Trump-battered Europe eyes China with launch of diplomatic flurry to Beijing

For five months, debate has raged on how the return of US President Donald Trump, which has upended the West, will alter Europe’s relations with China. With a stream of senior European officials headed for Beijing, we may be about to get some answers.

Alongside top-level figures from Brussels, which maintains a tough line towards Beijing, are representatives of capitals from Europe’s west and south that have advocated a softer approach and distance from Washington.

Each will be asking for something slightly different.

Their demands will display the competing interests between the European Union’s members and institutions at a moment of geopolitical chaos that is predicted to create new fissures in the 27-member bloc’s often schizophrenic approach to China.

Beijing’s responses, meanwhile, will signal whether it is in the mood for making concessions to Europe which could buoy a relationship that sunk to fresh lows in recent years.

“This is certainly a big opportunity for China,” said one senior official involved in coordinating the trips. “They are not stupid – if they didn’t already see an opportunity to build with the EU before then they should realise it right now – but they have to offer something concrete.”

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