European Union foreign ministers have delivered a stark warning about China's growing influence, describing the country as a "critical long-term strategic challenge" for the bloc. In a joint assessment released this week, the ministers highlighted Beijing's "asymmetric advantages" in trade, technology, and control over critical raw materials, which they say threaten both the EU's economy and its security.
The document, agreed upon by the 27 member states, notes that China's willingness to use its leverage—from rare earth supplies to technological dominance—undermines European competitiveness and resilience. "China's asymmetric advantages with the EU, from trade imbalances to critical raw materials to technological advances in some areas, along with its willingness to use this as leverage against the EU and others in pursuit of its ambition of becoming the world's leading power makes China a critical long-term strategic challenge," the ministers stated.
Tensions between Brussels and Beijing have escalated in recent months. The EU has set an October deadline to rebalance trade ties through dialogue, but every protective measure has prompted threats of retaliation from China. This dynamic has been exacerbated by Chinese overcapacity in sectors like electric vehicles and solar panels, which threatens European industries. The bloc has already signaled potential unilateral trade measures, as reported in EU Signals Unilateral Trade Measures Against China Before October Deadline.
China as a Key Enabler of Russia's War
The ministers also accused Beijing of being a "key enabler" of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. They argued that both China and Russia seek to "establish regional dominance and reshape the global order in line with their interests, fostering a return to a sphere-of-influence logic." This assessment comes despite Beijing's denials of any role in the conflict. In April, the EU imposed sanctions on several Chinese firms under its 21st sanctions package, targeting entities that supply components for Russian military equipment.
The document further warns that China's growing "ambitions and assertiveness," combined with its strategic competition with the United States, will increasingly impact European security. "Beijing's actions will affect the EU's security, competitiveness, and economic security and resilience," the ministers wrote. This echoes concerns raised by Baltic leaders, who have warned of Russian plans to strike critical infrastructure in Poland and the Baltics, as covered in Baltic leaders warn of Russian plans to strike critical infrastructure in Poland and Baltics.
The EU's vulnerability was laid bare last year when China restricted global exports of rare earths, over which it holds a near-monopoly. This move, part of the US-China trade war, jeopardized key industrial value chains across Europe, from defense to green technologies. The ministers noted that both Beijing and Moscow are investing heavily in military capabilities and technological superiority, using economic leverage to advance their strategic ambitions.
In a broader context, the EU's struggle to assert its sovereignty is a recurring theme. Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta recently argued that national sovereignty is a "gift" to the US and China, and that EU unity is the only path forward, as highlighted in Letta: National Sovereignty Is a 'Gift' to US and China; EU Unity Is the Only Path. The ministers' assessment underscores this challenge, as the bloc seeks to balance economic interdependence with strategic autonomy.
The joint statement also points to the deepening strategic partnership between China and Russia, which the ministers say threatens the rules-based international order. As the EU prepares for a potential second term for Ursula von der Leyen as Commission President, the bloc's approach to China will remain a central test of its geopolitical credibility.
