A month out from their leaders’ summit, few are expecting any meaningful improvement in ties between Beijing and Brussels
For months, EU leaders fuelled the speculation by voicing openness to deeper trade ties with Beijing, in a dramatic rhetorical shift from the previous three years of hostilities.
But the debate appears to have been settled this week with a resounding “no”.
Behind-the-scenes impatience with China’s failure to put any meat on the bones of a much-vaunted charm offensive has spilled into the public realm. Brussels, staggered by Beijing’s failure to move even an inch on its trade gripes, has had enough.
