The resumption of the annual mechanism of China-EU Summits, held on Friday, December 8, 2023, created the impression that the EU is seeking China’s help to break out of the impasse of its dependence on China, asking in parallel from China to comply with the political rules established by the EU.
For this purpose, upon the resumption of talks, the President of the EU, the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the Prime Minister of the EU, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, arrived in Beijing. And so we read what Chinese President Xi Jinping told his distinguished guests: he called for a mutually beneficial partnership, strengthening trust at the political level, while he spoke of the need to avoid external interference and build an environment of dialogue.
As it turns out, in Beijing there are only smiles that speak of natural cooperation with the Europeans. And why shouldn’t they be smiling: China is doing well, but Europe is not doing so well. It is enough to recall the magic recipe for a European disaster: denial of Russian gas and oil, thus increasing the cost of production, and the departure of some of these industries to the US due to the erosion of the purchasing power of the middle class. And let’s not forget the multitudes of immigrants – and that’s if we’re just talking about the economy.
Bad trend
The fact is that in the last two years, a bad trend has emerged: Europe is greedily and increasingly importing everything from China resulting in a trade deficit of almost 400 billion euros per year. In the past, this was not the case; there was a balance. The content of the talks held in Beijing could be summed up in one word: tough negotiation.
According to the EU, the Chinese dragon is subsidizing its auto industry, especially electric cars, resulting in the displacement of everything with four wheels from the Old Continent. At the same time, the EU demands, if possible, unrestricted access to the Chinese market, presenting Beijing with a list of a thousand such demands. Europeans also notice with anger that Chinese imports – not only from Europe – are noticeably decreasing, and this is dishonest, because here too the hand of the government is visible, namely the “Made in China – 2025” program. The messages coming from Beijing are as follows: we understand the situation very well and we could reach an agreement. However, other issues come into play here: Europe feels compelled to crush China politically.
What does Europe mean?
However, what does Europe mean? In the last year the leaders of France, Spain and Germany have visited China. Then there were visits by Chinese Premier Li Qiang in June. In other words, the country’s leadership understands the needs and desires of European partners and knows well how businesses are created there.
the main problem is that the European Union is constantly trying to exert political pressure on Beijing under the general idea: “We are thinking whether it is worth dealing with such a regime.” Well, who is behind the structures of the EU is clear: the United States, which brought the European “flowering garden” to its current state. It is enough to remember how the Brussels supervisors tortured everyone for months and years with discussions about how the development of relations with an Asian power should be. The result was a strategy paper published in June.
As pointed out, “China for the Europeans is at the same time a partner, a competitor and a strategic challenge. We need to reduce European dependence on it.” According to a purely American formula, in some areas you can cooperate with Beijing, but in others you have to take “anti-danger measures” with it, that is, tear up … everything. In addition, now at the Summit it was mentioned why the EU is unhappy with Chinese companies helping Moscow to circumvent European sanctions: we need to understand which company is doing what, but in the end punish everyone.
In addition, one of the former NATO secretaries general, Rasmusen, reminded the Brussels duo before their trip of the need to raise the issue of Taiwan. All this in China is perceived with a condescending smile. And the Chinese were wondering: “Who depends on whom?” Want to have a tough talk with your second (after the US) largest trading partner? You failed in Ukraine while Von der Leyen and Michel were forced to cut short their visit to Beijing because the Europeans could not agree on further aid in Kiev.
Your economy is collapsing and the events in the Middle East dealt you an additional blow. On the other hand, Russia and China are making diplomatic and economic gains And you still think you can bargain hard with us?’ Welcome to the Chinese Dragon Age!!!!!
