Only recently have European governments and businesses started a serious debate about how to deal with China's growing role and influence in the world, including in Europe. One important ingredient is still missing, however: the EU-internal dimension. Failure to address this shortcoming now may prove costly later, as the migration and euro crises have shown.
Europe has to come to grips with the fact that the balance of opportunities and challenges presented by China differs profoundly between EU member states. Advanced economies benefit from established trade ties with and investment in China, and have growing worries about Chinese take-overs of their (high-tech) companies. Less developed economies want infrastructure development at home, which Chinese money and Chinese companies can facilitate. More trade with China can help develop their economies, while reducing their (trade and political) dependence on large European countries.
Europe has to come to grips with the fact that the balance of opportunities and challenges presented by China differs profoundly between EU member states. Advanced economies benefit from established trade ties with and investment in China, and have growing worries about Chinese take-overs of their (high-tech) companies. Less developed economies want infrastructure development at home, which Chinese money and Chinese companies can facilitate. More trade with China can help develop their economies, while reducing their (trade and political) dependence on large European countries.
