National Perspectives on Europe's De-risking from China
The concept of “de-risking” has become a significant focus for the European Union (EU) in managing its relations with China since first proposed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in March 2023. However, the interpretation and policy responses to de-risking vary across Europe, reflecting diverse national perspectives.
This year’s report from the European Think-tank Network on China (ETNC), of which Ifri is a co-founding member, examines how 21 EU member states and the United Kingdom view and approach de-risking within their national contexts, including practical steps they have taken towards the enforcement of this much talked-about policy.
The report highlights the diversity of national approaches to Europe’s de-risking agenda. It showcases countries’ internal debates (or lack thereof); highlights common concerns and risks associated with China; tracks de-risking measures adopted at national level and discusses potential barriers to Europe’s de-risking from China. Instead of a uniform and consistent implementation of EU policy, the situation more closely resembles a game of Broken Telephone with each country following its own interpretation and approach. The report offers a mapping of these national perspectives, grouping the countries into Early Advocates, Endorsers/Followers, Cautious Adopters, and Opponents.
France: Chinese undertones in a broader quest for economic security
In the report, Ifri's John Seaman explains that France is a proponent of “de-risking” both as a way to hedge against a slide towards deeper decoupling from China and as part of a broader approach to bolstering economic security and achieving greater economic sovereignty for the EU. As such, France is considered an "early advocate" of a de-risking approach in that Paris was functionally a proactive supporter of it even before it became a guiding concept for the European Commission. Indeed, China’s growing economic clout and ambitions are a source of concern for the French authorities and French firms alike. However, they are one concern among many as power politics increasingly undermines the pillars of a more liberal economic rules-based order. In practice, at the national and European levels, France has actively pursued the development of offensive industrial policy tools to boost economic competence and resilience, as well as defensive measures to protect critical infrastructure and strategic economic assets and guard against the leakage of key technology and know-how. While such policies are considered necessary, it has also sought to avoid directly antagonising Beijing in the process.
Discover this and all ETNC reports on the network's website: https://etnc.info/
Available in:
Regions and themes
Share
Download the full analysis
This page contains only a summary of our work. If you would like to have access to all the information from our research on the subject, you can download the full version in PDF format.
National Perspectives on Europe's De-risking from China
Related centers and programs
Discover our other research centers and programsFind out more
Discover all our analysesExpanding SPDMM as a pivotal institution in the Pacific – A French perspective
The South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM) is the only forum that brings together defense ministers from the wider South Pacific — including Chile, which is hosting it for the first time. This heterogeneous group of countries with varying resources, capacities, and interests — Australia, Chile, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea (PNG), and Tonga — are united by their shared determination to strengthen cooperation on maritime security and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) activities.
EU’s Derisking From China: A Daunting Task
With economic security as a major concern, the EU has recently turned to “derisking” from China. The EU strategy entails reducing critical dependencies and vulnerabilities, including in EU supply chains, and diversifying where necessary, while recognizing the importance and need to maintain open channels of communication.
Sri Lanka’s NPP Government. From System Change to Structural Compliance
In September 2024, a relative outsider to Sri Lanka’s two-party-dominated political system, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, won the presidential elections. The anti-establishment, populist movement he represented, the National People’s Power (NPP), went on to receive an overwhelming mandate in the November 2024 general elections, winning 159 seats in a 225-member parliament.
Japan Under Trump: Alliance Strains, the Push for Autonomy and Essential Partnerships
Japan is under pressure from the United States (US) on punitive tariffs and demands for increased defence spending. This has sparked deep concern over US credibility and triggered growing domestic calls for greater autonomy.