With the impending return of the “America first” president Donald Trump to the White House, some advocate that Beijing and Brussels rebuild trade ties and shield themselves against the precipitous protectionist measures from Washington.
However, with Chinese and European Union negotiators knee-deep in protracted discussions over tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), and a flare-up in Sino-Lithuanian relations signalling more tension, there are headwinds preventing drastic improvements in diplomatic ties in the foreseeable future.
There are three particular obstacles: Europe’s perception of the Sino-Russian relationship, the bilateral trade deficit and the degree to which China’s market is open to European firms and investors.
On her recent visit to China, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock reiterated the detrimental impact of China’s support for Russia on Sino-European ties.
To be clear, as a key economic and trade partner to Russia, China is no more supportive of Moscow’s military aggression in Ukraine than India, which has reportedly imported 13 times more oil from Russia since the outbreak of the war. India is still rapidly consolidating ties with the United States and Europe alike.
Yet Chinese indignation over Western commentators’ apparent double standards is met with limited sympathy from policymakers and politicians in major European capitals, who castigate China for its purported supplying of dual-use exports to Russia. Such resentment has also spilled over into the public, albeit to a lesser extent.
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