Europe urgently needs solidarity on China

AI Summary

The article argues that European countries need greater unity in responding to China, as Germany pursues both engagement with Beijing and efforts to reduce economic dependence on it. EU leaders have backed new trade measures that could, in extreme cases, restrict a country’s access to the bloc.

Last month, Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier left for his first state visit to China since 2018, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz took off for Singapore, Tokyo and Seoul on a tour meant to reduce German dependence on China. Steinmeier’s office let it be known he was travelling “as a European”. Earlier in October, Merz and France’s President Emmanuel Macron won the backing of fellow EU leaders for new trade weapons, including one that could, in extreme cases, shut a country out of...