Sánchez is due to meet with President Xi Jinping on Friday during his third China trip in two years. He’ll be the first European Union leader in Beijing since President Donald Trump launched his barrage of tariffs on leading trading partners, notably China and the EU.
Sánchez says that what Trump is doing to global trade must push Europe to find alternative partners and new markets. That means changing its position toward China, but also Beijing revisiting its stance toward Europe.
Spain has tangible benefits from Chinese investments, in electric vehicles, batteries and solar power.
Elsewhere, much of Europe is warier of Beijing, joining US-led tech curbs and sharing concerns over threats against Taiwan. Worried at a flood of imports, the EU imposed tariffs on Chinese EVs last year.
Most pointedly, China’s alignment with Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine is beyond the pale for many capitals. Madrid, a defense spending laggard, is about as far from the war as you can get on the European mainland.
Sánchez may have broken ranks with the EU as a whole, but Xi is bound to roll out the red carpet regardless.
As Trump continues to upend the world, Spain’s leader surely won’t be the last to make the trip to Beijing.
I believe USA just hand out the control of the world economy to China.
Not sure how much “believe” is needed when the U.S. steps down in all areas and isolates itself in an astounding rush to the bottom. Only way to save the economy would be a war, which is also always fascisms means to persist. I just hope (in the form of hopium) that the centrists are right and america hasn’t already embraced fascism and the U.S. won’t start wars with anyone. God knows it sure looks that way watching from europe.
Only way to save the economy would be a war,
Agree. It’s also a way to bring back favorable opinion form the population because “patriotism” lol. I’m pretty sure Pedo-in-chief is already considering this option. He already mention acting on Canada because of a border or energy or fentanyl crisis or whatever. When he does start a war, be prepare to watch most of the centrist and so-called leftist “support our troops”.
I assume all “former” US allies is being pushed closer to China.
concerns over threats against Taiwan
This is my single biggest concern about China. Not only because I think Taiwan should be an acknowledged independent country.
But I’m also concerned that if China invade or otherwise force Taiwan, that they won’t respect other countries either.
We’ve seen many examples of China trying to muscle European countries over the simplest things, even just having a book at a library that is against the Chinese government! Such a small thing caused a serious diplomatic incident between Norway and China!!It’s also a problem that China still find themselves more aligned with Russia than the free world. China remains a totalitarian state, it’s only because USA is behaving the same way now, that we (EU) have to say that from a security perspective, the difference is not really that big anymore.
