In uncertain times, China ‘needs new vision’ for Europe relationship

Beijing may need a different approach to reinvigorate ties with the EU as the bloc readjusts its policy, analyst says

But the country is not expected to soften its stand on moves it sees as challenging its ‘red lines’

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Relations between China and the European Union have been strained over issues including human rights in Xinjiang. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:00pm, 14 Aug 2021Updated: 9:13pm, 14 Aug 2021

China may have to come up with a new approach to its changing relationship with Europe, analysts say, though that is not likely to include a softer stand on challenges to its “red lines”.

They expect Beijing will keep pushing for more cooperation with the European Union, despite rising tensions with the bloc over issues including the pandemic and human rights. But it may have to do more to improve ties at a time of uncertainty, as Germany, France and Hungary all head towards elections.

“The upcoming elections are pieces of a wider puzzle that is the ongoing process of the EU’s readjustment of its China policy,” said Grzegorz Stec, an analyst with the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Berlin.

“Regardless of the electoral outcomes, China would need to propose to the EU a new vision of relations if it wants to reinvigorate its ties with the bloc,” he said. “Trying to maintain the status quo by insisting on labelling the EU-China relations a ‘comprehensive strategic partnership’ and paying selective lip service to the European strategic autonomy will not be enough.”

The relationship is facing “unprecedented” change, according to Sun Qi, an international relations specialist at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

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