Dear ICES friends,
We are delighted to present the latest issue of our bi-weekly newsletter.
Few relations are as crucial and valuable as the ones - past, present, and future - connecting
Europe and China. At ICES, we believe that regular knowledge-sharing can be the bedrock that empowers
mutually beneficial partnerships and the foundation for fruitful collaborations. Every first and
third week of the month, we highlight the latest developments and fresh ideas across various fields
to enhance cross-continental communication and understanding. We invite you to explore the key
news highlights, insights, and top event recommendations from the past two weeks.
The ICES' Takeaway from this Edition
The first half of November saw a mix of engagement and friction shaping EU-China relations
and global governance. China extended its visa-free policy and sought to deepen ties with
Spain, but diplomatic tensions were visible as Beijing sharply criticised the European
Parliament for hosting a top politician of Taiwan. Economic issues remained central: the EU
struggled to interpret China’s suspension of rare-earth export controls, opened an in-depth
probe into the MMG–Anglo American nickel deal, and moved to impose customs duties on
low-value parcels to curb the surge of Chinese e-commerce imports. While Chinese firms in
Europe reported stable revenues, their assessment of the EU business environment continued
to decrease for six consecutive years. Frictions also intensified as China expressed
“extreme disappointment” with a Dutch minister regarding the Nexperia disputes.
In Brussels, the Europe-China Forum 2025 gathered senior officials and experts to mark 50 years
of bilateral relations while acknowledging persistent tensions. China’s ambassador to the EU
reiterated that Taiwan is a core interest and that the “One China” principle underpins the relationship.
The Belgian ambassador to China said that Beijing continues to underestimate how central the
Russia–Ukraine conflict is for EU member states. A senior representative from the European Commission
stressed that the EU needs stronger decisive powers to advance de-risking and economic autonomy,
noting that the Commission is developing new tools to support its economic autonomy. Despite
these differences, speakers underscored the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation
on green transition, digital governance and people-to- people communications. As speakers concluded,
the EU and China ultimately cannot afford to work without each other.
NEWS ROUND
THE WEEKS' HIGHLIGHTS: PROGRESS & PITFALLS
China extends visa-free policy to end-2026, adds Sweden to scheme
Reuters, November 4, 2025
China will extend its visa-free entry policy for 45 countries including France, Germany and Spain to December 31, 2026 and expand the scheme to cover Sweden, effective November 10, the foreign ministry said.
Beijing rebukes EU over Taiwan politician’s visit to Parliament
Euractiv and
Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the European
Union, November 10, 2025
Beijing has criticised the European Parliament for hosting Taiwan’s Hsiao Bi-khim, calling her 7 November appearance at the IPAC summit in Brussels as a violation of the "One China" principle and claiming EU lawmakers of "eroding the political mutual trust between China and the EU."
EU-CHINA RELATIONS
EU baffled by mixed US-China signals on rare earths restrictions
Euractiv, November 3, 2025
The European Commission said it still has no firm assurance that the EU is covered by China’s one–year suspension of the rare–earth export restrictions announced in October, despite Beijing’s temporary pause and US claims the curbs have effectively been lifted.
Commission opens in-depth investigation into the proposed acquisition of Anglo
American’s nickel business by MMG
European Commission, November 4, 2025
The European Commission has opened an in-depth probe into MMG’s planned acquisition of Anglo American’s nickel assets over concerns that the China-controlled miner could restrict ferronickel supply and disadvantage European stainless steel producers.
China, Spain look to bolster ties amid evolving global dynamics
Xinhua, November 13, 2025
China is ready to deepen its comprehensive strategic partnership with Spain, President Xi Jinping told King Felipe VI, during his first state visit to China since his enthronement and the first Spanish royal visit in 18 years.
Chinese firms in the EU enjoy rising profits despite surging East-West frictions
Euractiv, November 12, 2025
A report published by the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU shows that the vast majority of Chinese companies operating in Europe continued to post stable or rising revenue and profits in 2024, with 84% reporting steady or growing revenue and 82% noting unchanged or increased profits, while only 16% and 19% reported declines. However, the overall rating of the EU business environment among Chinese companies declined for the sixth consecutive year.
EU agrees faster crackdown on China parcels that could hit Shein, Temu
Reuters, November 13, 2025
European finance ministers agreed on Thursday to bring forward to next year customs duties on low-value parcels arriving in the bloc to crack down on cheap Chinese e-commerce imports, in a move set to hit Chinese online retailers Shein and Temu.
