Navigating China: EU's Strategy to Reduce Dependence and Maintain Relations

European leaders are seeking to tone down their battle with China as they gather in Brussels, with some Western European governments attempting to water down a draft statement to avoid angering Beijing. While pressure from the US to protect their economies from Chinese influence remains, EU countries are wary of jeopardizing their economic ties with China, which amount to €230 billion in exports annually. The latest draft of the concluding statement from the European Council summit shows a consensus in favor of maintaining constructive and stable relations with China, despite concerns over Beijing's economic bullying and equivocation on the Ukraine war.