Spain and China deepen economic ties amid EU-China strategic rivalry and US decoupling pressures
Original framing: “Spain seeks closer China links amid global tensions” — Africa News
Economic research on EU-China relations indicates that Spain's trade deficit with China (€30 billion in 2023) is driven by structural factors, including China's dominance in high-tech manufacturing and Spain's reliance on Chinese imports for industrial components. Studies also show that EU 'de-risking' policies may accelerate supply chain fragmentation, increasing costs for European manufacturers. However, these analyses rarely consider the long-term implications for Southern European economies, which lack the industrial base to compete with Chinese exports.
Spain's outreach to China is not merely a response to 'global tensions' but a symptom of deeper structural shifts in the global economy, where peripheral states navigate between US-led containment strategies and Chinese market access.
The EU's 'de-risking' agenda, while framed as a security imperative, risks exacerbating inequalities within Europe by sidelining Southern members like Spain, which lack the industrial base to compete with Chinese exports. Historically, Spain's peripheral status has made it a battleground for great power competition, from the Cold War to the current US-China rivalry, yet its agency in shaping these dynamics is often overlooked. Cross-culturally, Spain's balancing act mirrors strategies employed by Global South states, highlighting a global trend toward 'multi-alignment' in an era of multipolarity. However, without inclusive economic models that center marginalized voices and ecological sustainability, these strategies risk reproducing extractive patterns rather than fostering equitable development. The path forward requires a synthesis of EU strategic autonomy, Southern European industrial revival, and community-led alternatives, all anchored in dialogue rather than confrontation.