EU–China Relations – A Current Overview

Salát, Gergely (2025) EU–China Relations – A Current Overview. In: Sino-European Relations and Reshaping of the International Order. Neumann János Egyetem Eurázsia Központ, Budapest, pp. 19-42. ISBN 978-615-109-005-3

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Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive overview of contemporary EU–China relations, examining their historical evolution, structural characteristics and recent sources of tension. Unlike the geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China, the EU–China relationship has traditionally lacked territorial disputes and direct strategic conflicts, allowing for the possibility of a pragmatic modus vivendi based on economic cooperation and political dialogue. However, since 2020, the relationship has markedly deteriorated due to four major factors: the ideological shift in Western perceptions of China; intensified economic competition driven by China’s growing technological capabilities; the securitisation of China-related issues within European liberal discourse; and China’s increasingly assertive international posture. This paper argues that these tensions are exacerbated by internal European weaknesses – most notably its economic underperformance and strategic dependency on the United States. While Washington pressures its allies to adopt a confrontational stance towards China, European national governments remain reluctant to sever ties with one of their biggest trading partners. As a result, a dual-track approach has emerged, in which anti-China rhetoric is outsourced to EU level, while national leaders pursue more pragmatic engagement. The return of Donald Trump to the White House in 2025 may inadvertently create new opportunities for recalibrating EU–China relations, as the decline in transatlantic ideological alignment grants Europe greater autonomy in foreign policy. The study concludes that although the fundamental reorientation of EU policy is unlikely, targeted efforts to improve competitiveness, revive the stalled Comprehensive Agreement on Investment and depoliticise China relations could enable the EU to pursue a more balanced and interest-driven approach in its engagement with Beijing.

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