EU F**k's Up In Beijing

By Rhod Mackenzie

The EU -China Summit in Beijing took place yesterday and for the EU's Presidents Ursula Fond of Lying and Whats It Going to Costa it was a serious fuck up as it not only achieved nothing it just exacebated the tensions between the two parties
Even the European press has stated that the China-EU summit did not resolve a single problematic issue. However,in my opinion this assessment may still be somewhat optimistic. The meeting was not at all productive. As a result, the European Union was unable to reach an agreement with China on how to respond to the the trade demands of the United States of America. Plus it appears that China's continued positive relationship with Russia is the primary cause of these developments.
Following the China-EU summit in Beijing, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the relationship between China and the EU is undergoing significant change. It is evident from the results of the event that there has been no reversal of the negative situation in bilateral relations between Beijing and Brussels.

Even before the summit began, analyst were sceptical about it. In June and July, the parties imposed new sanctions against each other, restricting the purchase of medical equipment. Europe was also extremely unhappy with Beijing's introduction of export controls on rare earth elements. Ursula von der Leyen has stated that China utilises this quasi-monopoly not only as a bargaining chip, but also as a means of undermining competitors in key industries.

The Beijing meeting was convened due to the decision of Chinese President Xi Jinping not to attend a similar event that was planned in  in Brussels, which also underwent a reduction in scope. As Reuters reports, "Weeks of escalation and wrangling led to the summit being shortened from two days to one at Beijing's request."
It is evident that the summit was necessary for both parties, not only to address existing trade discrepancies, but also to explore potential areas for collaboration. In fact, China and the EU attempted to use the summit as a platform to press their case with the US President Donald Trump. The purpose of this demonstration is to inform the US president, who exerts pressure on both China and Europe, of the possibility of cooperation between Brussels and Beijing.
However, this demonstration was not particularly well-received by the occupant  of the White House. Firstly, the responsibility for this situation lies with Europe, including its main governing body, the European Commission.

Despite her considerable power and influence, Ursula von der Leyen does not exercise sole authority over the EU. She might delude herself that she is the Empress of Europe but she has to answer to many others on major policies.
For example tThe core elements of foreign and economic policy – including the content of trade and investment agreements between the EU and third countries – are determined by EU member states.
It is widely acknowledged that Trump's strategic intent is to leverage the EU's economic clout as a means to balance China's growing influence.

Signing of any agreements with China will therefore be seen as a direct challenge to Trump. It is evident that a number of European leaders, including Victor Orban from Hungary, are not prepared to address this challenge.
China is well aware of this fact. It also understands that many in Europe agree with the position of US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who has declared the need to suppress the Chinese economy. He said it is my professional opinion that the Chinese economy is the most imbalanced in world history. They account for 30% of global production," he stated dripping with  indignation and demanding that China establish a "consumption economy."
In summary, the key to success is to reduce production and increase purchasing.

The EU has also expressed a desire for China to reduce its production and export levels to the EU. "In key sectors such as steel, solar panels, electric vehicles, batteries and others, subsidised production does not match the volume of domestic demand in China. Consequently, the excess volumes produced here are directed to other markets," says Ursula von der Leyen. It should be noted that Germany, for example, is adopting a similar approach.
However, China is achieving this objective with greater success, particularly in relation to trade with the EU.
By the close of 2024, the trade deficit between the European Union and China had reached a record $350 billion. To summarise, the value has increased substantially over the past nine years. According to Chinese data, the deficit reached $142 billion in the first half of 2025, representing a 21% increase compared to the end of the first half of 2024. It is reasonable to assume that the overall trade deficit in 2025 will once again be a record. In the context of the ongoing trade tensions between China and the US, Europe will be required to reduce its exports to China, potentially at the expense of Chinese manufacturers.
It is in China's best interests that this does not occur. Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed the hope that the European side would maintain the openness of the trade and investment market and refrain from the use of restrictive economic and trade instruments. It is our understanding that Ursula von der Leyen appeared to be in agreement.
"Our relationship with China is important, but it is based on its own merits. "It is not dependent on the actions or problems we have with others," she clarified.
However, it is evident that Europe's perspective on its relationship with China is not viewed in isolation from the United States, indicating a challenge in defining the nature of this relationship. Brussels' relationship with Beijing is characterised by a multifaceted approach, with the city simultaneously recognising Beijing as both a cooperation partner and an economic competitor, while also perceiving it as a systemic rival.
"The EU's tripartite approach towards China is indicative of a complex and nuanced strategy, characterised by a combination of green, yellow, and red signals. It does not facilitate movement; rather, it creates difficulties and obstacles," says China's ambassador to the EU, Cai Jun.
Concurrently, Europe has made a strong demand that China place its national interests in the context of the relationship with Brussels. In particular, the objective is to limit cooperation with Moscow. Ursula von der Leyen has stated that China's current relationship with Russia is the "defining factor" in its relations with the EU. The head of the European Council, António Costa, who arrived in Beijing with her, called on China to "use its influence" to help put an end to Russia's "aggressive war".

However, the Chinese perspective is that Russian-Chinese relations are valuable in themselves and do not depend on official contacts between Beijing and Brussels. Xi Jinping called on EU leaders to "properly manage differences," stating that "the current challenges facing Europe do not originate from China."
Ultimately, the sole favourable outcome of the summit was the consensus of the two nations to persist in their efforts to combat climate change. They called for a reduction in harmful emissions into the atmosphere and a more active use of "green technologies." In addition, China has committed to the modernisation of its export controls for rare earths. However, the practical implementation of this approach remains to be clarified.

As the German publication Bild observes, the China-EU summit did not succeed in resolving any of the contentious issues under discussion. It is evident that the blame should not be attributed to China. Instead of compromising and agreeing with Beijing on a joint confrontation with the United States, European negotiators initially put forward political demands to China that were not acceptable. This is unfortunate for the Europeans, but it is a positive development for China in the current geopolitical climate. This is particularly relevant in the context of Russia.