Leyen Outlines "De-risking" Strategy Toward China
(MENAFN) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized on Tuesday that the European Union seeks to "de-risk" rather than "decouple" its economic ties with China.
While addressing the plenary session of the European Parliament dedicated to EU-China relations, she clarified the bloc’s intentions to maintain connections without overdependence.
Von der Leyen reiterated the EU’s “readiness” to establish a "more balanced" and "more stable" partnership with China.
She stressed that while economic safeguards are necessary, a complete separation is not the goal.
The focus, instead, is to manage dependencies without severing ties.
Highlighting China’s transformation from a "society of agriculture" to "an industrial giant and a clean tech leader," she called for a "clear-eyed" evaluation of China’s evolving global role.
She noted that China's "entirely different system" and its "unique instruments at its disposal" allow it to operate beyond conventional norms, creating "strategic" and "systematic" threats for the European economy.
Von der Leyen pointed out that these mechanisms permit China to saturate international markets with state-backed overproduction, which not only favors its own industries but also stifles global competition.
This tactic, she warned, represents a serious challenge to fair trade dynamics.
Acknowledging China’s emergence as a "formidable actor" in global digital and cyberspace realms, von der Leyen "welcomed" the participation of all Chinese voices in international discussions.
However, she pledged to remain "vigilant" against "influence operations" and "cyberattacks" within Europe, categorizing such actions as "unacceptable."
Concluding her address, von der Leyen expressed hope for advancing cooperation. “I believe there's also an opportunity here to build a more meaningful partnership with China,” she stated.
To progress, however, she underscored the need to resolve long-standing disagreements, especially in areas demanding "predictability and reliability."
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