Key facts
- A researcher from the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations argued the EU is blaming China's economic rise for its own shortcomings.
- The EU is reportedly preparing tougher measures to counter what it perceives as a 'China shock 2.0'.
- Two high-level meetings between the EU and China, including a digital dialogue and a diplomat's visit, were reportedly cancelled or postponed.
- China's foreign ministry stated that communications are ongoing regarding the dialogues.
A researcher from a Beijing-linked think tank has accused the European Union of clinging to a flawed narrative that China's economic rise poses an inherent threat to Europe, attributing the bloc's own economic difficulties to China's normal development.