Sinologist, intelligence source and speaker Manya Koetse: ‘I want to put China in context’

Manya Koetse studied Japanese and Chinese at Leiden University. In 2013, she launched the English-language website What’s on Weibo, focused on analyses of trending topics in China. Last year the name changed to Eye on Digital China, and the format shifted from website to newsletter. She is an internationally sought-after analyst of developments in which China plays a role.

Barely a day goes by without news from China... 

“Over the past two or three years I’ve noticed that China features so much more in our daily lives, and that I’m being asked to explain things with increasing frequency. Ten years ago I was writing about these topics and was virtually the only one doing so. Now you see major outlets like the BBC and CNN focusing increasingly on what’s happening in China.”

You first studied Japanese, then Chinese, and you also lived in China for a while. What is it that fascinates you so much about the country?

“I have always had an interest in Asia, from a very young age. What struck me most at first glance was how different it was from the way we Dutch people are and the way we relate to each other. Especially when it comes to China, which is quite literally surrounded by a great wall. I wanted to get over that wall; I wanted to understand.”

“Language is a key, but so is cultural understanding. Once you’ve crossed that wall and are immersed in it every day, you begin to realise just how much we have in common – and that is what I find so compelling.”

‘When it comes to how we relate to people, hierarchy, humour and social norms, we Dutch have far more in common with China than with the United States’

“We tend to think we have a great deal in common with Americans – ‘My childhood was pretty much shaped by Hollywood’ – but from my experience as a guide in Amsterdam, leading many American visitors around the city, I know we are actually very different from them. When it comes to how we relate to people, hierarchy, humour and social norms, we have far more in common with China.”

What do you feel is most important to convey?

“What I notice – and it’s always a pitfall – is that people tend to want to hear about China only when it also involves America or Europe. Conversely, you see the same in China: the news there is also heavily centred on China itself. As a sinologist, what I really want to do is build a picture for our audiences of what is actually happening in that country, without it constantly revolving around US President Trump or what NATO Secretary-General Rutte is doing in the EU.”

How would you describe that mission?

“My starting point is always the digital environment. That is also why I renamed my platform Eye on Digital China. These are the topics people most want to hear about.”

“The shortest description of my mission is: putting China in context. Because I think that step is sometimes skipped. There is often a rush to discuss the latest AI developments in China without explaining the underlying foundations. I want to clarify why things happen the way they do, so that people can really grasp it.”

Where do you see the foundations of all these developments? 

“China has undergone a tremendous transformation over recent decades into an extraordinarily digital society. It may seem like a giant leap – from grandparents who grew up in the Mao era to artificial intelligence – and it truly is.”

“Over the past twenty years, the Chinese public has embraced digital technology and innovation wholeheartedly, because things simply kept improving as a result. I like to draw a comparison with the transition in the Netherlands from paper strip tickets on public transport to the OV-chipcard. Many people reacted with frustration, because things were already working perfectly well here without further digitalisation. In China, people went straight from cash to mobile payments, with no intermediate steps. They were catapulted directly into the digital age.”

How do you personally keep track of developments and daily news in China?

“There are a number of major social media platforms in China. My primary source of information is still Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter. Beyond that, there are many other discussion platforms, such as WeChat and Zhihu.”

“Every morning I check what the trending topics are. When it involves a politically or socially sensitive subject, it is essential that I am there quickly before it disappears from the radar due to censorship. I have Chinese contacts who help me, including students and news enthusiasts. I talk with them about how they see the news of the day. On that basis, I select the topics I take to Eye on Digital China.”

Who is interested in your China analyses?

“An enormously varied range. From think tanks in India to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, IKEA, trade delegations and international media. Last summer I was approached by CNN for the first time. I know that my news reports and analyses are read by all the major embassies in Beijing. I believe that over the years I have built up a reputation for reliability and objectivity. Most people who talk about China are either strongly pro or strongly anti. I hope to offer a somewhat more nuanced perspective.”

Which developments in China do you personally find most fascinating?

“The most significant phenomenon right now is ‘Chinamaxxing’. Young Westerners are increasingly seeing China as cool and are integrating Chinese habits into their lives. They drink hot water, practise Tai Chi, and this growing influence of China in the West has suddenly become strikingly visible since the spring of 2025.”

“China is making significant strides in this area, from the export of cultural products to toys. The craze around Labubu figurines is a prime example of that. We are also seeing Chinese movies in Dutch cinemas, and visa-free travel has been introduced. So a great deal is happening on that front that is making China increasingly cool, approachable and open.”

“As Dutch people, we have far more in common with the Chinese than we realise. Take the pride that comes with scoring a great bargain. Compliment someone on their beautiful sofa or lamp at home, and in China too you will instantly hear the price and the name of the shop. Another area in which we are very alike is ‘gezelligheid’, the pleasure we take in sitting around the table together. We do it with cold meats and cheese; they do it with hotpot. The Dutch may be on the top of the list when it comes to directness, but the Chinese are equally adept at it.”

“At the same time, much is also happening there that makes it clear there is a strong anti-foreign sentiment and that media controls are tightening. Drama series have recently been pulled from streaming platforms. Everything must receive a green stamp of approval from the Party. We live in a digital age in which every clip posted online is watched and weighed.”

“On the one hand, China has the most active social media landscape in the world; on the other, it has the least internet freedom. That dynamic – the promotional campaign of a free China versus an ever less free one – is what I currently consider the most significant development.”

Do you use particular tools to strengthen your presentations?

“As many images and videos as possible. I can talk about farmers livestreaming from the tea fields, or an elderly farmer selling his strawberries that way, but it is far more powerful when you can actually see it. I show how digitalisation affects everyone, from young to old and from city to countryside.”