EU-China

China downgrades diplomatic ties with Lithuania over Taiwan

China downgraded its diplomatic ties with Lithuania on Sunday (21 November), expressing strong dissatisfaction with the Baltic State after Taiwan opened a de facto embassy there, escalating a row that has sucked in Washington.

Germany may have been naive on China at first, Merkel says

Germany may at first have been naive in some areas of cooperation with China, but should not sever all connections in reaction to growing tensions, Chancellor Angela Merkel has told Reuters.

The EU must act now to stop abuses against Uyghur people

The European Commission’s proposed mandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence laws and a forced labour ban are two powerful instruments that need to be executed effectively to successfully address Uyghur forced labour, write Koen Stoop and Helene de Rengerve.

China vows no mercy for Taiwan independence ‘diehards’

China vowed Friday (5 November) to punish "diehard" Taiwan politicians, saying it would ban several from visiting the mainland, as tensions between Beijing and Taipei spiked to their highest level in years.

‘You are not alone,’ EU Parliament delegation tells Taiwan on first official visit

Taiwan's democracy is "a treasure" to be protected, the head of a visiting European Parliament delegation said on Thursday, promising to stand with the island as tensions between Beijing and Taipei spiral to their highest level in years.

European Parliament delegation visits Taiwan

A European Parliament delegation arrived in Taiwan Wednesday (3 November), part of an effort to build closer ties with the island despite warnings from China.

Greece’s ambivalent romance with China

China has engaged in a long-term game regarding Greece, which Beijing still sees as a valuable hub in Europe, despite recent turnarounds, writes Philippe Le Corre.

Taiwan delegation irks China with eastern Europe tour

A Taiwanese government delegation is visiting three eastern EU members to the dismay of China, which is irritated by any signs of Taiwan acting as an independent country.

Global player? Brdo EU summit to seek answers on China, US strategy

The European Union's 27 leaders will seek a new approach to China on Tuesday (5 October) in their first summit on Sino-European strategy since the bloc imposed sanctions on Beijing in March and faced retaliation, jeopardising a new investment pact.

European business group calls for China to end self-reliance strategy

China should abandon a top-level strategy promoted by President Xi Jinping to increase self-reliance, or risk harming innovation and growth prospects, said a European business group on Thursday (23 September).

Lithuania says throw away Chinese phones with censorship software

Lithuania's Defense Ministry recommended that consumers avoid buying Chinese mobile phones and advised people to throw away the ones they have now after a government report found the devices had built-in censorship capabilities.

EU condemns sentencing of Canadian for spying in China

The European Union on Wednesday decried the jailing of Canadian businessman Michael Spavor for 11 years in China for spying, saying he had been denied a "fair trial".

The EU needs to step up on Hong Kong sanctions 

The EU has been slow to respond to China's repeated attacks on democracy in Hong Kong. It's time it started catching up with the US and others, writes Reinhard Bütikofer.

US, Europe condemn China for ‘malicious’ Microsoft cyberattack

The United States on Monday (19 July) accused Beijing of carrying out a massive hack of Microsoft email servers and charged four Chinese nationals as it rallied the EU and other allies in rare joint statement condemning "malicious" cyber activity from China.

China steps up climate fight with emissions trading scheme

Two days after the European Union unveiled new carbon-cutting plans, China launched its long-awaited emissions trading system on Friday (16 July), a key tool in its quest to drive down climate change-causing greenhouse gases and go carbon neutral by 2060.

European Parliament urges EU to boycott Beijing Olympics

The European Parliament on Thursday (8 July) called for the EU to boycott the February 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing unless China improves the human rights situation in Hong Kong and in the Xinjiang province which is home to the...

Behind Airbus-Boeing truce lies a common rival: China

While the United States and Europe waged a 17-year trade battle over subsidies to Boeing and Airbus, China poured money into its own commercial aircraft to take on the Western aviation duopoly.

Beijing accuses NATO of exaggerating ‘China threat theory’

Beijing on Tuesday (15 June) accused NATO of exaggerating the threat from China and "creating confrontation", after a vow from the Western allies to work together to counter the challenges posed by its policies.

EU considers sending delegation to Hong Kong after electoral law reform

The European Union denounced on Wednesday (9 June) Hong Kong's major overhaul of its political system as a breach by China of its international commitments and threatened to send a delegation to visit the autonomous city.

EU chief defends China deal ahead of US summit

One of Brussels' top two leaders has defended the European Union's efforts to reach an investment agreement with China, ahead of summit meetings with US President Joe Biden.

Europe calls for more ambitious climate policies ahead of COP26

The world has made good progress on targets to reach net zero emissions, but now it must match those goals with policies, a senior EU official has said.

China urges France to push for EU investment deal

China has urged France to convince the EU to ratify an investment deal blocked by the European Parliament, but a French minister said Thursday (27 May) that Beijing must first lift sanctions against MEPs.

Chinese foreign minister slams EU’s ‘genocide’ accusations

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said that attempts by some in the EU to politicise trade issues by slapping sanctions on Beijing are “not acceptable and will lead nowhere” and has rejected the West’s accusations that China is perpetrating...