BRUSSELS, October 11 — The story begins with a document adopted by the European Parliament that takes a significantly tougher stance toward China, labeling the country’s industrial policy as an ‘existential threat’ to the EU’s industrial base and a ‘decisive enabler’ of Russia. This vote on Wednesday reflects increasing hostility among some politicians in Brussels toward Beijing and advocates a confrontational approach, including a continuous European naval ‘presence’ in and around the Taiwan Strait.
At its heart, the document reveals a growing rift fueled by internal anxieties, industrial challenges, and a weak economy, with some EU politicians using China as a scapegoat to avoid making difficult decisions to boost competitiveness. Earlier in the week, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, claiming that ‘systemic market-distorting practices’ threaten the EU’s economy and industrial base, necessitating urgent actions.
What unfolded shows how geopolitical pressures and Washington’s influence have led to the politicization of economic issues, causing misinterpretations of China’s actions and intentions. The source material emphasizes that the core of China-EU relations is partnership, and the hostility in the document extends to trade, economic relations, security, and China’s internal affairs, such as the Taiwan question. It characterizes this approach as disconnected from reality and self-defeating, overlooking that China and the EU have no fundamental conflicts of interest or geopolitical contradictions.
For those involved, the warning is clear: differences cannot be resolved through confrontation but through dialogue and candid communication. The source cites EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic’s ongoing visit to Beijing for trade and investment talks as a rational and pragmatic approach.
It notes that the EU’s industrial and economic problems are mainly due to a transition bottleneck, for which China is not to blame, and that on the Ukraine crisis, if China were as some EU politicians claim, the outcome would have been very different long ago. Instead, China has consistently advocated for a sustainable and balanced security framework for Europe.
Looking ahead, a new round of the China-France Strategic Dialogue is being held in Beijing from Friday to Tuesday, with the hope that face-to-face exchanges will help EU politicians view China’s development rationally and handle differences pragmatically, rather than mistaking a partner for a rival—a misjudgment whose cost would be enormous for either side. The source warns that if Brussels dares to challenge Beijing’s red line on the Taiwan question, it will learn the full consequences of its actions.
