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Nov 10, 2025

Greece’s policy on China: Debt-era deals and recalibration

By Valbona Zeneli

From the port of Piraeus to Brussels, Greece’s China policy has evolved from enthusiastic engagement and post-crisis dependency to strategic caution. Today, Athens’s is balancing economic pragmatism with transatlantic security commitments.

China
Economy & Business

Report

Nov 10, 2025

Italy’s policy on China: The Belt and Road gamble and its aftermath

By Valbona Zeneli

From the Silk Road to the Belt and Road Initiative, Italy’s relationship with China has shifted from early enthusiasm to cautious recalibration. Once Europe’s gateway for Beijing’s ambitions, Rome now frames its China policy around transatlantic solidarity, balancing economic opportunity with strategic prudence.

China
Economy & Business

Report

Nov 10, 2025

Germany’s policy on China: From win-win to strategic competition

By Valbona Zeneli

Germany’s China policy has shifted from economic optimism to cautious competition—balancing trade interests with mounting security concerns. Once built on deep interdependence, Berlin now prioritizes “de-risking” and resilience in its approach to Beijing.

China
Economy & Business

Report

Nov 10, 2025

Hungary’s policy on China: Doing Beijing’s bidding

By Zoltán Fehér

Under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Hungary has emerged as China’s closest ally within the EU, aligning its foreign policy with Beijing’s global agenda and repeatedly obstructing EU efforts to counter Chinese influence.

China
Economy & Business

Report

Nov 10, 2025

Czechia’s policy on China: Swinging between engagement and de-risking

By Zoltán Fehér

Although Czechia emerged as one of the EU’s early hawks and whistleblowers on China, its overall stance has shifted markedly over the past two decades—oscillating between engagement and balancing, with the fluctuations largely driven by domestic political divisions and sustained Chinese influence efforts.

Central Europe
China

Report

Nov 10, 2025

The European Commission’s role in steering Europe’s strategic outlook

By Zoltán Fehér

Over the past decade, the European Commission has led the EU’s pivot toward balancing and “de-risking” China. Trade and investment have been at the heart of this strategy, not only because of the Commission’s authority in these domains, but also because they are the primary channels through which China challenges Europe’s economic and political interests.

China
Economy & Business

Report

Nov 10, 2025

The geopolitical trends shaping the EU’s policies on China

By Zoltán Fehér, Valbona Zeneli

European policies on China are shaped by four major geopolitical trends: intensifying US-China competition, uncertainty about sustained US engagement in Europe and globally, China’s support for Russia’s war on Ukraine, and Beijing’s growing economic and technological challenge to the EU.

China
Economy & Business

Report

Nov 10, 2025

France’s policy on China: Strategic autonomy and less naïveté

By Zoltán Fehér

Over the last decade, France’s long-standing engagement with China has transformed into a more nuanced and cautious dynamic, reflecting a growing emphasis on balancing. This shift is guided by France’s pursuit of strategic autonomy, its effort to “de-risk” economic and security ties, and the broader geopolitical realities unfolding in the Indo-Pacific.

China
Economy & Business

Report

Nov 10, 2025

Navigating the complexity of European policymaking on China

By Zoltán Fehér, Valbona Zeneli

EU policymaking on China is complex not only in structure but also in practice. It unfolds across multiple layers of governance, where EU institutions and member states pursue overlapping—and at times conflicting—priorities, making strategic alignment toward Beijing a persistent challenge.

China
Europe & Eurasia

Report

Nov 10, 2025

Poland’s policy on China: From partnership to skepticism

By Zoltán Fehér

Despite its traditionally transatlantic orientation, Poland pursued an engagement policy toward China until the late 2010s. However, unmet economic promises and Beijing’s alignment with Moscow following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shifted Warsaw’s view of China from economic partner to systemic challenger.

China
Economy & Business