China’s European Headquarters: Switzerland and China during the Cold War

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 Knusel 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.