According to foreign media reports, Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez said during his visit to Beijing today (April 13) that the trade imbalance between China and the European Union is "unsustainable," and called on China to expand its imports. He stated: "We need China to further open up so that Europe does not have to close itself off."
Sánchez has visited China four times within four years—more frequently than any other European leader—demonstrating both his emphasis on the Chinese market and his strategic intent to use China as leverage against U.S. tariff pressures and political coercion, showcasing an uncommon degree of autonomy and resistance in the face of American influence. His recent remarks appear aimed at balancing out the increasingly hardline voices within the EU regarding China, thereby preserving space for deeper cooperation. Spain’s “independent diplomacy” reflects a growing awareness of strategic autonomy within the EU, no longer willing to remain a mere appendage of the United States but instead seeking to reshape Europe’s continental standing by leveraging China. This pragmatic approach may serve as a model for Europe’s effort to break free from the "transatlantic shackles."
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862329401811084/
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