Currents in Context

While some recent moves, from trade to coronavirus aid, may suggest Italy is moving closer to China, the reality is that the country's China policy continues to seesaw between assuagement of traditional Western allies and closer ties with China.

The importance of the trade relationship with China has encouraged the view in Germany that economic dependencies limit its choices in areas like human rights and investment. But closer scrutiny suggests this might not be the case.

The COVID-19 crisis seems to have deepened the sense that a logic of divergence now prevails between China and Europe. Is a rebalance of the EU-China relationship possible? And if so, how?