🔉 Policy is coordinated across Party, state, companies, banks, and media – and can involve Chinese tourists, students, or diaspora members in Europe.

1) keep Europe open to Chinese trade and investment;

2) preserve access to advanced technology; and

3) discourage Europe from aligning too closely with the United States on security and high-tech controls.

🔉 China is a proactive – not reactive – player. Beijing’s approach to Europe is pragmatic and strategic. In its EU policy paper and in speeches by Xi Jinping, China sets three core aims:

🔉 China views Europe as plural and therefore influenceable, and tailors its influence tools accordingly.

Shopov calls it a diversified toolbox of engagement — spanning governments, societies, and markets.
Understanding it means rethinking how we interpret China’s rise.
Read the full analysis: chinaobservers.eu/how-to-think... #China #Geopolitics #Europe #Influence #Strategy #ForeignPolicy #BRI

The takeaway?
China isn’t replacing its old playbook — it’s augmenting it.
A mix of top-down strategy and bottom-up improvisation makes Beijing’s influence more resilient and complex.

Transition #6: From crude influence → adaptive statecraft.
After a decade of learning, China’s external engagement is more sophisticated, coordinated, and locally responsive.

Transition #5: From isolation to partnership.
Beijing now co-opts others — Russia in disinformation, Hungary as a financial conduit, Serbia as a regional intermediary.

Transition #4: From loans to ecosystems.
State banks no longer act alone. Now it’s venture capital, private firms, AIIB, and joint ventures.
A web of influence, not a single thread.

Transition #3: From visibility to embedding.
Instead of one-off projects, Chinese firms are positioning in key industries — AI, EVs, energy — across Central & Eastern Europe.

Transition #2: From elites to societies.
Language programs in kindergartens, cultural festivals, “friendly” university networks — China is building social infrastructure, not just physical.

Transition #1: From states to cities.
Beijing is engaging mayors, governors, and local councils — not just presidents.
Local diplomacy = access to EU funds, weaker oversight, and deeper roots.

🔬 Women make up 45.8% of China’s STEM workforce but only 6% of academy members.
🦹‍♀️ Feminist voices that challenge this contradiction – from the #MeToo movement to activists like Huang Xueqin – face increasing repression.
Read more 👉 chinaobservers.eu/chinas-float...

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💼For CHOICE in Brussels, Emma Belmonte investigates why there is NO trace of the China-EU Parliamentary Meeting on Chinese official websites, social media & state media..🕵‍♀️

✍ Filip Čápek writes about China's presence in the #Czech election campaign, Réka Koleszár examines the role of China policy in the next #Hungarian election, and Konrad Szatters compares Chinese and Russian influence in #Moldova's election.

However, the trade is still tilted in Beijing’s favor:
💶Trade 2025 (Jan–Aug): €49.8B (+16%)
💶Imports from China: €40.7B (+24.5%)
💶Exports to China: €9.1B (–11.1%)
Full article: chinaobservers.eu/italy-china-...

Under Meloni, Italy is crafting a model balancing strategic autonomy with transatlantic alignment
👉“buy transatlantic” approach in tech and cybersecurity
👉golden power protections in strategic sectors
👉de-risk without decoupling from China
👉cultural diplomacy to keep dialogue alive