China's CP Congress: a preview of future EU-China relationship
The CCPC was a demonstration of power: China's strongman Xi Jiping seems determined to press on his policies and make the world look - and behave - a lot more Chinese. Where does Europe stands?
Xi again: same policies, only stronger
The conclusions of the Chinese Communist Party Congress are edifying. China’s autocratic President, Xi Jinping was reelected for five more years as the head of the party and the state. As Politico puts it:
Xi Jinping, as expected, secured a third term in power over the weekend, confirming he’s the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong.
This reelection, along with nominations at the highest ranks of the country’s administration, such as Li Qiang being appointed as the new prime minister instead of Li Keqiang, considered as “comparatively liberal” according to the news outlet, sheds light on the upcoming policies of the regime.
Specialists and commentators agree that the coming years will see the continuation of Xi’s autocratic policies, such as the “Zero Covid” plan, under which Li Qiang “dutifully carried out an economically devastating lockdown for China’s financial capital Shanghai,” writes Politico’s Jakob Hanke Vela.
Perhaps the most interesting and shocking image of the congress was when former leader Hu Jintao was removed from the room. Medical issues (the “official” reason for the removal of Hu) or political message from unquestioned leader Xi? I let you decide.
Europe’s relations with China
Last week, European foreign ministers discussed China. The consensus is clear: Europe is too dependent on China, mostly because the Empire of the Middle controls critical supply chains and raw materials.
According to a diplomatic service non-paper reviewed by Euractiv, it is clear that “China has become an even stronger global competitor for the EU, the US and other like-minded partners.”
So far, the EU’s motto when dealing with China was to consider it as a commercial partner, an economic competitor, and a (geo-) political systemic rival. It seems now that the rivalry enters new spheres.
The EU’s diplomatic service urged Europe to “intensify its efforts to reduce vulnerabilities” in technology, maritime and space security, innovation, and by fighting disinformation.
Olaf Scholz already plans to visit China with a business delegation. As Germany is the most reliant European nation on Chinese exports, many fear that it is bound to face the same issues it already experiences with Russia at the moment. Another problem is the perceived threat that China tries to divide Europeans, using Germany as a Trojan horse to the bloc.
Furthermore, I wrote a few weeks ago about the EU’s and China’s environmental policies. Read it here.⬇️
Change of paradigm
At the outcome of last week’s Council, EUCO President Charles Michel summarised the content of the discussion around China.
It was therefore a debate that showed a very clear desire not to be naive, but not to be in a logic of systematic confrontation either. We have our own model to develop and to build in this relationship with China
It is a geopolitical transformation that we are witnessing, and in this moment of geopolitical transition, the important thing for the European Union is to have clear ideas, to have a concern for unity but also a concern for power. - Charles Michel
Europe is increasingly calling for using its “power” when it comes to foreign relations. It started with Russia for obvious reasons. The questions that the Chinese system poses are important enough for Europe to find geopolitical initiative.
Furthermore, we must realise that the question of Taiwan is not the same as that of Ukraine for Russia. Although Russia was fuel-rich, it lacks the equipment and technological components to sustain the war in the long run. China controls most of the chips market, and the strain on the West will be much greater should it decide to invade its neighboring island.