Spain and China Are Cosying Up - to the Anger of Many in the EU

Spain and China are experiencing a remarkable period of mutual appreciation, but that sense of warmth is far from shared across the European Union. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has visited China's President Xi Jinping four times in as many years, urging EU leaders to improve relations with Beijing since Donald Trump's re-election. Shanghai was even invited as city of honour to Barcelona's famous La Merce cultural festival - a striking symbol of the warming ties.

Investment Surges, EU Partners Grow Wary

Chinese investment in Spain has doubled over the last year alone, driven by battery gigafactories and car plants. A freight rail link stretching over 13,000km from Yiwu in eastern China to Madrid stands as a physical symbol of this partnership. But Sanchez's approach has sparked resentment among EU partners who view Beijing as a strategic rival. Germany and France have united behind a more aggressive stance, seeking to shut subsidised Chinese competitors out of the EU market.

A Divided Continent

EU countries also fret about China's close relationship with Russia, with Beijing accused of providing technological and economic support that sustains Moscow's military operations. As Spain courts Beijing, critics argue it prioritises national gain over European interests. With the pro-China Viktor Orban no longer governing Hungary, Spain could become China's preferred gateway into the EU.