The EU-China Summit: Some Progress with Little Deliverables

Ahead of one of the most awaited political summits focusing on the future relations between the European Union (EU) and China, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, stated unequivocally in an interview for the Financial Times that Europe should develop “a ‘more realistic approach to China’, especially after its crackdown on Hong Kong”. Interestingly, the EU top diplomat described the complicated relations with the “systemic rival” China as no longer being “linear” but with “multiple faces” alluding to the nexus between a cooperative and a confrontational course, while being caught in a competition between China and the USA. Against this background, Borrell stressed the necessity of choosing a third way in order to prevent a scenario of “being squeezed between the two superpowers.”

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