Chinese state media have recently published columns and editorials suggesting that China could form a "united front" with the EU against Trump’s isolationist policies, despite ongoing disputes between Beijing and Brussels.
By: Alfredo García Almeida, a journalist and international analyst reporting from Mérida, Yucatán.
After a phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, President Donald Trump postponed his confrontational strategy against the European Union (EU) until July 9, threatening to impose 50% tariffs.
"She asked if we could move the deadline for the agreement from June 1 to July 9. I agreed, and according to her, we will hold meetings quickly to see if we can reach a solution," Trump declared at Andrews Air Force Base, where he made the statement.
Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping is taking the opposite approach, seeking reconciliation with Brussels.
During a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Xi offered Beijing as a "stable partner" amid the commercial and diplomatic storms caused by Trump. He assured them that China is willing to collaborate with the EU to tackle global challenges together.
Xi’s conciliatory message aligns with China’s recent strategy of strengthening ties with the EU. In his conversation with Merz, Xi emphasized the need for China and Germany to expand their cooperation in sectors such as automotive manufacturing and artificial intelligence.
On Friday, Xi told Merz that Berlin and Beijing must "work together to maintain the international order."
This same phrase appeared in China’s official readout of Xi’s Thursday conversation with Macron. "China and France must jointly safeguard the rules of the global economic order," Xi stated, clearly referring to Trump’s global tariff war.
"China has always viewed Europe as an independent pole in a multipolar world and supports the EU in strengthening its strategic autonomy," Xi added.
Additionally, Xi reportedly told Merz that Beijing will open up further to mutual investment and aims to "start a new chapter in a comprehensive strategic partnership" with Berlin.
Following the new chancellor’s recent tough stance, in which he advocated for "strategic risk reduction" with the world’s second-largest economy and expressed concerns about China’s growing ties with Russia, Xi sought a positive first interaction with Merz.
Unlike Trump’s "blind strikes," China’s "win-win" strategy is clearly taking shape.
Chinese state media have recently published columns and editorials suggesting that China could form a "united front" with the EU against Trump’s isolationist policies, despite ongoing disputes between Beijing and Brussels.
