Open the newsletter to watch the White House for free

Your guide to what the American elections mean 2024 for Washington and the world

Spain’s foreign minister said that the European Union must make its China’s policy and not a monkey confrontation for the Trump administration, as Brussels tries to adapt to Washington’s recent hostility towards European allies.

Some European Union capitals have suggested that the United States stance the position of China in favor of Curry with President Donald Trump, but others warn against endangering the bloc to danger Economic relations With Beijing.

“Europe must make its own decisions, on its own. Jose Manuel Albaris told the Financial Times:” We have to decide when China could be a partner and when China is a competitor. “

“We can definitely have a dialogue with the country that I think is our natural ally, the United States. But Europe must make its own decisions.”

A dispute between Trump and Europe has deepened in recent days after the US President communicated to Russia and severe notes about Ukraine and its leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Trump administration has also suggested that it could withdraw security guarantees from Europe and a decline in the Russian threat to the continent.

The 27 European Union member states do not have unified positions in China, but the relationship of the bloc has been strained due to commercial issues and Beijing’s support for Russia in its war in Ukraine.

During the first period of Trump in his post and even under his predecessor Joe Biden, the European Commission and the main capitals were pressured to take a more towards Beijing. The bloc carries a “systematic competitor” in 2019.

But in a sign of the potential ice of the Chinese European Union, committee chairman Ursula von der Lin earlier this month called for a new effort to improve relations between Brussels and Beijing.

Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister SpainHe was flirting with the activity of Chinese investment, as President Xi Jinping twice meets in Beijing in the past two years and generated discomfort in some European capitals with his warm initiatives.

Last October, the European Union imposed a tariff of up to 45 percent on Chinese electric carsBut this step caused deep sections in the mass. Sanchez said in September that the plan should “review” and that Spain ultimately refrained from the main vote. Germany and Hungary voted against definitions.

When China “could be a partner – let’s benefit from it,” said Albaris. “When we are competitors, we have to protect our citizens and our industry.”

“Let’s not forget that China, due to the population composition, is its size, China, its size, [being] A permanent member of the Security Council, also indispensable for biological things like climate change, for example. So we need to participate. “

Another Spanish official said, “We will not choose the parties” between the United States and China. But some European Union allies are concerned that the government -led government did not study China just like the other European Union powers.

Madrid, which is concerned about the future of its cars, was pleased by two Chinese investments in the production of lithium batteries. Chinese Catl said in December that it will build a factory worth 4 billion euros with Stelantis in Zarza, while AESC, owned by China Envision, plans for a factory in Cáces.

Madrid is also keen to avoid disrupting its exports of pork products to China, which imported more meat from Spain more than anywhere last year.

Chinese officials regularly have bodied their European counterparts for their lack of independence in their foreign policy from the United States and seeking to divide the opinion between countries in the European Union in China.

During a visit to Europe last year, Xi ignited the praise of China’s friendly governments in Serbia and Hungary, which the latter received major Chinese investments in the automotive industry.

Some Chinese scientists said that Beijing will be cautious against the European Union members attempts to renew their relations with the country, and sees such moves a “hedge tactic” against Trump.

“This will be a kind of pressure tactic by Europe against the American side:” If you pushed me so hard, I will tend to China. Zhou Feng, Dean of the College of International Studies at Nanjing University, said during the first Trump administration, the same situation also happened.

“I don’t think Trump’s shock will eventually make great great strengths. I think China will keep a wonderful head.”