supply chains have proved far slower and more complex than many policymakers anticipated. The widening gap between political ambition and practical outcomes makes it essential to understand why Europe has struggled to reduce its exposure.‌Jens Eskelund, who is also Chief Representative for A.P. Moller-Maersk in China, arrived in China in 1998. Jens lives with his family in Beijing. He holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy and studied at Aarhus University in Denmark and the University of Texas at Austin. He has also studied Chinese at Renmin University in Beijing. Before joining Maersk in Beijing in 2000, Jens Eskelund served as Commercial Attaché at the Danish Embassy in China.See the related article here.‌‌‌‌Music: Melodyloops, 'Pure Calmness – by MediaM‌‌See all previous podcasts here: insightview.eu/podcast

Et smartere Europa: AI og robotteknologiens rolle - Interview m. Kasper Hallenborg, SDU’s Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Instituttet

‌I denne podcast taler Insightview med Kasper Hallenborg, leder af SDU’s Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Institut i Odense – et internationalt anerkendt forskningsmiljø inden for robotteknologi, software og kunstig intelligens.Vi sætter fokus på udviklingen inden for AI og robotter – og i den sammenhæng også droner, som igen er blevet aktuelle efter en ”kapabel aktørs” ulovlige indtrængen på kritisk infrastruktur i Danmark og andre europæiske lande.‌Europa står i dag over for behovet for at blive mere uafhængig af både Kina og USA. Kina er tæt forbundet med Rusland, og tilliden til USA er usikker. Krigen i Ukraine har samtidig skabt behov for en markant europæisk oprustning, hvilket øger efterspørgslen efter ressourcer – fra kapital til højtuddannet arbejdskraft.Det sker midt i en periode med kraftig demografisk modvind, der kræver langt mere effektiv ressourceudnyttelse for at undgå inflation. Med andre ord: produktiviteten skal op.‌Insightview taler med Kasper Hallenborg om, hvordan teknologien allerede bruges, hvilke erfaringer der er gjort, og hvor den kan anvendes fremover – blandt andet i forbindelse med, at nye danske flådefartøjer kan og bør bygges i Danmark, ifølge Kasper. ‌‌Link til FT-artikel omtalt i podcasten, Tech shocks to industry have only just begun.Du kan finde mere på denne artikel.Music: Melodyloops, 'Pure Calmness – by MediaM‌‌See all previous podcasts here: www.insightview.eu/podcast

Interview with former White House adviser Mark Medish: US Foreign Policy - Isolationism, Imperialism or Bullying?

In this podcast [min. 55 - English], Insightview has talked with Mark Medish. We discuss the consequences of Donald Trump’s foreign policy, which, in many respects, treats traditional allies worse than those who were once regarded as America’s enemies. Insightview asks Mark what President Trump aims to achieve with a foreign policy that is moving in multiple directions. What will it mean for the United States, and what are the consequences, in particular, for Europe?‌This podcast is a follow-up to a podcast interview conducted with Mark Medish on August 9, during which we discussed the domestic consequences of Donald Trump’s second presidential term. ‌‌Mark Medish is an American lawyer and policy consultant with extensive experience in government and international affairs. During the Clinton Administration, he served at the White House as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director on the National Security Council, as well as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Treasury.‌‌Mark has also held senior roles at USAID and the United Nations Development Programme. He is currently Director and Vice Chair of Panterra, a strategic consultancy, and founder of Keep Our Republic, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to civic education and democratic governance.See the linked article here.‌‌‌Music: Melodyloops, 'Pure Calmness – by MediaM‌‌See all previous podcasts here: insightview.eu/podcast

interview with former White House adviser Mark Medish: The Dismantling of American Democracy?

In this podcast [min. 51 - English], Insightview has talked to Mark Medish, who is an American lawyer and policy consultant with extensive experience in government and international affairs. During the Clinton Administration, he served at the White House as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director on the National Security Council, as well as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Treasury.‌"‌American democracy is no longer merely under threat – the process of dismantling it is well underway,” according to Mark Medish. Insightview is fortunate to have the opportunity to talk to Mark Medish about just how serious the situation has become. Our conversation focuses primarily on the domestic political landscape but concludes with a brief discussion of the geopolitical implications.‌Mark has also held senior roles at USAID and the United Nations Development Programme. He is currently Director and Vice Chair of Panterra, a strategic consultancy, and founder of Keep Our Republic, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to civic education and democratic governance.See the related article here‌‌‌‌Music: Melodyloops, 'Pure Calmness – by MediaM‌‌See all previous podcasts here: insightview.eu/podcast

Interview with Netcompany's CEO, André Rogaczewski: 'Stand Tall, Europe'. How do we do that?

In this podcast [min. 30 - English], Insightview.eu has a conversation with André Rogaczewski, co-founder and CEO of Netcompany. ‌In a series of podcasts in 2025, Insightview has focused on European defence and the corporate sector's heavy dependence on technologies and infrastructure developed and controlled outside the continent, primarily in the United States. This needs to change. Insightview asks André Rogaczewski whether it is possible - and if so, how we can do it.‌André Rogaczewski has made no secret that "Europe must rise and stand united" in a time of historical uncertainty and external pressure on Western values. It must be based on "freedom and democracy", but these principles are now under pressure and require action, according to Rogaczewski [click here to read Netcompany’s open letter released on April 23: Europe must stand tall]. André Rogaczewski believes "technology has become a crucial battleground" where social development, economy and security require that Europe embraces the digital revolution. This requires European solutions, according to Rogaczewski. André Rogaczewski, who holds a Master's degree in Computer Science from Aalborg University, is also known for his involvement in various boards and councils. Since 2016, he has been chairman of the Confederation of Danish Industry's DI Digital and a member of the Digitalisation Council since 2022. André was born in Poland and grew up in Aalborg, Denmark.The 10 key points from André Rogaczewski's statements in the podcast:‌‌1. Europe has the capabilities to lead its own digital futureAndré Rogaczewski emphasises that Europe possesses strong companies, brilliant minds, and the necessary resources to assume responsibility for its digital development.‌2. Europe is too dependent on non-European digital infrastructureCritical infrastructure such as cloud services, software applications, and AI algorithms are dominated by US firms, making Europe vulnerable.‌3. Digital sovereignty requires both EU-level coordination and national initiativesWhile EU-wide standards and infrastructure (like giga AI factories) are essential, national efforts must also contribute. Coordination and standardisation are key to scalability.‌4. Europe needs common digital ‘highways’Shared systems like digital ID, AI assistants, and health data platforms are needed to enable cross-border innovation and services across the EU.‌5. Public-private partnerships are essential to building digital infrastructureLarge-scale projects like AI factories must be established with joint efforts between governments and private European companies.‌6. European data must be stored and processed within EuropeCore computing power and data must be based on European soil for security and sovereignty. US firms may participate, but under European terms.‌7. Europe must demand more from global tech firmsEuropean customers should require data stored in Europe and applications to comply with European standards, including age verification and content moderation.‌8. Hybrid warfare is a growing threat, both digital and physicalCyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and systemic vulnerabilities threaten Europe’s democracy and infrastructure. Europe needs tools to defend itself on both fronts.‌9. A unified European digital identity is crucialA pan-European digital ID like the EU Digital Wallet would allow Europe to negotiate as one voice and create trusted digital ecosystems.‌10. Europe must act faster and more concretelyPolitical processes are too slow and abstract. Europe must shift from discussing principles to implementing real, irreversible, pan-European digital solutions — including a governance model for fast and scalable digital transformation.‌‌‌‌‌Music: Melodyloops, 'Pure Calmness – by MediaM