China’s charm offensive: Beijing bypasses Brussels in bid to soften EU trade push

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Finbarr BerminghamJanuary 16, 2026 at 04:00 PM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

China is engaging in a charm offensive targeting individual European Union member states in early 2024, offering trade concessions and diplomatic gestures. This effort aims to strengthen bilateral ties with countries like France, Ireland, Spain, and the Czech Republic, even as relations between Beijing and Brussels remain strained. China's strategy involves offering market access, visas, and symbolic gifts to selected nations. Sources suggest China is using these bilateral channels to undermine EU policies and create division within the bloc, particularly as the European Commission prepares further trade actions against China. The goal is to soften the EU's increasingly assertive trade and geopolitical stance toward China.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Ireland 50% Spain 50% Prague 50% France 50% Czech Republic 60% Europe ×270% European Commission 70% Brussels ×370% European Union ×280% Hua Chunying 80% China ×590%

Keywords

china 100% eu 90% trade 80% charm offensive 70% diplomacy 70% bilateral relations 60% market access 60% trade action 50% european commission 50% brussels 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.20

Source Transparency

Source

South China Morning Post

Political Lean

Center-Right (0.50)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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china eu trade charm offensive diplomacy bilateral relations market access trade action european commission brussels

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