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Ursula von der Leyen

Ursula von der Leyen is a prominent German politician currently serving as President of the European Commission, a role she has held since 2019. She was re-elected for a second term in July 2024. Prior to this influential European position, she had a distinguished career in German federal politics, notably as Minister for Family Affairs and Youth (2005-2009), Minister for Labour and Social Affairs (2009-2013) and the first female Minister for Defence (2013-2019). A medical doctor by training, her leadership at the Commission has focused on initiatives like the European Green Deal and coordinating the EU’s response to global challenges.

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, visit the Forbidden City. Photo: AP/Pool

China-France relations

Macron bypasses EU in bid to boost France-China ties

French President Emmanuel Macron left Ursula von der Leyen in Europe, as European leaders sidestep the EU and seek to boost bilateral ties with China.

4 Dec 2025 - 5:07PM

China-France relations

China and France should ‘understand and support each other’, Xi tells Macron

4 Dec 2025 - 8:15PM

Ursula von der Leyen

Macron bypasses EU in bid to boost France-China ties

French President Emmanuel Macron left Ursula von der Leyen in Europe, as European leaders sidestep the EU and seek to boost bilateral ties with China.

China and France should ‘understand and support each other’, Xi tells Macron

Back to the drawing board: EU revives faltering China de-risking plans

EU abandons WTO case against China over alleged coercion of Lithuania

Brussels ends its challenge after saying flows have resumed, though critics note Lithuanian exports to China remain far below 2021 levels.

EU’s von der Leyen won’t go to China with French President Macron

The absence of an EU leader from talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping would represent a break with recent tradition.

US and Ukraine refine draft of peace plan under Trump deadline pressure

Talks on a 28-point proposal to end Russia’s war held in Geneva after Trump set a Thursday deadline for Ukraine to approve the plan.

Europe seeks common ground with Indo-Pacific nations bruised by US-China rivalry

Senior officials and diplomats from Asia, Africa and the Pacific will attend a forum in Brussels. Beijing and Washington aren’t invited.

EU recalibrates on China as it seeks rare earths breakthrough

Official sources say Brussels is in ‘de-escalation mode’ as it tries to convince Beijing to issue more export licences for critical minerals.

7 minutes on Asia: Europe’s struggle for relevance in the age of Trump’s ‘G2’

A brief discussion on the Indo-Pacific suggests a union that is increasingly peripheral – on China and arguably almost everything else.

Will EU ‘play hardball’ in US-China rivalry? Brussels faces division on autonomy

China’s efforts to persuade EU to treat ties ‘as a strategic partnership are reaching their limits’, says former diplomat Cui Hongjian.

Opinion | Hopes of EU-China reset back amid US-China truce – but will it last?

Easing of pressure from Trump and signs of an end to Chinese subsidies for EVs could see the EU return to a softer diplomatic engagement.

Opinion | The quiet US-China tech contest for the future

The competition will be decided by who builds the most productive, trusted and durable infrastructure. Those choices will shape billions of lives.

Caught between China and the US, Europe stumbles towards its independence day

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen is leading a growing chorus for action but progress remains slow.

Chinese premier urges EU to steer ties in ‘right direction’ amid trade discord

Also on Asean sidelines, Beijing’s No 2 official calls for deeper economic cooperation with Australia despite recent air encounter.

Von der Leyen vows to strike back against China as EU feels rare earths squeeze

The bloc is ready to use all of the tools at its disposal in response to Beijing’s export controls, commission chief says.

EU takes tentative step toward using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine

Leaders left the door open for a US$162 billion financing plan as Zelensky pushes, arguing: ‘Russia brought war to our land and they have to pay’.

EU sanctions state-linked Chinese oil companies over Russia war support

Beijing slams latest punishment ensnaring 15 entities, reiterating it ‘has never provided lethal weapons to any party to the conflict’.

China agrees to crisis talks in Brussels to discuss rare earths compromise

EU trade chief to meet Chinese counterpart to find ‘urgent solutions’ to China’s tightening of its restrictions on rare earth exports.

My Take | The times of giants are gone and a new ‘century of humiliation’ awaits Europe

China has mistakenly thought the European Union could play a greater and more independent role in world affairs, not necessarily to tilt towards Beijing but to stop being a lapdog to Washington.

EU’s von der Leyen survives 2 no confidence challenges

The EU chief weathered two no confidence votes in parliament amid discontent over policy and transparency.

Eyeing China, EU unveils sweeping measures to shield struggling steel industry

If approved, plan tackling overcapacity would slash tariff-free quotas by nearly half and double duties on excess shipments to 50 per cent.

Israel shells Gaza on war anniversary, amid Hamas talks on Trump plan

Trump’s plan offers hope amid ongoing conflict and devastation, but ceasefire hopes remain uncertain.

Ukraine’s Zelensky warns Europe that Russia is looking to ‘escalate’ war

Leaders from nearly 50 European nations met in Copenhagen under tight security after mystery drone flights rattled Denmark.

Explainer | EU eyes building ‘drone wall’: question is, what is it?

A plan to boost defences after repeated air incursions by Moscow appears to mean different things to different countries.

EU leaders back ‘drone wall’ to repel Russia after airspace violations

France detains Russian-linked tanker crew as recent intrusions by drones and fighter planes fuel security concerns.

‘Startling’: EU accused of sacrificing forests for trade deal with Indonesia

Environmentalists suspect the EU caved to pressure over its landmark anti-deforestation law to secure a trade deal with Indonesia.

EU said to be preparing to hit China with 20 new anti-dumping probes

They will be ‘opened consecutively in the coming weeks’, according to former European trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom.

Von der Leyen softens tone as EU seeks China’s help on Ukraine war, climate

European leader urges Beijing to help ‘stop the killing’ in Ukraine, but pledges support on climate.