EU–CHINA RELATIONS

Chinese flag on a diplomatic car in front of an EU emblem, illustrating the shifting and increasingly cautious dynamic between Europe and China

The end of illusions: Europe’s geopolitical reckoning with China

25/11/202512/12/2025

EU–China relations have entered a post-illusion phase, where security, technological dependence, and geopolitical rivalry overshadow economic pragmatism. Beijing’s strategic assertiveness and Europe’s delayed awakening now define the trajectory of the bilateral relationship

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU delegates walk through a ceremonial hall with red carpet during the 25th EU–China Summit in Beijing, conveying a formal yet tense diplomatic atmosphere

Summit of silence: How EU and China talked past each other

28/07/202509/08/2025

The 25th EU–China Summit exposed fundamental fractures in global diplomacy, revealing how economic interdependence and geopolitical rivalry create an increasingly complex web of international relations

EU–CHINA RELATIONS

The end of illusions: Europe’s geopolitical reckoning with China

Summit of silence: How EU and China talked past each other

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