In this episode of Perspectives with Neilo, we investigate China’s growing political influence in Ireland and the recent meetings between Irish elected officials and members of the Chinese Communist Party. These engagements come at the very moment Ireland’s national cyber-security authority warns of state-aligned threat actors— including those linked to China and Russia—targeting Irish infrastructure, public institutions, and democratic processes.
We examine who attended these meetings, why they matter, and how they align with the EU’s newly announced European Democracy Shield, designed to counter foreign interference from authoritarian regimes.
In this episode, we dig into China’s growing reach in Irish politics and the uncomfortable question at the centre of it all: Is Ireland leaving its democracy unshielded?
This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in Irish politics, democracy, foreign interference, China’s global strategy, and the future of European security.
Date of Recording: December 2nd, 2025
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| Michael McGrath, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection (Left) and Xi Jinping leader of the People's Republic of China (Right) |
DIVE DEEPER
- 'Aggressive response' needed to tackle cyber threats facing Ireland - Cormac O'Keeffe, Irish Examiner (December 2nd, 2025)
- Revealed: Chinese officials' private meeting with senior Irish politicians - John Mooney, The Sunday Times (November 22nd, 2025)
- Authoritarian states have powerful reach - even in Ireland - Alexander Dukalskis and Alexander Cooley, Irish Examiner (October 9th, 2025)
- Revealed: the Chinese agent who built a political power network inside Ireland - John Mooney, The Sunday Times (October 4th, 2025)
- Ireland faces 'very real' threat of economic espionage from China - Cormac O'Keeffe, Irish Examiner (July 18th, 2023)
- China Media Landscape - Reporters without Borders (RSF)
- World Press Freedom Index - Wiki
- Media in China - BBC
- Media Freedoms Report 2024: 'New Red Lines' - The Foreign Correspondents' Club of China
- Xuexi Qiangguo - Wiki
- Chinese Covid whistleblower sentenced to four more years in jail, group says - The Irish Times (September 21st, 2025)
- European Democracy Shield and EU Strategy for Civil Society pave the way for stronger and more resilient democracies - European Commission, November 12th, 2025
- EU Launches Democracy Shield - AT World News via YouTube (November 12th, 2025)
- Communication on the Democracy Shield: closing statements by Michael MCGRATH, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection, European Parliament, November 25th, 2025.
- 2024 Report on EEAS Activities to Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) - European Union External Action (August 22nd, 2025)
Podcasts you might also like
- The FIMI Iceberg - Decoding Foreign Interference Threats - Interview with Dr Eoin McNamara, FIIA, Helsinki (March 2025)
- EU-China Trade Tensions - Interview with Finbarr Bermingham, SCMP (July 2025)
Credits:
Audio transition: Sound Soul (This Logo Reveal) by Diamond_Tunes via Pixabay
Clip of Deputy Alan Kelly's speech at the Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, Nov 19th, 2025 provided courtesy of the Houses of the Oireachtas. © Houses of the Oireachtas, 2025
Clip of Comissioner Michael McGrath’s speech on the EU Democracy Shield provided courtesy of the European Parliament Multimedia Centre. © European Union, 2025 – Source: EP.
#Ireland, #IrishPolitics, #Democracy, #Geopolitics, #ForeignPolicy, #China, #CCP, #ChinaInfluence, #Hybridthreats, #Cybersecurity, #EU, #NationalSecurity, #Podcast, #PodcastEpisode
