At the European Parliament, von der Leyen waved her fist, declaring admiration for China—leaving the audience utterly silent!
In her speech, she stated that her visit to China “deepened my reverence for the Chinese people,” and asserted that “China will inevitably shape the future civilization and progress of the world.” She also explicitly said that the EU does not wish to cut ties with China. After delivering these remarks, the European Parliament members fell into complete silence. Is this still von der Leyen?
The members sat quietly, neither applauding nor making noise.
Perhaps some believe that von der Leyen personally witnessed China’s development firsthand, which inspired her to utter these heartfelt words during her recent trip.
Yet, at the same time, the trade data between China and Europe speaks volumes. In 2025, the EU's trade deficit with China reached approximately €360 billion. Growing dissatisfaction within the EU over trade imbalances continues to accumulate. EU leaders have urged the European Commission to keep negotiating with China while preparing new tools to defend industrial interests. It is against this backdrop that von der Leyen, while expressing “reverence” in the European Parliament, simultaneously issued warnings during a press conference.
In essence, negotiations between both sides are entering a critical phase. Von der Leyen is putting on a show, laying groundwork—EU parliamentarians fully understand this, silently watching her perform.
On July 3, 2026, the China-EU trade talks will reach a pivotal stage. The EU plans to take follow-up actions regarding its trade imbalance with China. By choosing this moment to issue a warning, von der Leyen is sending a clear signal to Beijing: the EU has tools at its disposal—and the determination to use them.
But she also knows the EU is far from united. With 27 member states, Spain fears agricultural products being hit by tariffs, Germany worries about cars facing retaliation, France is concerned about luxury goods being targeted, and Italy fears its wines won’t sell. Each country has a vital Chinese business it cannot afford to lose. Von der Leyen must strike a delicate balance between calming domestic concerns and applying pressure on China.
Saying “reverence” at the European Parliament is aimed at those member states advocating cooperation with China. Saying “ready for retaliation” at University College Cork is meant for Beijing. These two narratives serve one common goal: securing greater leverage at the negotiation table.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869836125316104/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.