China
The future of the New Silk Roads, part 1: the Chinese Communist Party and the US counter-narrative

The Agencies' Gazette
Russia using Hawala payments, Vietnam's new Paris defence attaché, ISC renewal, Silk Roads into Europe, Kremlin/Vatican's parallel diplomacy

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community.

Russia/UKRussian embassy uses Hawala payments to dodge sanctions

Vietnam/France Hanoi appoints new defence attaché to Paris embassy

United KingdomNew Westminster intelligence committee crew take over

ChinaSecond New Silk Road phase turns towards Europe

Vatican/RussiaKremlin sends back-channel message it is open to Christmas ceasefire

China
The future of the New Silk Roads, part 3: Beijing plans to make its money the new king of currencies

Intelligence Online has seen a number of CCP draft papers on the future of the New Silk Roads policy. Several avenues are being explored, including decoupling the economy from the West and internationalising the yuan.

China
The future of the New Silk Roads, part 2: CCP prepares industrialisation plan

With the support of private companies and the Chinese diaspora, the Chinese Communist Party is identifying the industries and countries it wants to focus on for the next stage of the New Silk Roads project.

China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan
Central Asian rail megaproject set to further China's mining and security objectives

A much postponed rail project to link China to Turkey via Central Asia is taking form. For Beijing, it will open the way to lucrative new mining activities and enable it to consolidate the influence of the Silk Road "militias".

Spotlight | China
China's State Security tightens grip on universities

Under Xi Jinping's third mandate the world of academia has to comply and restructure more than ever - and first serve the goals of the Chinese Communist Party. The Ministry of State Security has been tasked to keep a watch on campuses.

China, Hungary
CCP takes BRI a step further with Global Security Initiative

China has asked some countries with which it enjoys strong bilateral relations to subscribe to Xi Jinping's vision of world order, as laid out in his Global Security Initiative. It is a new China-centric geopolitical viewpoint that goes further than Beijing's Belt & Road Initiative goals.

China
Chinese Communist Party uses CICC investment bank to boost New Silk Roads

Two new internal reports, written under the direction of the State Council, have laid the foundations for Xi Jinping's new economic strategy.

Spotlight | Italy, Taiwan
As Rome exits Silk Roads project, Italy's defence industry readies for Taiwanese adventure

With Italy in talks with China to withdraw from the New Silk Roads project, secret parallel discussions are focused on Taiwan as Rome expects compensation from Washington for obeying its wishes and leaving the project.