TOPIC

China-EU relations

China-EU relations
Breaking news, analysis and opinion on relations between China and the European Union, covering trade, investment, policy, the Belt and Road Initiative and wider issues such as the US-China trade war and human rights.
Open Questions series

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

7
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

videocam
5
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

videocam
18
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

videocam
93
Illustration: Henry Wong

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

videocam
40
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

US-China rivalry doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game: Jessica Chen Weiss

videocam
29
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

7
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

videocam
5
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

videocam
18
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

videocam
93
Illustration: Henry Wong

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

videocam
40
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

US-China rivalry doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game: Jessica Chen Weiss

videocam
29
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
Labourers work on an assembly line at a factory in Chongqing, China, in May. Beijing has pressed German carmakers to help resolve disputes over the European Union’s anti-subsidy tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Photo: EPA-EFE
China trade

China leans on German carmakers to help break Brussels tariff deadlock

Commerce vice-minister urges German industry leaders to leverage their clout to push the European Commission towards a compromise on the anti-subsidy probe.

France

Opinion | In reaching out to China, European states can’t keep acting alone

videocam
China trade

Macron’s trade ultimatum to China goes public: fix surplus or face tariffs

79
Electric & new energy vehicles

‘A big opportunity’: why Spain’s new electric car plan hands an opening to China

Madrid’s ambitious strategy may hinge on attracting more Chinese investment, giving China’s firms greater leverage, analysts say.

videocam
The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra electric car is displayed at the 2025 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Chinese electric vehicle brands have rapidly gained ground in Europe in recent months. Photo: Xinhua
European Union

Editorial | Macron’s visit to China a counterpoint to rising tensions

Agreements signed during the trip reflect evolving trade and economic relations, with France now in the market for Chinese technology.

China-Germany relations

Why top German diplomat’s China trip aims to manage rivalry but won’t reset ties

Critical minerals and Ukraine war expected to be top priorities as Germany’s foreign minister travels to China.

45
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
China-Germany relations

The great slowdown: Germany at a standstill as ‘China shock’ hits

As Europe’s biggest economy is pummelled by structural problems and external threats, rocky China ties are compounding the dreary picture.

videocam
46
Illustration: Brian Wang
Nexperia

Dutch minister admits he was blindsided by China in Nexperia chip crisis

Karremans faces criticism after Beijing choked off chip flows and scrutiny of his move to invoke a Cold War-era security law.

videocam
China-France relations

China and France agree to work together on nuclear issues as Macron visit ends

The two sides express support for non-proliferation and efforts to bring about peace in Ukraine and Gaza.

4
China trade

Explainer | The return of Red Sea shipping: 3 scenarios for Chinese trade

Houthi rebels have signalled a halt in attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, allowing a possible end to costly detours.

videocam
A container ship crosses the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea in 2023. Cargo ships have largely avoided the area in recent years due to attacks by Houthi rebel groups. Photo: EPA-EFE
China trade

As Macron eyes China deals to revive industry, trade shows tables have turned

China once exported cheap goods to Europe – now, French leader urges its firms to transfer tech expertise.

videocam
23
France’s President Emmanuel Macron looks on next to President Xi Jinping following a signing ceremony for agreements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on December 4. Photo: AFP
China-France relations

Macron bypasses EU in bid to boost France-China ties

French President Emmanuel Macron left Ursula von der Leyen in Europe, as European leaders sidestep the EU and seek to boost bilateral ties with China.

China-France relations

China and France should ‘understand and support each other’, Xi tells Macron

The pair meet in Beijing for ‘candid and fruitful’ talks followed by the signing of 12 deals covering everything from nuclear power to pandas.

26
US-China relations

Most Europeans want to keep same distance between US and China, poll finds

Some 55 per cent of those surveyed would rather not align with either superpower, while 48 per cent saw Trump as ‘a foe of Europe’.

10
One-fifth of respondents in nine EU member countries said they would prefer to align with the US over China. Photo: AP
Mainland China

Back to the drawing board: EU revives faltering China de-risking plans

Twin proposals aim to boost economic arsenal while cutting China dependence as 27-nation bloc fights for survival in era of trade warfare.

videocam
25
EU flags flutter outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels. The bloc aims to use its existing economic tools more aggressively and with overall resilience objectives in mind. Photo: Reuters
China-France relations

Macron begins China visit with EU trade ties and Ukraine war high on the agenda

The French president lands in Beijing on the first leg of a tour where he is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

videocam
15
Emmanuel Macron

Explainer | From pandas to nuclear power: what Macron wants from his trip to China

The French president is coming to Beijing with a large delegation looking to do business. Here are the key areas to watch for potential deals.

videocam
8
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Lithuania

EU abandons WTO case against China over alleged coercion of Lithuania

Brussels ends its challenge after saying flows have resumed, though critics note Lithuanian exports to China remain far below 2021 levels.

videocam
10
The Lithuanian embassy in Beijing was closed in 2021 at the height of the row between Vilnius and Beijing over relations with Taiwan. Photo: Reuters
Mainland China

1 in 3 European firms in China hit by export controls plan to divert sourcing

Survey finds that most firms expect to be affected by China’s export controls, with many bracing for higher costs and long shipping delays.

videocam
China-France relations

Macron wants ties based on Europe being ‘a major partner of China’, source says

French president aims to establish framework for relations ‘that serves mutual interests’ during China trip, according to Elysee source.

videocam
19
Emmanuel Macron

EU’s von der Leyen won’t go to China with French President Macron

The absence of an EU leader from talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping would represent a break with recent tradition.

28
French President Emmanuel Macron (left) will be heading to China without European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: AFP
Nexperia

China, EU shift Nexperia strategy: let the companies work it out

Wang Wentao shifts focus to the boardroom but warns the Dutch government must still scrap the executive order and court ruling fuelling the crisis.

videocam
5
Flags fly next to a logo of Nexperia at the facade of its factory in Guangdong province amid a chip-supply shortage caused by a diplomatic standoff between China and the Netherlands over the company. Photo: Reuters
Belgium

France’s Emmanuel Macron to meet Xi Jinping during China trip next week

French president will meet his Chinese counterpart as part of a three-day visit from December 3, with two stops in Beijing and Chengdu.

videocam
17
China consumption

After peaking, decline of China’s European wine imports worries makers

Chinese drinkers are spending less amid an economic slowdown, diluting the profits of Europe’s fine wine producers.

videocam
21
European Union

Opinion | Stumbling Germany needs a clear strategy on China

Berlin must ditch the fantasy that it can profit without strategic risks, stop acting like a junior partner and decide what it stands for.

videocam
Friedrich Merz attends a federal executive committee meeting for the first time as German chancellor, at the Konrad-Adenauer-Haus in Berlin, on May 19. Photo: EPA-EFE
Germany

German foreign minister in ‘last stages of coordinating’ trip to China

Johann Wadephul also states he backs a speedier form of de-risking and diversifying away from Beijing’s stronghold on critical minerals.

videocam
5
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is “confident” of rescheduled trip soon, after October visit was hastily cancelled. Photo: AFP
Nexperia

Opinion | Netherlands’ Nexperia blunder shows it has forgotten its own history

The Netherlands’ pragmatic approach – separating commercial interests from geopolitical alignment – once made it a friend to all.

videocam
4
Germany

EU ministers court Trump on joint China policy, even as public scepticism grows

European officials lobby American counterparts to ‘push back’ on Beijing together, while German poll shows wariness towards Washington.

videocam
26
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement