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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

Wu Shicun on why Beijing will not rule out Scarborough Shoal construction

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Economist James Heckman on the value of risk-taking, and China’s ‘common goal’

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

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

Wu Shicun on why Beijing will not rule out Scarborough Shoal construction

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28
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Economist James Heckman on the value of risk-taking, and China’s ‘common goal’

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7
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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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Swiss President Guy Parmelin clinched the FTA expansion deal in talks in Bern on Thursday. Photo: Handout
China trade

China and Switzerland have a new trade agreement. What does it mean for the EU?

The move, seen by analysts as a signal to the EU, will eventually double duty-free coverage included in 12-year-old free-trade agreement.

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Semiconductors

Cut off from Europe, Nexperia China eyes self-reliance through domestic wafers

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Yuan

Opinion | Deutsche Bank’s yuan mandate boosts Chinese currency’s global reach

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China trade

European wine producers seek new markets as China sales dream sours

Imports of bottled wine from the EU fell 16.6 per cent by volume in the first half of this year, according to Chinese customs data.

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Bottles of wine at a trade fair in Bordeaux, Photo: Reuters
China energy security

In Focus | China, the US and EU are taking separate climate paths – but are any dead ends?

As Beijing enacts a state-led approach to climate adaptation, Washington leans on the private sector and Brussels tries to chart a middle way.

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Malta

China’s trade grip tightens in Europe as clock ticks towards October deadline

As Brussels continues its push to rebalance ties, the latest data show China’s trade surplus expanded over all but three EU members in July.

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Artificial intelligence

The Mistral paradox: Europe’s push for tech sovereignty relies on China’s Z.ai

AI race contender’s decision to offer GLM-5.2 a sign of how European political and commercial incentives can pull in different directions.

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French company Mistral AI’s decision to offer a Chinese large language model has raised eyebrows against a backdrop of tense EU-China trade relations. Photo: Shutterstock
Mainland China

China blocks firms from aiding EU’s JD.com probe as regulatory clash deepens

Chinese justice and commerce ministries order the ban in a joint statement condemning ‘undue extraterritorial jurisdiction measures’.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s PHEVs gain traction in Spain amid EU tariffs, lack of EV charging hubs

Spain is one of the fastest-growing markets for Chinese plug-in hybrid vehicles as customers’ technological expectations shift gears.

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China-Latin America relations

US accuses 9 Latin American countries of helping China avoid Trump’s tariffs

More than 40 countries targeted for helping Beijing illegally avoid tariffs by rerouting trade via nations with lower American import duties.

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Chinese container ship Cosco Shipping Rose docks at the Panama Canal’s Cocoli locks in Panama City. The White House has accused nine Latin American economies of helping Beijing illegally evade US tariffs by rerouting trade through countries with lower US import duties. Photo: AP
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese carmakers could capture 15% to 30% of European market by 2035: analysts

‘Made in Europe’ requirement in EU’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act cited as key factor in lowest growth forecast.

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Cars destined for export await loading onto BYD’s Shenzhen car carrier at the port in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, in April. Photo: AFP
China-Africa relations

How Africa is becoming a ‘strategic hub’ for Chinese industrial expansion

Countries including Zimbabwe and Guinea are ending the pit-to-ship model that saw them exporting raw minerals with limited local gains.

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China trade

EU’s new packaging rules leave China’s traders feeling boxed in

As trade tensions rise, Brussels has implemented new rules aimed at reducing packaging waste, with the threat of fines and bans for non-compliance.

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United States

China pitches AI models to Europe. Is it enough to avoid 2-horse race with US?

The two big tech powers are well ahead of the competition. The question now is whether a third big player can emerge.

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China is seeking closer cooperation with European countries on AI. Photo: Xinhua
Electric & new energy vehicles

Driven off the road: Nio’s German car registrations down 90%

In contrast to its Chinese peers, Nio is struggling in Europe’s largest car market, registering just three cars last month and 18 this year.

Nio cars at a dealership in Stuttgart, Germany. The company is struggling in Europe's largest car market, registering just three cars in July and 18 in total so far this year. Photo: Shutterstock
China manufacturing

Scholar rebuts claims state subsidies caused China’s industrial overcapacity

In People’s Daily commentary piece, Cui Fan says ‘reasonable industrial subsidies … are a globally recognised and legitimate policy tool’.

Spain

Can Europe stay united in China trade battle? Ceuta crisis offers a warning

The recent row over migration and Spain’s border policy suggests it may be hard for the bloc to stand together under pressure from Beijing.

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China exports

Beyond compliance: zero-carbon estates give China’s battery makers a global edge

With the EU’s binding carbon cap taking effect as early as 2028, the route to compliance for Chinese firms could offer a long-term advantage.

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A lithium battery production line at a factory in Huaibei, in eastern China’s Anhui province. Photo: AFP
China-Germany relations

Germans emerge as Europe’s biggest China hawks as economic pain begins to bite

Some 49 per cent of those polled see China as a rival or adversary while just 38 per cent see the nation in positive terms, new survey finds.

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US-China trade war

China’s retaliation against US shows depth of its trade war strategy: analysts

Beijing’s latest export controls and sanctions against American companies show its ‘countermeasures framework and toolkit have come of age’.

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Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong urged to be ‘super partner’ in businesses’ overseas expansion push

Chinese General Chamber of Commerce chief Jonathan Choi says city should invest and operate abroad, while urging annual review of first five-year plan.

The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce has urged Hong Kong to invest and operate overseas, not just connect businesses, as well as include an annual review of its first five-year plan to keep development on track. Photo: Jelly Tse
US-China trade war

Opinion | Chinese and Western firms are teaming up even as governments fight

To survive trade restrictions and regulatory barriers, companies on both sides are turning to joint ventures.

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Ford Motor Company employees attend an event after a meeting at which they were informed of the agreement with Geely Automobile Holdings, at the Ford factory in Almusafes, near Valencia, Spain, on July 23. Photo: Xinhua
China trade

What would a German audit for Chinese supply chain dependencies find?

Although many analysts deem the search long overdue, they warn that German leverage would be both hard to implement and short-lived.

China-Latin America relations

Chile’s Kast courts China day after US hits exports with forced labour tariff

Chilean president, who campaigned on aligning Chile with Trump, meets Beijing delegation as his party claims Washington cannot be trusted.

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SCMP Exclusives

Exclusive | Top EU diplomat Kallas expected to visit Beijing amid deepest strains in years

It will be Kaja Kallas’ first solo trip to China since taking on her role in 2024.

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas ahead of their meeting in Brussels in July 2025. Photo: Reuters
Belgium

EU-China trade: Beijing turns the screws as Brussels tests limits of restraint

Latest sanctions suggest Chinese effort to ramp up pressure on Europe and strike fear into member states before crunch time in October.

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Europe’s biggest defence company, Rheinmetall, is among 14 EU entities on China’s export ban list. Photo: AFP
Automotive industry

Sino-German auto talks focus on smart EV standards amid trade tensions

The push for cooperation comes as Chinese carmakers seek to validate their driverless technology in European markets.

China economy

Opinion | Can the West really decouple from China?

Instead of trying to ‘catch up’, Western economies should focus on boosting resilience in key sectors without disrupting global supply chains.

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