Can the EU walk a strategic autonomy tightrope in the China-US tug of war? - South China Morning Post

Frans-Paul van der Putten, an independent China expert based in the Netherlands, noted historic complacency had hindered the EU response to emerging geopolitical vulnerabilities, especially regarding Washington's global role.

"People and leaders in Europe assumed that the West would forever remain the dominant grouping in the global order, and that being heavily dependent on the US was not a problem," he said. "As a result, the EU has been very slow to see its geopolitical vulnerabilities and to adjust its foreign policies."

He linked China's increasingly assertive stance towards Europe to its intensifying rivalry with Washington.

"China's hardening position towards Europe reflects the intensification of the US-China geopolitical rivalry," he said.

"As the US increasingly involves third countries in its effort to slow China's technological and military development, the Chinese government is also becoming more inclined to put pressure on such countries. As a result, the room for EU strategic autonomy is diminishing."

By Shi Jiangtao. Full article is available on the SCMP website.