China–Denmark relations are foreign relations between China and Denmark. Denmark recognized the People's Republic of China on January 9, 1950, and the two countries established diplomatic relations on May 11, 1950. On February 15, 1956, the two countries upgraded diplomatic relations from ministerial to ambassadorial level and exchanged ambassadors. China has an embassy in Copenhagen. Denmark has an embassy in Beijing and 4 general consulates in Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
In 1950, Denmark became one of the first western countries to recognize the People's Republic of China.[1]: 165
Since 2000, the most important area of cooperation between China and Denmark has been energy, with a particular focus on renewable energy like wind power.[1]: 167 Denmark describes Sino-Danish energy cooperation as the "crown jewel" of its broader energy partnership program.[1]: 196 At the end of 2005, the two countries launched the Sino-Danish Wind Energy Program to help China learn from the Danish wind power experience in areas including the development of advanced wind power technology, wind resource assessment, and personnel training.[1]: 175 The program lasted until 2010, providing important assistance to China at a time when its wind power capacity was doubling every two years (2006–2009).[1]: 175–176 China and Denmark launched the Renewable Energy Development program in 2008 with the goals of developing capacity and technological innovation in China.[1]: 176 The Danish government also supported the creation of the China National Renewable Energy Center (CNREC), which as of 2023 is the Danish government's most important initiative in China.[1]: 189 Although is a China-led center, Denmark directly supports its operations and leadership, including via a seat on CNREC's advisory committee.[1]: 182 In November 2024, Denmark's Minister of Climate, Energy and UtilitiesLars Aagaard referred to Chinese wind turbine manufacturers as a "threat" and said that the government has tools that ensure that its largest offshore wind tender to date goes to "someone we can trust."[2]
In November 2024, the Royal Danish Navy monitored a Chinese shipping vessel, the Yi Peng 3, in the Baltic Sea after it was found be in the vicinity of two severed undersea fiber-optic data cables and suspected of sabotage.[3][4][5]
Human rights concerns
Dalai Lama
China suspended ties with Denmark after its Prime Minister met the Dalai Lama and resumed them only after the Danish government issued a statement in December 2009 saying it would oppose Tibetan independence and consider Beijing's reaction before inviting him again.[6]
^ abcdefghLewis, Joanna I. (2023). Cooperating for the Climate: Learning from International Partnerships in China's Clean Energy Sector. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. ISBN978-0-262-54482-5.