Contemporary Transformations in the European Union–Germany–China Relations

Abstract

This article analyses broadly the European Union’s (EU) growing geopolitical ambitions in the context of its shifting stance on China. Within the EU, it focuses on the Germany–China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by noting the current developments and changes in the Germany–China partnership. Here, the discontinuity between the ‘old’ and ‘new’ obstacles in Germany–China trade relations is identified through an analysis of four critical issues: Germany’s Federation of German Industries (BDI) policy paper, Made in China 2025, Germany’s Industrie 4.0 and Germany’s 5G conundrum. Through the above, the article makes the argument that though there are considerable new strains on Germany–China relations and EU–China relations, concrete transformations affecting trade relations have not been observed. The article concludes by noting that the achievement of the new-found geopolitical ambitions of the EU would require a much more concentrated effort by all members rather than mere posturing.