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Deep Dive | China, European Union
From seduction to disdain, EU diplomacy grapples with China

LogoSubscribers only By Antoine Izambard and Louis Raymond
6 min read Lire en français

Part 1
Brussels, a hub for Chinese spies (1/3).
Brussels, a hub for Chinese spies (1/3). © Stéphane Oiry

The European Union's diplomatic arm under Josep Borrell took its relationship with Beijing so far that several senior Commission officials got their fingers burnt. There has however been a noticeable hardening of the stance towards China since the arrival of his successor, Kaja Kallas.

More from this Deep Dive

China's spies in Brussels (3/3 published parts)

With China on the agenda of the G7 in Evian and upcoming European Council meeting, Beijing has been deploying all its tools of influence in Brussels and across the bloc's capitals, with think-tanks, NGOs, academic institutions and EU civil servants repeatedly targeted by the Chinese Communist Party. Long considered too conciliatory, the European Service for External Action (EEAS) has toughened its stance but is now under fire from critics. Meanwhile the EU Commission keeps pushing for a European intelligence agency, but is struggling to convince member states. In this three-part series, Intelligence Online investigates this covert war and the European Union's response to these attacks.

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