The EU is confronted with significant challenges.
European safety is crucial for the EU. The US perceives Europe as an ally, while China views the EU more as a hurdle. Where does Brussels stand globally? An external viewpoint.
Emmanuel Macron, the French president, issued a stern warning about the future of the European Union: "We need to be honest today that our Europe is in peril." Mikko Huotari, the director of Mercator Institute for China Studies (Merics), shares this worry, as he spoke in the podcast "Economy World & Beyond" about the "gravest security crisis that Europe has ever faced, which must be resolved first." For Huotari, it is imperative to "maintain and establish European security with Ukraine."
Coincidentally timed with the European election, the newest podcast episode examines the EU from an external standpoint. From the US point of view, the partnership with Europe is foremost, according to Julia Friedlander, managing director of the Atlantic Bridge. On the other hand, the Chinese perspective on the EU differs, as explained by Merics Director Mikko Huotari: "In essence, they find us annoying." The Merics director summarizes Beijing's outlook on the EU. After all, the EU applies pressure in significant strategic issues like China's relationship with Russia, as well as through its trade policy and concentration on human rights concerns.
Simultaneously, Beijing's focus is also on Taiwan. China views Taiwan as a renegade province and threatens to bring together the democratically governed island with China militarily. For the US, this issue is more real than for the EU, claims Friedlander: "In Washington, it's not a matter of whether the Taiwan crisis will escalate, but when." Should the EU take this danger more seriously? After all, an escalation would have major repercussions for the global economy.
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The EU's stance in the ongoing European elections is crucial, given the external perspectives from both the US and China. While the US sees Europe as a key partner, China views the EU as an obstacle, particularly in strategic issues like China's relationship with Russia and human rights concerns. Interestingly, Taiwan is a major focus for China, which views the democratically governed island as a renegade province and threatens to bring it under its control, a concern that seems more immediate to the US than the EU.
