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China-EU relations

China-EU relations
Breaking news, analysis and opinion on relations between China and the European Union, covering trade, investment, policy, the Belt and Road Initiative and wider issues such as the US-China trade war and human rights.
Open Questions series

Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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Illustration: Henry Wong

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

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15
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

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5
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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18
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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Illustration: Henry Wong

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
This week’s summit of EU leaders in Brussels is supposed to be about the bloc’s competitiveness, widely understood as a response to China’s state-backed industrial expansion. Photo: Reuters
Donald Trump

Tariffs and distrust: EU’s bid to ditch China hits capacity problems

‘Thinly spread’ bloc seeks this week to thrash out memorandum on critical minerals with the US, eyeing a more formal instrument down the road.

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Asean

Opinion | Underwater and unprotected: why Asean and the EU must secure subsea lifelines

Germany

Why the ‘China threat’ was barely mentioned in Germany’s latest state election

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European Union

Get realpolitik? Von der Leyen questions Europe’s faith in rules-based order

The EU must become more realistic and interest-driven to keep up with the new world order, bloc chief says.

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Preparations are already under way for a “European Security Strategy”, an approach that will be the cornerstone of Ursula von der Leyen’s vision. Photo: Reuters
Two Sessions 2026

China’s Wang sees ‘landmark year’ in US relations

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the US and China could shorten their ‘list of problems’, while also promoting Beijing as a source of global stability amid the war in Iran.

European Union

Weaponise EU market against China or face manufacturing collapse: official think tank

Beijing’s ‘weakness creates opportunities’ for bloc to use chokepoints and leverage for negotiations, researchers say.

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Two Sessions 2026

Abandon the lonely attic, join the China gym: Wang Yi to Europe

Foreign minister’s comments come at closely watched press conference on ‘two sessions’ sidelines.

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Some analysts see China’s approach in Europe as increasingly focused on engaging national governments and broader public audiences rather than Brussels. Photo: AP
Two Sessions 2026

Takeaways from Foreign Minister Wang Yi at China’s ‘two sessions’

Top diplomat addresses questions on US ties, the Iran crisis, South China Sea disputes and Beijing’s vision for a multipolar world order.

European Union

Opinion | How Europe and China can rise above paralysis and mistrust

Together, Brussels and Beijing can reshape global power into a balance where Europe matters and China gains legitimacy as a responsible power.

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France

From rivals to partners, China and Europe are retooling ties, adviser says

A succession of leaders have beaten a path to Beijing with pragmatic cooperation in mind, according to former ambassador Wu Ken.

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (right) walks the Shanghai Bund with Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle in Shanghai in late January. Photo: dpa
Two Sessions 2026

Beijing vows to expand imports amid ‘China shock’ fears

Beijing promises to source advanced tech, consumer goods and agricultural products from overseas while diversifying markets.

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Commerce Minister Wang Wentao speaks at the 14th National People’s Congress in Beijing on March 6. Photo: AFP
China-Germany relations

Opinion | Merz’s China visit shows pragmatic diplomacy still matters

The German chancellor’s trip to Beijing suggests that Europe can de-risk from China while still pursuing mutually beneficial cooperation.

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Mainland China

China in the crosshairs as EU launches sweeping plans to save industrial future

Proposals reveal EU anxiety over competing with Chinese products, security fears linked to Chinese investments and urgency to act.

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European Union

EU strips AI, chips and quantum from industrial plan aimed at countering China

Leaked draft shows biotechnology and robotics are other cutting-edge sectors to be cut from Industrial Accelerator Act ahead of unveiling.

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While China is directly referred to only twice in 93 pages of legislation and annexes, the act is seen as a crucial prong of Brussels’ efforts to de-risk from the Asian giant. Photo: Shutterstock
US-China trade war

Trump’s tariff wars reshaped US-China trade – at what cost to American firms?

US exporters lost tens of billions of US dollars in sales to China in 2025, economist says.

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US goods exports to China fell significantly in 2025, a victim of the trade war launched in April by US President Donald Trump. Photo: Reuters
European Union

Is Europe, the world’s geopolitical punching bag, ready to hit back?

The EU could land a range of economic blows if it wants to be more than a lightweight, researchers say.

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China exports

As China’s firms go global, foreign expertise is becoming a hot commodity

Chinese companies are rushing to hire a range of service contractors to help them expand overseas – from compliance experts to TikTok gurus.

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European Union

Opinion | Europe is ready for strategic autonomy, but at what cost?

The EU post-war project left Europe lagging behind the US and China. Now, without American protection, the continent must reclaim its edge.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
China-Germany relations

Editorial | Merz’s Beijing trip shows that Germany realises it needs to work with China

Stable bilateral and China-EU relations can only be positive for global stability and sustainable development in an era of turbulence.

Li Qiang

China-EU trade ties are at a crossroads. Could tech bridge the divide?

A hostile Washington is creating openings for a reset – but deep-seated issues remain, analyst says.

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China-Germany relations

Merz’s China tightrope: German leader has warm words, hard questions for Beijing

German chancellor strikes diplomatic tone in Beijing meetings while pushing his hosts on subsidies, currency devaluation and Russia.

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: AP
European Union

EU too slow to act as China rewrites global trade rules, trade chief Sefcovic warns

Commissioner calls for faster trade probes and WTO reform as Brussels confronts overcapacity, subsidies and a US$424 billion deficit.

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Maros Sefcovic said Brussels is reviewing trade defence tools and monitoring imports of Chinese plug-in hybrid vehicles. Photo: AFP
China-Germany relations

‘China shock’ hangs over German leader Merz’s first visit to Beijing

Chancellor must strike a balance between those wanting a toned-down Brussels trade policy and those backing tougher action against Beijing.

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Germany

Opinion | Germany’s outreach to China signals a reckoning, rather than a shift

The German chancellor realises that while China poses a long-term economic challenge, the United States is currently the more disruptive partner.

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The Netherlands

New Dutch government under centrist Jetten takes power

Jetten pulled off a stunning election win in October to dethrone the far-right party led by firebrand politician Geert Wilders.

Ministers of the new three-party minority government pose with King Willem-Alexander (middle right, Prime Minster Rob Jetten (middle left) and Deputy Prime Minister Dilan Yesilgöz (front row right) on the steps of Royal Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague. Photo: AP
Science

EU bans Chinese organisations from critical tech programmes, including AI, chips

Chinese space scientist Wu Ji doubts the policy will hurt China much and may instead ‘make Europe appear more isolated’.

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The EU has barred most organisations based in China from applying for its Horizon Europe grants in “critical areas”. Image: Shutterstock
Friedrich Merz

Merz the latest European leader to visit China amid tensions with US

Trade deficit is likely to be top priority for German chancellor on his first official visit to China since taking office.

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China-Germany relations

Video | China-Germany ties ahead of Merz’s visit

Roles reversed with China, once reliant on German expertise, now on top.

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