EU Blames China for Own Failures, Beijing-Linked Think Tank Claims

A researcher affiliated with a Chinese think tank has accused the European Union of adopting a flawed narrative that blames China's economic growth for Europe's own shortcomings. The criticism comes as Beijing reportedly canceled two high-level meetings with the EU in China.

Guo Mingxu, head of the Europe Economic Project at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, argued in a social media post that the EU is scapegoating China. He stated that narratives such as 'China's industrial upgrading equals a threat' and 'China's export growth equals a hidden danger' have become prevalent.

"These narratives proliferate, as if China's normal development itself were an offense – a kind of 'original sin' against Europe," Guo wrote. He suggested that Brussels is clinging to this perspective as it prepares to implement tougher measures against what it perceives as a 'China shock 2.0'.

The comments surfaced as the Financial Times reported that China had canceled two planned high-level meetings in Beijing this month: a ministerial-level digital dialogue and a visit by a senior EU diplomat. China's foreign ministry confirmed that the two sides remained in communication regarding the dialogues. However, EU sources told the South China Morning Post that the meetings, including a visit by Olof Skoog, deputy secretary general of the European External Action Service, had been postponed, but they did not characterize it as a retaliatory move by Beijing.

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Narratives such as ‘China’s industrial upgrading equals a threat’ and ‘China’s export growth equals a hidden danger’ have proliferated, as if China’s normal development itself were an offence – a kind of ‘original sin’ against Europe.