Europe's Strategic Blind Spot: Why China Views the Continent as Invisible

The Summit That Revealed Europe's Diminished Standing

The recent high-level meeting between Chinese and European leaders produced stark outcomes:

• China unilaterally canceled planned economic discussions despite a massive €300-400 billion annual trade deficit favoring Beijing
• The sole agreement focused on climate policy, further cementing Europe's technological dependence on Chinese green infrastructure
• Chinese negotiators framed outcomes as "win-win" while offering no market access concessions to European firms

This approach stems from Beijing's perception that Europe functions as a fragmented entity rather than a unified power. As analyst David Bavrez observes: "For Chinese strategists, Europe doesn't exist as a coherent geopolitical actor."

China's Divide-and-Conquer Strategy in Action

Since the 2008 financial crisis, Beijing has systematically exploited intra-European divisions:

This contrasts sharply with Europe's approach to US negotiations, where tariff disputes remain renegotiable. With China, agreements lock in structural disadvantages.

The Second Chinese Shock: Three-Pronged Economic Offensive

China's current strategy represents a fundamental shift beyond manufacturing dominance:

Europe's Sovereignty Dilemma

High debt levels across most EU nations have eroded economic sovereignty. Germany's €1 trillion reserves position it as Europe's potential counterweight, but its own dependencies create vulnerabilities:

• Energy reliance on Russia
• Defense dependence on the US
• Export vulnerability to Chinese markets

As Bavrez notes: "Germany may regain sovereignty within five years through strategic repositioning. France and others lack this pathway."

China's Domestic Contradictions

Despite external assertiveness, China faces internal challenges:

• Economic growth has slowed to 1-2% - matching European levels
• Persistent producer price deflation indicates structural weaknesses
• Private sector discontent with state economic management

However, political control remains firm. Recent moves toward more collective decision-making in the Standing Committee suggest institutional adaptation rather than leadership change.