Online Briefing: Taking Stock of China’s Relations with Washington and Moscow: Implications for Europe (ECKN)

Online Briefing: Taking Stock of China’s Relations with Washington and Moscow: Implications for Europe (ECKN)

The Xi–Trump summit brought a temporary stabilization to China–US relations without altering the underlying strategic rivalry. While both sides sought to avoid further escalation in tariffs and export controls, major disagreements over Taiwan, technology, and global security remain unresolved.

The summit was followed within days by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Beijing, where he and Xi Jinping reaffirmed their strategic partnership and expanding economic ties. Together, these meetings highlighted China's efforts to balance relations with both Washington and Moscow amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.

For Europe, even a period of relative China–US stability could bring new challenges, including increased trade pressure, intensified competition in strategic sectors, and continued vulnerabilities in critical supply chains. This online briefing assessed what the summit reveals about the next phase of China–US relations, the role of the China–Russia partnership, and the implications for Europe's economic security and geopolitical position.

Introducing the ECKN

E-CKN is an initiative by the Dutch China Knowledge Network, the German Mercator Institute for China Studies, the Swedish National China Centre at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs and the Polish Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW). E-CKN partners with key Brussels-based organizations and other (cross-)national efforts to expand and connect China expertise across Europe via roundtable discussions, briefings, and other activities.

Speakers

Patricia M. Kim (The Brookings Institution)

Eva Seiwert (MERICS)

Alexis von Sydow (Swedish National China Centre)

Moderator: Jakub Jakóbowski (the Centre for Eastern Studies)