8:30am-9:15am: Nato, G7 and China
8:30am-9:15am: Alejandro Reyes (in photo), Director of Knowledge Dissemination and
Professor at Asia Global Institute, HKU
8:30am-9:00m: Roland Vogt, Head of School of Modern Languages and Cultures; and Associate Professor of European Studies, HKU
9:00am-9:15am: Ho Lok-sang, Senior Research Fellow, Pan Sutong Economic Policy Research Institute, Lingnan University
9:15am-9:30am: Taishan nuclear issue
9:15am-9:30am: Nigel Marks, Associate Professor, School of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Curtin University

On Wednesday's Backchat, Nato, G7 and China; and Taishan nuclear issue.
Beijing on Tuesday accused Nato of exaggerating the threat from China and "creating confrontation", after a vow from the Western allies to work together to counter the challenges posed by its policies. Nato leaders said on Monday they would join forces against the "systemic challenges" posed by China. Their statement said China's stated ambitions and assertive behavior present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to alliance security.

In response, Beijing called for Nato to "view China's development rationally, stop exaggerating various forms of 'China threat theory' and not to use China's legitimate interests and legal rights as excuses for manipulating group politics (while) artificially creating confrontations". Previously it had hit back at the G7 for “political manipulation” after the group criticised China’s human rights record in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.

Does Nato’s statement change things? How can the downward spiral in relations be
reversed? Is China threatening, or exercising legitimate rights? Is Nato consensus fragile? Do all G7 feel the same? Who are China's allies? 
From 9:15am-9:30am, we’re discussing reports of problems at the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong.