D2 Article in a professional compilation book
Finland: A supply security veteran does moderate de-risking
Authors: Kauppila, Liisa; Sinkkonen, Elina
Editors: Anderson, Patrik; Lindberg, Frida
Publication year: 2024
Book title : National Perspectives on Europe’s De-risking from China
ISBN: 978-91-984951-1-9
Web address : https://www.ui.se/globalassets/ui.se-eng/publications/other-publications/etnc-2024_national-perspectives-on-europes-de-risking-from-china.pdf
Finland’s risk analyses and resilience efforts focus overwhelmingly on Russia. Assessing risks associated with Finland's China dependencies and investments is a rather recent theme in both governmental and public discussions. The dominance of relatively moderate rhetoric – and the existence of differing views – is a typical feature of Finland’s foreign policy tradition, and it continues to characterise the country’s de-risking strategy towards China. The debated risks include abrupt supply disruptions of critical goods, Chinese investors’ Russia connections and transfer of dual use products and knowledge to China. Out of the four themes calling for risk assessment in the EU’s Economic and Security Strategy, the National Emergency Supply Agency’s scope of action covers supply chain security and security of critical infrastructure. Finland has maintained an undisrupted investment screening practice since the late 1930s. Its current Act on the Screening of Foreign Direct Investments (revised in 2020) is liberal and does not target Chinese investments in particular. However, reforms are expected in the following years – a process that may be influenced by Finland’s closer alignment with the US and status as a NATO member state. Moreover, Finland will most likely follow the EU’s general policy line on outbound