• The 27-nation bloc had three hours of strategic discussions.
• EU struggles to develop a unified attitude towards Beijing.
• It is torn between the need to get access to Chinese markets and criticism of human rights violations.

Leaders of the European Union have issued a warning against engaging in a conflict with China and causing a deterioration in relations, but they have also vowed to defend their values and independence in dealings with Beijing.

The 27-nation bloc had three hours of strategic discussions on its approach to China during a summit on Friday in Brussels, as President Xi Jinping strengthens his hold over a steadily more assertive Beijing.

The EU has struggled to develop a unified attitude towards Beijing because it is torn between the need to get access to China’s sizable markets and the criticism of its human rights violations in the Xinjiang region, as well as its assertive tactics in Hong Kong and towards Taiwan.

On Friday, summit host and EU Council President Charles Michel remarked, “This conversation demonstrated a very clear determination to avoid being foolish, but neither did we want to engage into a logic of systematic conflict [with China].”

In light of the growing rivalry between China and the United States, Michel argued that the bloc had to build its “own model.”

According to Michel, “We will always be steadfast in standing up to protect our beliefs, democracy, and fundamental liberties.”

The EU has recognized China as a partner, an economic opponent, and a structural rival since 2019.

According to a paper on EU foreign policy created for the summit, Beijing should now be seen largely as a rival that is pushing “an alternative vision of the world order.”

Beijing is “continuing its quest to strengthen its domination in East Asia and its influence globally,” according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. She also issued a warning regarding the close links between China and Russia, despite the fact that Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine was denounced on a global scale.

The EU-China relationship will be impacted by these changes, according to von der Leyen.

The EU is particularly concerned about avoiding becoming reliant on China for essential raw materials and technologies, as it did with Russia. Obviously, when it comes to dependents, we must exercise extreme caution. And we’ve realized our mistake,” added von der Leyen.

A spokesperson for China’s Mission to the EU responded to the remarks made by EU leaders late on Friday, saying that the “deeply ideological remarks” were the opinions of some individuals who “cling to the bloc politics mindset, priding their own values as the absolute truth and wantonly imposing their ideology on others.”

The spokesperson issued a statement that read, “China…equally opposes and advises all to keep vigilant to the escalating clamor for ideological confrontation, which might lead to tensions or even confrontations among civilizations.”

The spokeswoman stated that China is dedicated to world peace, friendship, and collaboration and that “China and the EU are partners rather than rivals and that China-EU cooperation far outweighs our competition.”

Strategic mistakes

The disparate economic interests of its members have made it difficult for the EU to portray a single face to China.

French President Emmanuel Macron demanded a level playing field between Beijing and the EU, saying, “We have made strategic mistakes in the past with the selling of infrastructure to China.”

Following the summit on Friday, Olaf Scholz, the head of the bloc’s economic powerhouse Germany, declared that he would be sending a government delegation to China the following month. It will be an EU leader’s first trip to the nation since November 2019.

There is broad agreement, according to Scholz. “No one is arguing that we can no longer import from China or make investments there,”

However, some leaders were hesitant regarding Scholz’s impending visit.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated that it is in China’s and Russia’s interests for us to be split.

We should unify and speak with one voice because it is in our best interests.

The EU’s consideration of China comes as a senior US general issued a warning this week that Washington had to be prepared to retaliate in the event that Taiwan is invaded as early as this year.

When questioned about the EU’s preparations in case Taiwan was invaded, Michel steadfastly declined to make any “prophecy in the military field.”

In the strategy document the EU produced for the summit, member states were advised to alert China of “potential consequences” if it attempted to annex Taiwan by force.

In order to ensure that it was “on the right side of history” regarding Russia’s conflict with Ukraine, Latvia’s Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said it was crucial for the EU to also communicate with China.

When we are 27 instead of when we are one on one with China, he remarked, is the ideal time to deal with China.

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