The EU-U.S. dialogue on China is 'dead on arrival' by Ken Moak

European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Josep Borrell proposed the EU-U.S. dialogue on China in June to check the Asian nation's rise and growing influence in Eastern Europe. Borrell criticized China of using "debt trap" diplomacy when 17 Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) signed the "17+1" platform with China to enhance their economic development in 2012. Borrell again complained that China was employing "mask diplomacy" when the Asian power sent medical equipment to some of the countries to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

However, Borrell's proposal did not get much attention on either side of the Atlantic until recently. Some Western politicians are using "illiberal" developments in China to rally support in stifling China's growing power.

The dialogue's revival gained currency in the EU, probably because some of its members are losing competition and influence to China. The Asian economic powerhouse is able to produce advanced machinery and other equipment, reducing its dependence on those produced in Europe, particularly in Germany. For example, German companies such as Siemens are losing market share not only in China but elsewhere because of competition from Chinese manufacturers. In this sense, reviving the dialogue might be an attempt to slow down China's advance in high-end manufacturing.

The U.S. might be motivated by Donald Trump's falling behind in the polls to Democrat nominee Joe Biden as a result of the president's mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, calling soldiers killed in wars "losers and suckers" and a sinking economy.

Trump's complacency and inept management of the pandemic caused the infection of over seven million and the death of over 200,000 Americans. On top of the loss of human lives, the U.S. economy contracted by over 32 percent in the second quarter of this year. Playing the "China card" was an effective way of deflecting attention away from the president's failed policies.

However, the EU-U.S. dialogue on China might not gain traction because of the world's economic reality.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU, held a virtual summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping only days before the news emerged about the dialogue's revival. The meeting would suggest the EU and China are embarking on the path of cooperation rather than confrontation.

EU probably has more in common with China than with the U.S., in that both champion globalization, desire to address climate change and other issues that the U.S. shun. For example, Germany and France sided with China in opposing the Trump administration's "snapback" to force the return of sanctions on Iran.

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The EU-U.S. dialogue on China is 'dead on arrival' - CGTN