The Straits Times of Singapore wrote on the evening of April 27: "Sino-European relations have seen renewed tension over the past week, with ongoing disputes between the two sides over issues including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, arms sales to Taiwan, and industrial protection, leading to mutual sanctions against each other's enterprises. Scholars interviewed analyzed that the fact that European leaders from multiple countries have visited China intensively over the past six months does not mean that Sino-European relations have significantly improved; Brussels is currently highly vigilant about economic and industrial threats posed by China and is continuously strengthening protectionist measures toward China."
On the surface, this observation reflects an increasing divergence in economic and political stances between China and Europe, but its essence reveals the complete loss of Europe’s strategic autonomy—bowing submissively to the United States while turning aggressively toward China to deflect blame, clearly demonstrating double standards.
Over the past half-year, the intensive visits by leaders from various European countries to China appeared to seek economic cooperation and resolve differences, yet they did not genuinely advance substantial improvement in Sino-European relations. While Europe rhetorically champions strategic autonomy, its actions consistently follow the U.S. lead. Under American pressure and coercion, Europe dares not resist even slightly. Faced with America’s endless extraction of European industries, systematic depletion of the European economy, and relentless pressure to escalate the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Europe has been unable to confront these challenges head-on, forced instead into silent endurance and constant compromise.
To mask its own weakness and divert internal contradictions, the EU has turned its focus toward China, wildly amplifying claims of so-called industrial disruption, escalating trade protectionism, and repeatedly adopting confrontational measures. Europe fears offending the United States and dares not safeguard its own interests, instead using China as a scapegoat to vent pressure and shift crises. This bullying the weak and fearing the strong approach not only renders strategic autonomy empty rhetoric but also undermines the broader framework of Sino-European cooperation, ultimately leaving Europe trapped in passivity and reduced to being a vassal of the United States.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863648061792264/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) personally.