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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.
Since Trump’s return, EU leaders have voiced openness to improving ties with China. Photo: AFP
European Union

Editorial | Air begins to clear on better EU-China ties

It would be naive to expect improvement in China-EU relations overnight. But the lifting of some sanctions by Beijing lowers one obstacle.

China consumption

‘It’s crazy’: inside Europe’s growing obsession with Chinese blind-box toys

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US-China relations

Outside In | China’s message on trade deals is clear: multilateral is the only way

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European Union

Europe warned to change fast or become a ‘shock absorber’ of US-China trade war

Continent’s outlook is bleak despite reduced Sino-American tensions as it needs to adapt quickly amid Washington’s efforts, analysts say.

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European governments view the US-China tariff deal as possibly buying them time on what is anticipated to be a wave of diverted Chinese exports to EU ports. Photo: AP
China’s military

China’s defence chief forges Europe ties in Paris, Berlin plus UN peace pledge

Dong Jun’s first European tour concludes with major commitment to United Nations peacekeeping efforts.

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Hungary

‘Red line’: Hungary vows it won’t decouple from China if pushed by Trump

‘Hungary is benefiting from these very intensive Chinese economic and trade relations. We’re not willing to give that up’: Budapest official.

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China-EU investment deal

EU ‘has no interest’ in reviving stalled investment deal with China

Head of bloc’s trade delegation in Beijing tells forum the two sides should focus on Brussels’ long-standing concerns such as overcapacity.

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The EU wants China to address its concerns about state subsidies and overcapacity. Photo: EPA-EFE
China-Germany relations

Germany’s new chancellor to pursue ‘strategic de-risking’ from China

With ‘international order changing profoundly’, Friedrich Merz says China’s relations with Russia are an area of ‘great concern’.

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US-China trade war

China is the ‘elephant in the room’ as EU scrutinises US trade deal with Britain

European officials are studying the agreement for signs of how Trump might cajole them into adopting tougher policies on China.

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Xi Jinping

Why EU-China stability is key in a world order ‘under constant attack’

Former top European official Charles Michel says there is room for Brussels to work with Beijing in various areas.

Charles Michel, president of the European Council from 2019 to 2024, says tensions could arise out of the EU and China’s different traditions, cultures and political systems but “stability and predictability is in everyone’s interests”. Photo: AFP
US-China trade war

Sino-US trade tensions dim confidence of EU companies in China

Chamber of commerce president says firms have been able to mitigate direct impact of increased tariffs.

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The Chinese and European Union flags side by side at a summit in Brussels. Photo: AFP
US-China trade war

In Europe, Xi Jinping’s Russia trip casts a shadow over China’s charm offensive

China celebrates 50 years of diplomatic relations with the European Union as the Chinese leader attends Vladimir Putin’s military parade.

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US-ally trade wars

EU to report on Trump-fuelled Chinese trade diversion this month

Will assess impact of US tariffs on Chinese shipments; European Commission also mulls retaliatory levies on US$100 billion worth of US goods.

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Hong Kong courts

Ship captain remanded in custody in Hong Kong over damaging Baltic Sea pipeline

Wan Wenguo, captain of Hong Kong-flagged ship, faces count of criminal damage and two charges for alleged violation of marine by-laws.

Prosecutors held the defendant liable for the damages caused to the 77km Balticconnector, a natural gas pipeline that is a key source of energy for Finland. Photo: Handout
China trade

‘We need all the Chinese tech’: why China could benefit from the EU blackout

China is a leading provider of energy storage and grid-forming technologies that are crucial to preventing major power outages.

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A woman uses her phone’s flashlight while she walks her dog on a pitch-dark street in Vigo, Spain, on April 28. A massive power cut affected the entire Iberian peninsula and parts of southern France on that day. Photo: TNS
China-Germany relations

China-Germany ties enter ‘new chapter’, President Xi says in congratulating Merz

China’s president tells new chancellor their countries’ relationship can ‘guide China-EU cooperation in the right direction’.

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Chinese, EU leaders exchange letters to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties

Two sides are seeing a broader thaw in relations, with Beijing also confirming that it has lifted sanctions on European Parliament members.

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European Union

EU fines TikTok €530 million for China data transfer

TikTok has been in the crosshairs of Western government for years over fears of China using personal data for espionage or propaganda.

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TikTok – a division of Chinese tech giant ByteDance – has its European headquarters in Ireland. Photo: dpa
European Union

Deal or no deal? EU engages US, China on high-wire bargaining act

Europe must navigate between the two powers, knowing that cutting an economic deal with one could make it impossible to do so with the other.

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Diplomacy

China lifts sanctions on EU lawmakers amid transatlantic strains

The move had been telegraphed by a series of meetings between European Parliament president and China’s ambassador to the EU.

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US-China trade war

Global trade war: sparks fly at WTO session over China overcapacity, tariffs

Overproduction focus a ‘waste of time’, Beijing says, stressing real issue is protectionism as US-led group blasts China for alleged subsidies, industrial overflows.

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Yantai Port in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong. Beijing came under fire at a WTO meeting in Geneva on Tuesday for what a US-led group claimed were disruptive trade practices. Photo: Xinhua
Diplomacy

Opinion | As Trump rides roughshod over trade, China is ready to pick up the pieces

China’s message of stable cooperation is resonating as Trump accelerates the birth of a post-US world with rising powers independent of US whims.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
US-China trade war

Opinion | Time for China to align with nations like it’s 1955

The need to unite for fairer international relations has not dissipated. The spirit of the Bandung Conference is a credible counter to ‘America first’.

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China-EU investment deal

EU stays the course on Xinjiang sanctions as China eases up on bloc’s lawmakers

European Union’s diplomatic arm says no plans to reciprocate Beijing’s overture as it has not observed improvements in far western region.

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Diplomacy

European Parliament in ‘final stage’ talks with China to drop lawmaker sanctions

‘It has always been the EP’s intention to have sanctions lifted and resume relations with China,’ spokesperson says.

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European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola, speaks during a debate at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France on 02 April 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE
Greater Bay Area

Hong Kong supporting European business collaboration surge in Qianhai

Escalating US-China trade war has resulted in European business chambers seeking out opportunities in the Greater Bay Area.

Qianhai, a special economic zone in Shenzhen near Hong Kong, has seen a surge of European business chambers seeking collaboration due to the growing tensions of the US-China trade war. Photo: Edmond So
US-China trade war

Is there a ‘silver lining’ for China in the tariff war with the US?

Donald Trump’s trade war may offer Beijing a chance to build bridges with Europe and its Asian neighbours and bolster its image internationally.

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Spain

EU’s ‘trade bazooka’ was meant for China. Could the US be hit instead?

Bloc turns some of the weapons it had trained on Beijing towards Washington for potential use in the erstwhile allies’ worsening trade war.

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