International Observation | The United States Making Europe Choose One from Two is Just wishful thinking | Europe | EU | International

Brussels, June 13 (Xinhua) - The European Commission on Foreign Relations, a European think tank, recently conducted a questionnaire survey of 16000 people in 11 EU countries, including Germany, France, Spain, Poland, and Bulgaria, on issues related to EU foreign relations. Most respondents believe that Europe should maintain good economic and trade relations with China, and should not take sides in political issues between China and the United States.

Analysts point out that the United States holds a Cold War mentality, instigates confrontations, continuously puts pressure on Europe, and attempts to strengthen containment and suppression of China by pulling small circles, in order to maintain its own hegemony. But this poll shows the true mentality of Europeans: choosing sides between China and the United States is not in European interest, and most European people do not buy it. The United States's decision to have Europe choose between two options is just wishful thinking.

On May 6th, people rested outside the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zheng Huansong

Close economic and trade relations between China and Europe

China and the European Union are important trading partners, and their trade structure is increasingly optimized. The trading scale of green products such as lithium batteries, new energy vehicles, and photovoltaic modules is rapidly expanding. Chinese enterprises are rapidly increasing their investment in European green spaces, and more and more Chinese funded enterprises in Europe are strongly supporting the transformation of the EU's green, digital, and intelligent industries. As of the end of 2022, the stock of bilateral investment between China and Europe has exceeded 230 billion US dollars; In 2022, Europe's investment in China reached 12.1 billion US dollars, a significant increase of 70% year-on-year, and the automotive industry continued to become the largest hotspot; During the same period, China's investment in Europe reached 11.1 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 21%, with new investments concentrated in areas such as new energy, automobiles, and mechanical equipment.

Since March this year, Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez and French President Macron have successively visited China, and European companies visiting China for inspection has sparked another wave. Chinese Ambassador to the European Union, Peng Gang, said that European executives have come to China to promote cooperation projects, demonstrating their firm confidence in investment and development in China.

On May 4th, a China Europe freight train departed from the Erenhot railway port. Shen Jizhong

While the economic and trade cooperation between China and Europe has deepened, the United States has been actively wooing Europe, attempting to suppress Chinese enterprises and hinder cooperation between China and Europe. But this survey shows that only about 22% of respondents believe that the risks of trade and investment cooperation between Europe and China outweigh the benefits. The report author points out that this indicates that most Europeans are unwilling to see a reduction in cooperation with China for the sake of so-called "risk reduction".

The President of the EU China Trade Association, Hackma, told Xinhua News Agency that the poll results truly reflect the mutual connection between Europe and China. The years of accumulated trade and investment achievements between Europe and China have made both sides mutually dependent. The EU should establish good relations with China and maintain a pragmatic balance between the United States and China.

China and Europe have broad common interests

According to a poll by the European Commission on Foreign Relations, 43% of respondents believe that China is a "necessary strategic partner" of the European Union. Analysts point out that in recent years, the United States has been constantly creating conflicts and provoking opposition in European China relations, forcing European countries to become pawns in its game against China. This poll indicates that the US approach is unpopular in Europe. China Europe relations have a solid foundation of public opinion and broad common interests.

This is the Geely Geometry C-type electric vehicle captured on November 4, 2022 in Budapest, Hungary. On the 4th, China Geely Automobile Group and Hungary's Grand Automotive Central Europe Company held a strategic cooperation signing ceremony in Budapest, marking Geely Automobile's first entry into the EU market. Shen Jizhong

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Europe, and the release of the first policy document on the European Union by the Chinese government. Nowadays, China Europe relations are becoming increasingly mature, with more than 70 consultation and dialogue mechanisms established by both sides, covering various fields such as politics, economy and trade, culture and culture, science and technology, energy, and environment.

On the international stage, both China and Europe are key forces in maintaining world peace, supporting multilateralism, advocating economic globalization, and cooperating in a series of global governance system reforms. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Borrell, believes that Europe and China should cooperate for common interests. The EU cannot do without cooperation with China in protecting biodiversity, addressing climate change, and addressing the debt problems of the least developed countries.

Rodriguez, Chairman of the European Progressive Research Foundation, said that Europe and China are strategic partners and should strengthen cooperation in formulating global rules, especially in areas such as addressing climate change, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence. In recent years, China has proposed global security initiatives, global development initiatives, etc., and Europe and China can strengthen cooperation in these areas.

Europe seeks autonomy and refuses to choose sides

This poll raises a question: "If there is a conflict between China and the United States, how should Europeans choose?" Up to 62% of Europeans choose "neutrality. The report author points out that the United States and its leading NATO claim that security issues in eastern Europe and the Indo Pacific region are closely linked, but polls show that Europeans do not agree with this statement.

Sebastian Conten, a researcher at the Asia Global Studies Institute at the University of Hong Kong, said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency that some people are trying to instill an impression in European people that the United States has "made sacrifices for European security", and that Europe should be grateful, providing more military bases for the US military, purchasing more American weapons and equipment, and sharing military intelligence with the US. However, as polls show, this is not the idea of most Europeans.

On October 13, 2021, people took selfies in front of the Euro sculpture in Frankfurt, Germany. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Yang

The poll also showed that 74% of respondents believe that Europe's military defense should not rely solely on the United States and should develop its own defense capabilities. This proportion is 8 percentage points higher than in 2020, when then US President Trump announced the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. Analysts believe that from Trump to current US President Biden, his "America First" stance has essentially not changed, which has made it increasingly urgent for Europeans to enhance their strategic autonomy.

Kong Ting said that in many fields, the United States only considers its own interests and never considers European interests. The previously introduced Inflation Reduction Act by the United States is a good example. The EU should strengthen strategic autonomy, continuously enhance its own strength, formulate more proactive and independent foreign policies, and strengthen cooperation with other major powers.