U.S. President Donald Trump is imposing high tariffs indiscriminately on allies and adversaries alike, causing cracks in relations with key allies, while China is actively exploiting this gap to foster Western alliances, an analysis from foreign news outlets noted.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 23rd, the most notable changes are emerging in Europe. Even pro-American European leaders are mentioning the end of the Atlantic alliance. Ursula von der Leyen, Chairperson of the European Union (EU), recently stated in an interview with a German media outlet, 'The West as we knew it no longer exists.' Former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, also noted, 'The free world needs a new leader.'
President Trump continues to confront Europe. There is a growing perception in Europe that President Trump is cooperating with Russia rather than Ukraine. Trump has shown intentions to annex Greenland, which is Danish territory, and has not ruled out the possibility of using force, while harshly criticizing the EU as a 'block created to deceive the U.S.' for its trade surplus with America.
Taking advantage of this, China has swiftly launched an offensive in Europe. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on the 11th and stated regarding Trump's tariff policies, 'We must resist unilateral bullying together to protect our legitimate rights and interests, as well as international fairness, justice, and international rules and order.'
Prime Minister Sánchez stated, 'China is an important partner of the EU,' adding, 'The EU adheres to open and free trade, supports multilateralism, and opposes unilateral tariffs.'
According to SCMP, Chinese ministerial officials have been visiting Europe in succession this year, urging joint responses to Trump’s pressures. In turn, European officials have reciprocated with trips to China, and the EU leadership even decided to directly visit China in July, bypassing diplomatic protocols. Ursula von der Leyen, the Chairperson, who is a steadfast ally of the Biden administration and has led the EU's 'de-risking' strategy, has also recently toned down her remarks toward China.
However, within Europe, caution regarding China remains. The concern is particularly high that the U.S.'s elevated tariffs on China will exacerbate the issue of overproduction, leading to an influx of cheap products into Europe. The EU is demanding China address these issues. It has been reported that this matter was discussed during a recent video conference between Chairperson von der Leyen and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
U.S. Asian allies, including South Korea, are also facing the aftershocks of Trump's tariff policies. Countries like South Korea, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines were at the core of the Biden administration's 'Indo-Pacific strategy.' Although the trilateral relations among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan were evaluated as the closest in history during this period, this momentum has rapidly stagnated under the Trump administration's second term.
In contrast, China is actively hosting consecutive meetings of foreign ministers and trade ministers from South Korea, China, and Japan, seeking to establish a new cooperation framework. The SCMP evaluated that regarding this meeting, held just before the announcement of Trump’s tariff policies, 'Concerns have risen that even allies attempting to distance themselves from China might tilt back toward Beijing.'
However, Zandervin, a professor at Shanghai International Trade and Economic University, noted, 'South Korea and Japan significantly depend on trade with China, but they are also absolutely dependent on America's core technologies and equipment,' suggesting that the foundation of the alliance is unlikely to be easily shaken.