Wang Yi calls for peace and multilateral cooperation on European tour
(China Daily, September 14, 2025)

On Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's five-day European tour, he is emphasising the Chinese commitment to promoting political solutions for global hot-spot issues. He highlighted the importance of multilateralism, global mechanisms, and the UN Charta, underlining the importance of the announced Global Governance Initiative for these issues.

China hits EU pork imports with temporary duties of up to 62%
(Financial Times, September 5, 2025)

China has introduced preliminary anti-dumping tariffs of up to 62% on pork imports from Europe, following more than a year of investigation. This is seen as a reaction to European tariffs on Chinese EVs.

Facing China’s solar power industry, EU advised to concede defeat
(South China Morning Post, September 2, 2025)

A group of French and German economists presented five memos to the Franco-German Council of Ministers, recommending that Europe should identify clear priority sectors amid Chinese industry competition. Sectors, such as solar power, which are already lost, must be abandoned, while sensitive sectors, including defence, space, and robotics, are advised to be protected.

First Chinese delegation in 7 years to visit European Parliament
(Politico, September 3, 2025)

For the first time in seven years, a delegation of Chinese politicians is to visit the European Parliament in October or November 2025, followed by a trip by EU lawmakers to China in late May. The meetings are supposed to address questions of trade, the war in Ukraine, the role of the UN, and human rights.

Germany Probes Chinese Bid For Electronics Giant
(Taipei Times, September 4, 2025)

After the Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com Inc's announcement to take over the major German electronics retail group Ceconomy AG in July, Berlin is currently probing whether this might entail security risks.

China's BYD to produce all EVs for Europe locally by 2028, executive says
(Reuters, September 8, 2025)

At the IAA Mobility car show in Munich, BYD executive vice president Stella Li announced that BYD's EVs for the European market are planned to be produced locally within three years to avoid EU tariffs. In the short term, plug-in hybrids are supposed to dominate BYD's European sales.

Merz Warns China Ready to Exploit German ‘Trade Vulnerabilities’
(Bloomberg UK, September 8, 2025)

At a conference in Berlin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced to prioritise Germany's reduction of its dependencies on Chinese raw materials. He warned that China is ready to exploit German "trade vulnerabilities". While cooperation in some areas is desirable, de-risking efforts should be increased.

Dior fined in China for sending data overseas without security screening
(South China Morning Post, September 9, 2025)

Chinese cyber police fined the French fashion brand Dior’s Shanghai subsidiary after finding the company guilty of transmitting data overseas without security screening. This is the first major case of violations since the Personal Information Protection Law came into place.

2025 State of the Union Address by President von der Leyen
(European Commission, September 10, 2025)

Regarding EU-China relations, in the latest State of the Union Address, Commission President von der Leyen emphasised the role of China as a competitor in the field of clean tech, European EV efforts to counter Chinese market dominance, and Chinese ties with Russia.

Chinese goods redirected to Germany due to US tariffs, researchers say
(Reuters, September 10, 2025)

Following the US tariffs on China, the amount of Chinese goods shipped to Germany increased significantly, particularly in categories such as copper, apparel, and toys. In the first seven months of this year, imports rose by 10.5%, potentially intensifying the price competition in Germany.

China cannot be ignored, Britain's trade minister says, as row over embassies clouds ties
(Reuters, September 11, 2025)

Britain's new trade minister, Peter Kyle, is visiting China for the first trade talks since 2018, as he characterises China's economic power as "unignorable". He seeks to lift trade barriers and urges Beijing to move past the embassy dispute to enable better ties.

Xi proposes Global Governance Initiative at largest-ever SCO summit
(Chinese State Council, September 1, 2025)

During the "Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Plus" meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) for a more just and equitable global governance system. He underlined his vision for a new global security and economic order that prioritises the so-called Global South. This fourth landmark global initiative proposed by Xi is announced to be based on five principles – sovereign equality, rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centred approach, and real actions – and open to all countries, avoiding double standards.

Xi Jinping hails China-Russia ties for withstanding test of geopolitical uncertainties
(South China Morning Post, September 2, 2025)

In a high-profile meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that China-Russia relations have "withstood the test of international circumstances" and continue to serve as an example of good relations, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation. The meeting is seen as a demonstration of solidarity amid growing pressure from the US.

Strategic Foresight Report 2025
(European Commission, September 9, 2025)

The European Commission published the Strategic Foresight Report 2025, emphasising the "erosion of the rules-based international order and fracturing of the global landscape". The report underlines the need for European autonomy and reduced dangerous dependencies.

Beijing slams Trump’s call for NATO countries to stop buying Russian oil, hit China with heavy tariffs
(CBC, September 9, 2025)

US President Donald Trump urged the NATO countries to stop buying Russian oil. Further, he requested to impose EU tariffs of up to 100% on China and India, major buyers of Russian oil, to pressure the Russian President to end the war in Ukraine. The Chinese foreign affairs minister responded that China doesn’t participate in wars or plot them. Sanctions would only complicate the issues.