China voices ‘extreme disappointment’ with Dutch minister at centre of car chip row
The Guardian and
Bloomberg
, November 14, 2025
China expressed "extreme disappointment" with Dutch economic affairs minister Vincent Karremans, after he described the semiconductor standoff with the EU as a "wake-up call" in an interview, accusing him of distorting facts and warning that governments should not use administrative measures to interfere in corporate operations . The reaction came as the Dutch government announced on 13 November that a delegation will visit Beijing early next week to seek a "mutually agreeable" solution to the Nexperia issue.
GLOBAL GOVERNANCE INSIGHTS SELECTED BY THE ICES
China's Xi pushes for global AI body at APEC in counter to US
Reuters, November 1, 2025
Chinese President Xi Jinping took centrestage at a meeting of APEC leaders to push a proposal for a global body to govern artificial intelligence and position China as an alternative to the United States on trade cooperation.
Two years on: the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean turn Global Gateway commitments
into action
European Commission, November 10, 2025
The European Commission announced the launch of the “EU–LAC Supercomputing Network for AI” which builds on the earlier Global Gateway commitments and promotes digital connectivity, research collaboration and weather–monitoring infrastructure across Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Macron Floats G–7 Summit Invite for China’s Xi Jinping Next Year
Bloomberg, November 12, 2025
Emmanuel Macron is thinking about inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the 2026 Group of Seven summit in France and the idea has been discussed with some allies, according to people familiar with the matter.
China–Africa Partnership Conference highlights cooperation toward shared global
governance
Xinhua, November 14, 2025
The African Union (AU), China and more than 40 African countries gathered in Johannesburg for a "China–Africa Partnership Conference" to launch a 2026 Action Plan and issue a think–tank report titled "Jointly Building a New Model of Global Leadership."
ICES-NOTED REGIONAL ISSUES
China warns Japan of 'crushing' defeat, tells Chinese citizens to shun visits
Reuters and
Global Times
, November 14, 2025
China on Friday warned Japan of a "crushing" military defeat if it uses force to intervene over Taiwan, and cautioned Chinese citizens against visits to Japan, angered by its prime minister's remarks about the island, which Beijing claims.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: CURRENT RESEARCH AND COMMENTS
What can Europe learn from China’s critical-tech innovation push?
Bruegel, November 4, 2025
According to Alicia and Michal, China is rapidly closing the innovation gap with the United States in AI, semiconductors and quantum technologies, driven by fast replication of breakthroughs, diverse patent contributors and rising strength in basic research, while Europe lags far behind due to slow diffusion, fragmented markets and limited commercialisation capacity.
Different routes to decarbonisation: EU carbon pricing versus China’s green tech
Bruegel, November 10, 2025
Alicia argues that, in the lead–up to COP30, the EU and China are the main drivers of global climate diplomacy, yet their climate strategies diverge sharply. Europe curbs emissions through a high carbon price, imposing real economic costs but delivering genuine demand–side reductions, while China prioritises massive green–tech production that lowers global clean–energy costs but does little to cut its own fossil–fuel use. For their climate partnership to be credible, the EU must stay the course on carbon pricing, while China needs to strengthen its emissions trading system and tackle coal–intensive industries .
China's climate pledge for 2035
European Parliament, November 10, 2025
The European Parliament's report presents and analyses the newly submitted national–determined contribution (NDC) by China under the Paris Agreement, which for the first time commits China to absolute greenhouse–gas emissions reductions.
EVENS
Over the past two weeks, the ICES has actively participated in a series of events. We are delighted to share some of our insights:
On November 5, the ECIPE–Clingendael webinar “The New Economic Diplomacy” explores how global economic relations are shifting from a rules–based system to one increasingly driven by geopolitical rivalry, with the US, China and the EU each adopting more security–oriented trade and industrial policies.
On November 13, Friends of Europe hosted the 2025 Europe–China Forum in Brussels, bringing together policymakers, business leaders, academics and civil society to mark 50 years of EU–China relations and reflect on how the partnership should evolve in the coming decades. Discussions centred on sustainable development, security, strategic (research) cooperation, and economic relations, etc.
CONTACT WITH US
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Linkedin: Institute for China-Europe Studies (ICES)
Website: ices-eu.org
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Please note that all news and views cited in this bulletin, if not otherwise indicated, do not represent the position of ICES.