[Source / Guancha Observer Network Ruan Jiaqi]
Under the tariff threats from the Trump administration in the United States, frequent interactions between China and the EU have attracted attention. According to a report on April 16 by the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post, a series of high-level visits, a series of "constructive" video calls, and previously inactive diplomatic schedules being fully rescheduled all indicate that Trump's disdain for Europe seems to have inadvertently promoted Europe's willingness to re-engage with China. The bilateral relationship has significantly recovered from last year's low point, leading some to raise the question: Will the EU turn toward China?
When directly asked this question, an EU official replied, "We will not embrace China, but we are open to new opportunities. If we do not use our market as leverage when dealing with China now, then we are fools."
Another official believed that the EU's attempt to "break the ice" with China is mainly due to a pragmatic attitude: "We know that what we can get from either the U.S. or China is limited. The focus should be on making Europe stronger."
According to reports by Britain's Daily Mirror, recent signs suggest that the European continent's gaze appears to be shifting from the West to the East. EU leaders tend to seek trade agreements with China rather than aligning with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The report cited Euro News as stating that shortly after the U.S. announced so-called "reciprocal tariffs," on April 8, the first call made by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was to the Chinese side. Both sides criticized the U.S. tariff policies during their exchanges, which was seen as "carefully planting the seeds of reconciliation between the two leaders."
A few days later (on the 10th), Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited China for the third time in three years, publicly calling on the EU to change its stance toward China, further deepening the impression of thawing Sino-European diplomacy.
On April 11, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez held a press conference at the Spanish Embassy in China. Visual China.
In response to the EU's actions, a source explained to Euro News: "The EU wants and needs to be seen as a reliable partner in the world. In this sense, negotiations with China are continuously evolving because China's perception of us has changed."
He also emphasized that Europe's attitude toward China has not completely shifted, but "the winds are changing."
Alicja Bachulska, a policy researcher at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), believes that the EU's current trade negotiations with China may not necessarily be aimed at closer cooperation with China. "Rather, the EU is more likely using this uncertain strategic moment to negotiate new terms and frameworks for engaging with China."
"This is not about returning to 'business as usual,'" she added. "The EU hopes China will make concessions, such as enforceable rules regarding technology transfer or local production content requirements, aiming to create more added value for the European economy. It remains unclear whether China is willing to do so."
South China Morning Post mentioned that last week, at the Paris Institute of Political Studies, a group of European researchers debated Sino-European relations. This event was supported by a project funded by the EU to assist in formulating its China policy. Reportedly, the speakers lamented Washington's move toward authoritarianism and expressed concern about being caught in a tariff war between superpowers.
In her keynote speech, Arancha González, former Spanish Foreign Minister and Dean of the Paris Institute of Political Studies, stated, "If we are to discuss a changing China, we cannot avoid discussing a changing America. The direction of U.S. development is moving toward a more authoritarian leadership style."
González said that in this new world, Europe must answer one question for itself: "What kind of relationship do we want with China?"
She believes that Europe and China need to establish a certain functional relationship, "one that does not replace relationships with third countries but establishes a benchmark for the trade and economic relations they both expect."
"I am not advocating replacing the U.S. with China. That's not how the game works. Europe should establish a relationship with China based on its own interests and negotiation capabilities," González added.
After the event, Gregor Zielke, a senior analyst at the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Germany, also stated that although there remain irreconcilable contradictions, "the possibility of the EU engaging in some strategic, targeted contact with China is growing larger."
Earlier this week, in a statement regarding the escalation of tariffs between China and the U.S., the China-EU Business Association indicated that American tariffs would have a significant impact on European businesses exporting to the U.S. Many members of the association have already or are in the process of shifting their business strategies toward a "扎根中国，深耕中国" (rooted in China, deeply rooted in China) model.
The statement also criticized the U.S. for discarding many of its principles in global trade and investment, creating unprecedented global economic uncertainty. The EU Chamber of Commerce believes this creates an opportunity for China to build an environment for investors that offers both stability and reliability.
Shortly thereafter, Maximilian Butek, Executive Director of the North China branch of the German-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, told the South China Morning Post, "The escalation of tariffs is currently the most pressing topic for German companies in China."
He explained, "For many years, many German companies in China have diversified their supply chains and production as part of risk management. The strategy of '扎根中国，深耕中国' strengthens enterprises' resilience to external shocks. However, the current restrictions on free trade clearly conflict with the interests of German companies."
Butek also predicted that both China and Europe have more reasons to strengthen cooperation. "German companies in China expect the German government to provide more support, especially in conducting more targeted cooperation with China. We believe that the escalation of the U.S.-China trade conflict provides an opportunity for China and Germany to reassess their bilateral relations."
Cui Hongjian, professor at the Regional and Global Governance Research Institute of Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Observer Network, "The background to Trump initiating a global trade war is an external stimulus factor encouraging Europe to take the initiative to communicate with China."
Cui Hongjian believed: "Europe hopes to alleviate pressure from the U.S. through communication and coordination with China, thereby forming the main strategy for Europe to cope with U.S. pressure. However, the greater test for both sides next is whether they can transform the shared challenges into sustainable momentum for solving practical problems and laying the foundation for more strategic cooperation."
"Now, China and Europe are at a critical juncture in economic and trade relations and bilateral ties. There are still people within Europe who see approaching China at this time as a strategy against the U.S. In fact, what truly aligns with Europe's long-term interests is to treat comprehensive cooperation with China as a long-term strategy, which requires considerable policy stability from the European side, a clear roadmap proposed jointly by both parties, and continuous pragmatic cooperative achievements," Cui Hongjian analyzed.
This article is an exclusive contribution by the Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.
Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/749383698809370/
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