Beyond Divide and Rule: Advocating a Respect-Based Chinese Policy Toward the European Union

As China continues to rise as a global power, its relationship with the European Union (EU) has become increasingly pivotal in shaping a multipolar international order. This paper argues that China's approach to the EU must move beyond outdated notions of “divide and rule” and embrace a respect-based, transparent policy that fully acknowledges the EU's internal unity and its deep-rooted transatlantic partnership with the United States. However, despite some positive engagement, China-EU relations are under growing strain. From a European perspective, China is a dividing force in Europe. On the one hand, through the 16+1 format and other forms, China is trying to use the divisions within Europe to weaken the EU's unified position on issues such as trade, technological security, and human rights. On the other hand, China is also trying to divide Europe from the United States. This study does not deny the existence of this "divide and rule" strategy, but believes that it is short-sighted and dangerous. First, the divergent interests and debates on governance models within the EU do not negate its collective Western identity, shaped by shared values and historical experiences that China cannot easily match. Second, the transatlantic partnership remains deeply ingrained in the strategic thinking of European elites. NATO functions as the military extension of the West, while the EU often mirrors its economic logic. Together, they reinforce a Euro-American ideological and institutional alliance. The article advocates for a recalibrated Chinese strategy that emphasizes respect for the EU's autonomy and solidarity. Some existing mechanisms could be improved to support this: expanding direct cooperation with EU institutions in Brussels, rather than sub-regional channels; enhancing transparency in economic initiatives, particularly the Belt and Road Initiative, by aligning with EU standards on procurement, environment, and labor; and promoting trilateral China-EU-US summits on more global challenges.