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ICES Webinar | European Security and the Roles of China and the USA

Hosted by the Institute for China-Europe Studies (ICES)

roundtable

Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 CET

ICES was pleased to welcome:

  • Amanda PAUL, Senior Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre (EPC)
  • Dr. YAN Shaohua, Associate Professor, Fudan University
  • Dr. André HÄRTEL, Head of the Brussels Office, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)
  • Dr. CUI Hongjian, Professor, Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU)
  • The event was moderated by YANG Li, Executive Director, ICES
    •

    As security is becoming an all-encompassing concept in Europe and elsewhere in the new global (dis)order, this ICES Webinar explored the EU’s ambitions for “security to become the organising principle of action” in the words of Commission President von der Leyen.

    The roles of China and the US in this new direction have been and remain crucial, and this event was the occasion to discuss with both European and Chinese speakers what shape the future European security architecture might take and how China and the USA will influence it.

    All the speakers agreed on the determining role the end of the Russian war will have on Europe’s security, as well as on the rupture of the transatlantic alliance and its long-term consequences on the balance of power. In light of the USA’s disengagement and active threat to Greenland, European speakers emphasised the pressing needs and solutions for Europe to strengthen their strategic autonomy by diversifying partners, addressing the Russian threat and enforcing the Draghi’s report’s recommendations. Chinese speakers, on the other hand, stressed we were now in a new world order in which the USA is accelerating to prioritise its own interest without coordinating with its traditional partners, and the reinforced necessity to strengthen China-Europe security cooperation in a constructive manner.

    One main point of frank and lively debate emerged between the speakers on the issue of Russia and the future of Ukraine, as European experts tend to interpret China’s tacit support to Russia economically, geopolitically and narratively on the world stage as detrimental to European interests and EU-China relations. Chinese academics on the other hand, insisted on the fact that China’s position towards the Russia-Ukraine war is more complex and neutral than presented in European circles, highlighting the humanitarian support brought to Ukraine, the tendency for Europe to apply Western worldviews onto Chinese foreign policy decisions and the constructive talks that could instead benefit a crisis resolution in the region.

    Overall however, both Chinese and European speakers agreed on the value such exchanges represent to foster better understanding and trust between the EU and China.

    We extend our sincere thanks to the speakers for their insightful contributions and sometimes lively debate and to our engaged audience for their participation.

    If you were unable to follow the discussion live, we invite you to watch the full recording via: https://youtu.be/HmIzuH4SA_E