3. Making Sense of the EU–China Relations: Partners and Rivals

The EU faces an urgent question of how to create a “united front” to formulate its China policy and strategically position itself in the rivalry between a global hegemon and rising power. This chapter reviews the evolving EU–China relationship and explores areas of closer cooperation and growing tensions. Through three cases that exemplify the intensifying degree of bilateral cooperation and conflict, this chapter argues that EU–Chinese relations have transformed due to China’s surging interest and influence in Europe and its emerging trend of decoupling with the U.S. China has been, simultaneously, a cooperating partner with whom the EU has closely aligned objectives (climate change), a negotiated partner with whom the EU needs to find a balance of interests (AIIB), and an economic competitor against whom the EU needs to defend its interests and values (BRI). The chapter defines China both as a strategic partner and as a systemic rival to the EU.