Where Does Europe Stand? On The Side Of The US Or China?

President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping meet in Beijing in November. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Mathias Döpfner, Business Insider: The coronavirus pandemic makes it clear: Europe must decide between the US and China

* China's push for global economic and technological dominance has left Europe pulled between China and the continent's long-time partner, the US.
* The coronavirus pandemic makes it clear that Europe, particularly Germany, is running out of time to choose between the US and China.
* The democratic values of the US compared to the authoritarian values of China make the choice clear.

Crises always have a habit of clarifying things. The coronavirus crisis is no different.

Once a treatment for the virus has been found, the debates about shutdown and easing restrictions have passed, and the recession has reared its ugly head, nothing less than the world order itself must be clarified. Or to be more specific: the matter of alliance. Where does Europe stand? On the side of the US or China?

Let us first look at a few assumptions and a few facts. America, the democratic world power, is currently governed by a narcissistic president — a man seen to be vulgar, uneducated, and with a volatile character who lacks any sense whatsoever for institutions. Half of Americans and three quarters of Europeans have no respect for him.

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WNU Editor: European leaders have always looked at developing a closer relationship with China to not only diversify their exports, but to have leverage against the U.S.. But that has not happened. Europe's trade imbalance with China has only grown, helped by Chinese restrictions on European imports. And as for leverage against the U.S. .... totally ineffective in the age of Trump. So who will Europe decide to have closer relations with? Unfortunately for Europe, the same leaders and institutions that made and implemented the policies of the past decade to have better ties with China are the same ones who will determine Europe's future relationship with the U.S. and China. Being a good student of human behaviour, I for one will not be surprised if Europe doubles down on forging closer relations with China. Pandemic or no pandemic.

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