EU-China aerospace cooperation reflects global supply chain interdependence and strategic competition
Original framing: “EU isn’t just selling aircraft to China. It’s helping strengthen a competitor” — South China Morning Post
In many non-Western economies, state-led industrial policy is a normative approach to development. China's strategy of building domestic capabilities while engaging with foreign firms is consistent with this model, which contrasts with Western free-market assumptions.
The EU-China aerospace relationship is a microcosm of broader global economic interdependence and strategic competition.
While the headline frames the EU as naively aiding a rival, a systemic view reveals a complex interplay of economic incentives, industrial policy, and geopolitical strategy. China's C919 program reflects a long-term state-guided development model, while the EU's engagement is driven by both economic pragmatism and strategic caution. Indigenous and cross-cultural perspectives highlight the value of interdependence and long-term planning, while historical parallels show that such dynamics are not unique to this context. Future modeling suggests that a balanced approach, combining cooperation and competition, may offer the most sustainable path forward. By integrating these dimensions, we can move beyond the binary framing of the article and toward a more nuanced understanding of global aerospace dynamics.