europe.chinadaily.com.cn
EU-China Trade Partnership Faces Strain Amidst "De-risking" and Geopolitical Shifts
China and the EU's 50-year economic partnership, marked by trade expansion from \$2.4 billion in 1975 to \$785.8 billion in 2024, is now challenged by the EU's "de-risking" strategy, reflecting growing US alignment and internal divisions within the EU, prompting China to adjust its approach by engaging selectively with individual member states.
- How do the internal political divisions within the EU influence its approach to economic relations with China?
- The EU's growing alignment with the US, reflected in coordinated policies on critical minerals and export controls, challenges its pursuit of an autonomous economic relationship with China. China views this "de-risking" as strategic disengagement, leading to localization efforts and a focus on individual EU member states.
- What are the immediate economic consequences of the EU's "de-risking" strategy for both China and the European Union?
- China-EU trade, booming from \$2.4 billion in 1975 to \$785.8 billion in 2024, is now strained by rising strategic uncertainty and the EU's shift towards "de-risking" its relationship with China. This involves tighter investment screening and supply chain diversification, potentially impacting mutual economic benefits.
- What are the long-term implications for global economic stability if the EU and China fail to manage their growing economic conflicts?
- The EU's internal divisions on China policy, highlighted by the recent debate on tariffs for Chinese electric vehicles (10 member states supported, 5 opposed, 12 abstained), hinder a unified approach. This fragmentation allows China to pursue a more flexible strategy, engaging selectively with individual member states.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article's framing leans slightly towards emphasizing the EU's concerns and anxieties regarding its relationship with China. While it acknowledges China's perspective, the narrative structure tends to focus more on the EU's strategic recalibration and the challenges it faces. The headline, if one were to be created, might emphasize the EU's 'de-risking' strategy more prominently than China's evolving approach. This framing could inadvertently skew the reader's understanding of the situation as primarily an EU-driven problem.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral, employing terms like "strategic recalibration," "de-risking," and "growing unease." While these terms suggest a degree of concern, they avoid overtly loaded language that might unfairly characterize either side. The article maintains a relatively objective tone, presenting both sides' perspectives and concerns.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the EU's perspective and concerns regarding its economic relationship with China. While it mentions China's perspective and actions, it lacks a deep dive into the complexities of the Chinese domestic political landscape and the various factions influencing China's approach to the EU. The internal debates and differing viewpoints within China are not explored in sufficient detail. This omission limits a fully comprehensive understanding of the situation.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat simplified view of the relationship, occasionally framing it as a binary choice between full decoupling and maintaining the status quo. The nuances of potential alternative approaches, such as selective decoupling or targeted cooperation in specific sectors, are not fully explored. This simplification may overemphasize the perceived inevitability of a stark choice.
Sustainable Development Goals
The EU's shift towards "de-risking" and aligning with US policies may lead to increased trade barriers and reduced economic cooperation with China, potentially exacerbating economic inequalities between the EU and China, and within the EU itself. The divergence in EU member states' approaches to China also reflects and may worsen internal economic disparities.