China's European Headquarters
Switzerland and China during the Cold War

Ariane Knüsel offers new perspectives on China's presence in Europe through analysis of Switzerland's central role during the Cold War.

Ariane Knüsel (Author)

9781009169462, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 28 April 2022

300 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 2.3 cm, 0.629 kg

'This is a profoundly important book with a relevance that extends beyond its Cold War focus up to the present day. Drawing on a unique set of sources, the focus on Chinese espionage in Switzerland soon expands to encompass a thorough exploration of the meaning of neutrality, the decisive interests of trade, and the level of inter-state competition that existed within the communist world as much as in the West. This is a refined, multi-layered work which opens up new terrain for reconsidering international relations during the Cold War.' Giles Scott-Smith, Roosevelt Chair in New Diplomatic History, Leiden University

During the Cold War, the People's Republic of China used Switzerland as headquarters for its economic, political, intelligence, and cultural networks in Europe. Based on extensive research in Western and Chinese archives, China's European Headquarters charts not only how Switzerland came to play this role, but also how Chinese networks were built in practice, often beyond the public face of official proclamations and diplomatic interactions. By tracing the development of Sino-Swiss relations in the Cold War, Ariane Knüsel sheds new light on the People's Republic of China's formulation and implementation of foreign policy in Europe, Latin America and Africa and Switzerland's efforts to align neutrality, humanitarian engagement, and economic interests.

Introduction
1. Creating a European hub: Recognition, potential, and frictions (1949–1958)
2. Becoming a global hub: The Sino-Soviet split, the Great Leap Forward, and Tibetan refugees (1958–1965)
3. 'A sick man shaken by fits of madness': Dealing with China during the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976)
4. Dr. No in Switzerland: Bern as a Chinese intelligence hub
5. Conclusion: A new Cold War or more of the same?

Subject Areas: Diplomacy [JPSD], International relations [JPS], Asian history [HBJF]