The 24th China-EU summit, held on December 7, marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the Chinese mainland and the European Union. This milestone summit serves as a pivotal moment for defining the future course of China-EU relations in the new era.
Recent developments highlight differing perspectives between the EU and the Chinese mainland. The EU's characterization of China as a \"partner, competitor, and rival\" has sparked criticism from China, which views the EU solely as a partner. This multifaceted approach by the EU has been likened to playing a single game of sport with three different sets of rules, causing tensions and misunderstandings.
In 2023, the EU introduced a \"de-risking strategy,\" raising concerns about its underlying intentions. Critics argue that the EU's penchant for new rhetorical terms without clear definitions reflects a cognitive deficit when it comes to understanding China. This strategy, whether driven by arrogance or fear, signals a period of significant adjustment in China-EU relations.
Furthermore, internal differences within EU institutions have intensified, affecting not only their stance on global flashpoints but also on issues related to China. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel have differing views on international matters, including cooperation with the Chinese mainland.
Amid these challenges, China-EU relations have adopted a new trend characterized by \"hot politics, cold economics.\" Since the end of 2022, numerous European leaders, including Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel Macron, Valdis Dombrovskis, Pedro Sanchez, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Viktor Orban, have visited China, pushing the bilateral relationship to new heights despite the ongoing complexities.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
