The EU-China diplomacy and the Belt and Road Initiative

The EU-China relationship has undergone noticeable changes. Increasingly confident in its development model, China has been eager to promote international cooperation with Chinese characteristics. The Belt and Road Initiative was put forward as a “proactive” plan for China to realise the “Chinese dream” and achieve its centennial goals. The EU used to perceive China’s rise as a good opportunity for mutual benefit. Yet, in recent years, the EU has become more sceptical and gotten more defensive and protective of its own model of development and its market. In this paper, the author will first review the EU’s changing attitude toward the BRI and examine how the EU gradually shaped its perception of the BRI. Then the author will analyse why such changes occurred and conclude with tentative remarks on how the EU-China relationship will further evolve.