The Chinese national flag (left) and the European Union (EU) flag. (Photo: AFP/VNA)
After a stop in Japan to strengthen regional partnerships, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas arrived in Beijing to attend the EU-China Summit on 24 July, marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two sides.
But rather than a symbolic celebration of long-standing bilateral ties, this year’s summit reflected deepening differences, as trade, supply chains and the conflict in Ukraine overshadowed any confidence-building efforts.
“Partner” - “Systemic Competitor”
In 2019, the EU officially identified China for the first time in its “Strategic Vision” with three parallel roles: “cooperative partner,” “competitor,” and “systemic rival.”
However, according to many experts, the emphasis on the phrase “systemic rival” not only reflects a change in perception, but also unintentionally obscures common interests and hinders the possibility of constructive dialogue.
“If the EU really wants to become an independent pole of power in the emerging multipolar world order, then the prerequisite is to build relations with China on the basis of principles and long-term interests, not just on prejudice or strategic alignment with the US,” warned Gerhard Stahl, former Secretary General of the EU’s Committee of the Regions.
This statement reflects deep concerns within the EU: Can Europe maintain strategic autonomy in the context of increasingly fierce US-China competition?
EU-China bilateral relations have faced major challenges in recent years.
The stalled Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) due to human rights disputes, mutual sanctions, and pressure from the US has seriously eroded trust between the two sides.
The EU is deeply concerned about China's state-run economic model, which Brussels says is characterised by subsidised businesses, limited market access and opaque competition rules.
In contrast, Beijing believes that the EU is applying double standards, ignoring China's reform efforts and increasingly tightening the presence of Chinese businesses in Europe in the name of "national security."
The disagreements between the two sides also spread to strategic issues such as Taiwan, the role of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the Indo-Pacific, or the conflict in Ukraine.
Faced with that reality, the EU is facing two difficult choices: continuing to accompany the US in its policy of confronting China, or trying to establish its own stance, based on conditional cooperation and principled dialogue.
Mr. Stahl believes that in order to avoid being caught up in the vortex of confrontation between major powers, the EU needs to proactively rebuild trust with China.
Specifically, it is necessary to promote fair market access, protect intellectual property rights, expand green industrial cooperation, and play a constructive role in reforming global institutions such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), or the United Nations (UN).
“China may be a rival in some areas, but it is also an indispensable partner in addressing global challenges such as climate change, artificial intelligence (AI) governance, and ensuring secure supply chains,” he stressed.
One of the thorny issues today is the trade balance tilted heavily towards China, with the EU's deficit reaching more than 400 billion euros in 2023.
While European businesses face many barriers in the Chinese market, Beijing still boosts exports thanks to subsidies and protection of state-owned enterprises.
EC President Ursula von der Leyen has bluntly described the current relationship as “unbalanced and unsustainable.” She called on China to expand market access and loosen controls on strategic materials, which are key to the digital and green energy transitions the EU is pursuing.
However, the EU's deep dependence on China in clean technology, electric vehicles, permanent magnets and rare minerals makes "de-China" unlikely.
Any climate deal with Beijing risks being strategically passive, with a partner that is not entirely trustworthy, according to Byford Tsang, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).
On the other hand, the Ukraine issue continues to be the biggest dividing point in EU-China relations.
Despite Beijing’s claims of neutrality, its continued trade with sanctioned Russian entities, its supply of dual-use goods, and its echoing of some Kremlin rhetoric have led the EU to question China’s commitment to “not taking sides.”
Brussels' move to add a series of Chinese companies to its latest sanctions list has drawn a backlash from Beijing.
Amid growing US-China competition, the EU is trying to adjust its strategy to avoid being drawn into a full-blown confrontation while protecting its security and economic interests.
This EU-China summit is no longer a mere celebration, but a moment of reality check: the two sides are standing at different strategic crossroads.
As Brussels tries to reconcile economic interests and geopolitical values, Beijing remains steadfast in pursuing its own national priorities.
Dialogue, while still necessary, is no longer the magic bullet it once was. Without building a mechanism for coordinating interests based on respect and concrete commitments, EU-China relations will continue to fall into a state of soft confrontation, despite half a century of engagement./.
According to VNA
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/hoi-nghi-thuong-dinh-eu-trung-quoc-lua-duong-truoc-nga-re-255903.htm
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