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Michael Jinghan Zeng
Opinion
Michael Jinghan Zeng

Greenland row shows why foreign policy must not be turned into moral theatre

Middle powers must keep their diplomatic options open and recognise that engagement with a country isn’t an endorsement of it

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People take part in a protest under the slogans “Hands off Greenland” and “Greenland for Greenlanders” in Copenhagen, Denmark, on January 17. Photo: EPA
Michael Jinghan Zeng
Michael (Jinghan) Zeng is head of and a professor in the Department of Public and International Affairs at City University of Hong Kong.
The renewed debate over Greenland has placed Denmark in an awkward strategic position. When a close ally openly flirts with the idea of territorial acquisition – however unrealistic or rhetorical – it exposes an uncomfortable truth for many middle and small powers: alignment does not guarantee protection and loyalty does not always translate into leverage.

In an age defined by intensifying competition between the United States and China, governments increasingly feel inclined to show where they “stand”. Yet the Greenland episode should prompt a deeper reflection – not only in Denmark, but across Europe and the wider Western world – about the risks of narrowing diplomatic space too hastily.

Denmark’s China policy over the past decade offers a telling example. In response to growing geopolitical pressure and heightened concerns about values, security and influence, Denmark chose to close all Confucius Institutes, signalling a decisive break with what were once regarded as benign platforms for cultural and language exchange. At the time, some welcomed the move as a victory – a clean severing of ties with a politically uncomfortable partner. Years later, the irony is hard to miss.

Confucius Institutes, whatever criticisms one may hold about their governance or oversight, were jointly established by Chinese universities and host universities. Their primary function was to teach the Chinese language, enable cultural exchange and provide institutional channels for engagement. In diplomatic terms, they functioned as bridges: imperfect, contested, but nevertheless useful.

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