From Partnership to Rivalry: The Role of Ideological and Security Differences in Eu-China Relations

Relations between the European Union and China have become increasingly strained due to deep-rooted differences in values, security perceptions, and foreign policy principles. The initial cooperation model based on economic interdependence has gradually lost its effectiveness. China maintains a significant trade surplus and actively invests in strategic sectors of European economies, raising concerns about the EU’s growing dependency - especially during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Russian-Ukrainian war.Since Xi Jinping’s rise to power, China has demonstrated a more centralized authoritarian course and an assertive foreign policy. Initiatives such as the Belt and Road and the 17+1 format are viewed as tools to strengthen China’s influence in Europe and weaken EU cohesion. China’s stance on human rights, particularly regarding Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Tibet, further widens the divide. After 2019, when the EU officially designated China a «systemic rival», the strategic framework of their relationship underwent a profound shift.The EU has responded by developing protective instruments, including investment screening mechanisms, an economic security strategy, and diversification policies. At the same time, it has intensified cooperation with countries in the Indo-Pacific region. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, China’s tacit support for Moscow significantly damaged its image in Europe, particularly in Central and Eastern European countries.Today, the relationship is marked by systemic competition in which economic ties no longer offset growing political and ideological divergence. China is increasingly seen as a revisionist power challenging the rules-based international order. The EU, in turn, has adopted a firmer external policy that balances pragmatism with the defense of democratic principles. In conclusion, the study identifies three primary drivers of conflict: a deepening ideological and strategic asymmetry between the EU and China; the EU’s growing concerns over economic security and technological dependence; and China’s geopolitical alignment with Russia and its challenge to Western-led global governance. The article argues that unless both sides reach a shared understanding of global order and values, the potential for constructive engagement will remain limited, and bilateral tensions are likely to persist or escalate in the near future.