China’s former climate envoy to meet with EU to revive flailing UN pact, sources say
(Reuters, September 15, 2025)

According to Reuters, China’s former climate envoy, Xie Zhenhua, will meet with the EU’s top green transition official, Teresa Ribera, in Brussels to push for more ambitious climate goals and coordinate joint diplomatic efforts ahead of the COP30 summit.

China criticises Canadian, Australian warships transiting Taiwan Strait
(Reuters, September 7, 2025)

China’s military criticised and confirmed that its forces warned a Canadian and an Australian warship, which were sailing through the Taiwan Strait. The transiting is seen as "trouble-making and provocation".

Pacific Islands leaders call for ‘ocean of peace’ at forum after China claims make waves
(South China Morning Post, September 10, 2025)

Following the Pacific Islands Forum, the leaders issued a call for an “ocean of peace”, calling for respect of their sovereignty amid rising geopolitical tensions. Responding to speculations of Chinese pressure to exclude Taiwan, the group highlighted its independence from external power rivalries while advancing regional unity and tackling climate challenges.

China releases details of Huangyan Island national nature reserve
(China Daily, September 11, 2025)

China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration has released the details of the planned Huangyan Island national nature reserve, which mainly focuses on the conservation of the coral reef ecosystem.

Safeguarding collective memory, while jointly shouldering the responsibilities of the times
(euobserver, September 1, 2025)

H. E. Ambassador Cai Run looks back on the post-war history, placing the anti-fascist alliance at the centre of the UN foundation, the defence of human dignity and greater peace. The "profound wartime friendship forged between China and Europe" is emphasised, urging to continue the joint fight for multilateralism, cooperation, openness, and deeper mutual understanding.

China’s meeting with India and Russia was about more than Trump
(MERICS, September 4, 2025)

In Manoj Kewalramani’s MERICS commentary on the recently concluded SCO summit, he looks into the complexity of China-Russia-India ties, arguing that the engagement was not solely motivated by US President Trump’s policies.

The post-summit outlook for EU-China relations
(Friends of Europe, September 9, 2025)

Sacha Courtial's outlook after the EU-China summit suggests that the tense but pragmatic bilateral relations are mainly shaped by structural hurdles, new obstacles, China’s desire for deeper cooperation and the degree to which the EU is willing to engage further.

China’s Economic Deterrence Playbook
(RAND, September 10, 2025)

The RAND paper by Francesca Ghiretti, Nicholas Taylor, and Conlan Ellis examines China's evolving strategy of economic deterrence. The authors argue that despite the absence of a formal doctrine, a coherent and effective system that discourages economic coercion from third parties has been formed.

Courting Berlin, countering Brussels: China’s twin-track approach to Germany and the EU
(MERICS, September 10, 2025)

The commentary by Stefan Messingschlager shows that China has pursued a twin-track approach since Germany announced its China Strategy in 2023. While reassuring Berlin through business-friendly optics and high-level access, Beijing is pushing back at the EU level on trade defence and technology controls.

Europe Between the United States and China
(GMF, September 11, 2025)

In Gesine Weber's article for GMF, she argues that the development of US–China relations has a significant impact on European security. Europe needs a strategy to carve out space for its security agency and promote its interests in the European and Indo-Pacific theatres.

EU-China Relations After the 2024 European Elections: A Timeline
(China Briefing, September 15, 2025)

The China Briefing's review of the EU–China relationship since 2024 shows the bilateral relation's crucial role in the global business landscape. Further, current shifts and competition contribute to volatility and adjustments.

Crossroads after the 2025 EU-China Summit
(ISDP, September 15, 2025)

ISDP's Research Fellow Johannes Nordin reflects on the 2025 EU–China Summit, pointing out the Chinese reluctance to address core EU concerns, EU pressures from the US and due to the war in Ukraine, and an uncertain future.

On September 5, European Guanxi hosted its Youth Conference 2025, titled "50 Years of EU-China Relations: Challenges and Opportunities", in Brussels. Discussing global order, artificial intelligence, trade, and economics, the young team brought together interesting panel speakers to talk about EU-China relations. ICES Executive Director Yang Li spoke on the panel on global order about his perspectives, visions, and understandings of Europe and China in the global order.

On the occasion of the HuaYang delegation’s visit to Brussels, ICES hosted an "EU–China Roundtable: South China Sea, Taiwan Strait, and 50 Years of Diplomatic Relations" on September 9. Introduced by a short keynote speech by Dr Wu Shicun, a selected group of colleagues came together to discuss relevant issues, including Chinese and European positions in the South China Sea, the current situation in the Taiwan Strait, and 50 Years of diplomatic relations.

In the morning of September 15, the Brussels Office of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs – Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) and the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union hosted the Brussels side event of the Berlin Conference on Asian Security. The experts from India, Japan, Germany and the EEAS discussed their views on the development of the world order and European and Asian actors in this future.