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The EU should produce its own Chinese policy, not according to the confrontation attitude of Trump’s administration, Spanish Foreign Minister, because Brussels is trying to adapt to the recent Washington hostility towards European allies.
Some EU capital suggested the acceptance of an American Falcon attitude about China to bow to President Donald Trump, but others warn of the endangerment of the block economic relations with Beijing.
“Europe must make its own decisions on its own. And we have to decide when China can be a partner and when China is a competitor, “José Manuel Albares told the Financial Times.
“We can definitely have a dialogue with a country that I consider to be our natural ally, the United States. But Europe has to make its own decisions, “he said.
Rift between Trump and Europe deepened in recent days after the reach of the US president to Russia and terrible remarks of Ukraine and its leader Vodimir Zelenskyy. Trump’s administration also suggested that it could withdraw its security guarantee from Europe and play a Russian threat to the continent.
27 EU Member States do not have a unique position on China, but the block relationship was strained by trade issues and Beijing support to Russia in his war in Ukraine.
During Trump’s first term of office and even under his predecessor Joe Biden, the European Commission and Key Capital were under pressure to take a more hawk attitude toward Beijing. Bloc marked China with a “system rival” in 2019.
However, in the sign of potential EU-kine, the president of the Ursula von der Leyen commission has called for a new effort to improve the relationship between Brussels and Beijing earlier this month.
Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister SpainActively courtship of Chinese investments, twice encountered with President XI Jinping in Beijing in the last two years and creating discomfort in some European capital with its warm overtures.
Last October EU has imposed tariffs up to 45 percent on Chinese electric vehiclesbut the move caused deep divisions in the block. Sánchez said in September that the plan should be “reconsidering”, and Spain eventually refrained in a key vote. Germany and Hungary voted against the tariff.
When China “can be a partner – let’s take advantage of it,” Albares said. “When we can be a competitor, we must protect our citizens and our industry.”
“Let’s not forget that, because of their demographics, China, their size, (to be) a permanent member of the Security Council, is also necessary for things vital, for example, as well as climate change. So, we have to have an engagement.”
Another senior Spanish official said “we will not choose sides” between the US -ai China. But some EU allies are concerned that the government guided by a socialist path has not studied China as thoroughly as other EU powers.
Madrid, who is worried about the future of his car industry, has delighted two Chinese investments in the production of lithium batteries. In December, Chinese Catl said he would build a 4 billion euro plant with Stellantis in Zaragoza, while Aesc, owned by the Chinese show, plans a factory in Cáceres.
Madrid is also eager for avoiding a disorder of pork product exports to China, which binds more meat from Spain than anywhere else last year.
Chinese officials are regularly developed by their European counterparts because they have not been independent enough in their foreign policy from now -they seek to share their opinions among EU countries on China.
During his visit to Europe last year, XI praised the praise of the Government adapted China in Serbia and Hungary, the latter of which was received by large Chinese investments in the automotive industry.
Some Chinese scientists have said that Beijing will be careful for EU members to trigger attempts to renew their bonds with the earth, considering such moves as the “protection tactic” against Trump.
“This would be a kind of pressure tactic against Europe against the American side:” If you push me too much, I’ll lean toward China. During the first Trump administration, the same situation happened, “said Zhu Feng, Dean of the School of International Studies at Nanjing University.
“I don’t think Trump’s shock will eventually completely configure great relations of power. I think China will keep a cold head,” he said.