Visits by European Leaders to China Mask Deepening Structural Friction

TAIPEI, April 28 (CNA) — Tension in China-EU relations has resurfaced. Analysts suggest that while multiple European leaders have visited China over the past six months, this does not represent a significant improvement in relations. The European Union remains highly vigilant about the economic impact from China and is continuously strengthening protectionist measures. In early March, the European Commission formally released the legislative proposal for the 'Industrial Accelerator Act,' seen as a key move to revive European competitiveness, curb industrial decline, and prevent the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs. The act sets 'EU origin' requirements for strategic industries such as batteries, electric vehicles (EVs), solar photovoltaics, and critical raw materials. It also requires foreign investors to transfer technology in exchange for market access. This pose structural challenges to the competitiveness of Chinese companies with price and technology advantages, triggering concern from Beijing. A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce criticized the act yesterday for setting restrictive requirements and exclusive clauses for EU origin in public procurement, calling it a serious investment barrier and institutional discrimination. Beijing warned of countermeasures to protect Chinese companies' interests. Analysts note that while the West realized decoupling from China is impossible, 'de-risking' has become widespread. The EU aims to protect local industries while encouraging Chinese investment to help European manufacturing. Furthermore, European concerns over the Ukraine war and the reliance on the US lead them to seek 'strategic autonomy,' further complicating relations with China. Despite development space in global governance, the recent cluster of problems suggests a rocky road ahead for China-EU trade and tech cooperation.