Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Ministry of Health: Final toll from airstrike on car in Zebdine, Nabatieh District: Two martyrs, four injured
Egyptian media: Indirect talks between Hamas and Israelis begin in Sharm el-Sheikh.
AFP: France's new PM Sebastein Lecornu resigns just hours after unveiling cabinet.
Trump: Technical teams will meet again on Monday in Egypt to discuss and clarify the final details, and the first phase is scheduled to be completed this week
US President Donald Trump: Talks with Hamas have been very successful and are moving at a rapid pace
Local sources in Aleppo: Violent clashes erupt between the SDF and factions affiliated with the transitional authority on the Deir Hafer and Tishrin Dam fronts in the eastern Aleppo countryside
Israeli media: Interceptor missiles fired in an attempt to shoot down the drone
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded amid suspected "enemy aircraft" infiltrating the Eilat area
Israeli media: "Israel" won the battle but lost the war strategically and politically
Israeli media: Ben Gurion Airport's airspace closed to air traffic following missile launch from Yemen

UnHerd: Decoupling from China, can Europe recover?

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 29 Apr 2024 21:20
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

An UnHerd analysis shows how the US' China policy would affect its economy, comparing it to Europe, and the ramifications that would follow.

  • x
  • Chinese national flag is raised at the Chinese embassy in London, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023 (AP)_
    Chinese national flag is raised at the Chinese embassy in London, Monday, September 11, 2023 (AP)

When US Secretary of State Antony Blinken went to China on a diplomatic visit last week, he was faced with two ultimatums that would shape American foreign policy toward the Eastern giant; Either confront or cooperate. 

A report by Philip Pilkington on UnHerd stated that the message relayed to the US, following meetings between Blinken and several Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping, was the mutual respect in regard to the development of both countries.

China reportedly welcomed US prosperity, but demanded reciprocity, saying “We hope that the US side can also view China’s development in a positive and proactive light,” simultaneously warning of unhealthy competition. 

China's economic growth, coupled with the absence of a clear US strategy to counter or compete with Chinese development, has gained traction in both the US and Europe. John Paulson, a Donald Trump megadonor and hedge fund giant, slammed Biden's administration's Chinese policy, or rather its lack, warning against decoupling from China, a call echoed among American experts as well, to avoid an inevitable collapse of the country's economy.

Would Europe recover? 

The same predicament looms over Europe, the UnHerd report speculated. As governments call for the preservation of trade relations with China, their actions materialize differently. For example, Germany arrested Chinese nationals under claims of espionage. 

Related News

White House concerned about unfolding domestic terrorism conspiracy

Von der Leyen faces no-confidence vote for 'surrendering Europe' to US

This comes amid a probe launched by the European Commission investigating TikTok, which coincides with the US investigation and recently passed bill that could ban the platform in the country. 

However, should Europe expel the Chinese from the continent, its economy would face collapse. Europe, along with the United Kingdom, stands as the world's most dependent region on external trade. While in 2022, imports accounted for less than 10% of North America's GDP, in Europe, they constituted nearly 47% of GDP. The continent is nearly five times more reliant on imports than North America.

In the US, a decision to sever ties with China would likely lead to increased inflation and a significant decline in American living standards due to the disappearance of affordable Chinese imports. However, if the US could manage the social unrest caused by declining living conditions, theoretically, the country could adapt to the situation.

In Europe, however, the situation differs. Europe has already suffered major blows due to the sanctions imposed on Russian gas and oil amid the war in Ukraine. Cutting off Chinese trade, thus, would inflict irreversible damage. 

According to UnHerd, Europe is not interested in breaking economic ties with China. However, emotions are heightened in the aftermath of the Ukraine conflict, which isn't unfolding favorably for Europe. Consequently, there's a tendency to adopt the most aggressive and confrontational policies circulating. Yet, this mindset is unlikely to persist.

Read more: Why Europe needs to repair ties with China

Europe cannot realistically abandon China

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated in February that the EU relies completely on China for lithium, as the bloc imports 97% of its required supply of the material from the country.

"We have observed that China, over the last 20 to 30 years, has strategically bought mine after mine globally. They take the raw material, they have the processing procedures in China and then they have the monopoly for this raw material. Take lithium: 97% of the lithium we use in the European Union is from China. So we are totally dependent on this one on China," von der Leyen said during her opening speech at the Clean Tech Industry Dialogue in Brussels.

Media reports in September 2023 indicated that the EU faced the possibility of becoming equally dependent on China for lithium-ion batteries by 2030 as it had been on Russia for fossil fuels before the latter initiated its special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022.

  • United States
  • economy
  • China
  • European Union

Most Read

Iraq at a crossroads: A new war front?

Iraq at a crossroads: A new war front?

  • West Asia
  • 30 Sep 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
ap

'Israel' pays influencers $7K per post to whitewash Gaza genocide

  • Politics
  • 1 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Hezbollah's representative in Iran, Sayyed Abdullah Safieddine, during an interview with Al Mayadeen which aired on October 6, 2025 (Al Mayadeen)
Politics

Tehran never interferes in Hezbollah decisions: Representative in Iran

Smoke billows over the Gaza Strip following an Israeli bombardment, as seen from southern Palestine, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Indirect talks for a ceasefire in Gaza begin in Sharm El-Sheikh: Egypt

Fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) prepare to attend a military parad in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, Tuesday, August 12, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Security forces seal Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh districts

Amsterdam Captain Mohammed Ali Mohiuddin, who took part in the Global Sumud mission to Gaza, talks to Al Mayadeen on October 6, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

GSF captain says despite abuse, 'Israel weaker than spider's web'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS