Commentary
Economic Security
Beijing Tries to Keep Friends in CEE
26 May 2026
The EU recently adopted tariffs on China’s EVs, but voting decisions highlighted unusual disunity among member states. For more insights, check our Weekly Outlook.
Visegrad Insight sat down with Alicja Bachulska and Janka Oertel, two of Europe’s leading experts on China and co-authors of The Idea of China, a book published by the European Council on Foreign Relations, to discuss the significance of the EU’s decision on EV tariffs and its impact on the EU’s geo-economic strategy. This text outlines key takeaways from their discussion, but find the full podcast below.
The global stage is set for a new kind of conflict, one where economic policies and technological advancements are the weapons of choice. With its strategic “Made in China 2025” initiative aimed at dominating global manufacturing, Beijing has emerged as a formidable player in this arena, particularly in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. Meanwhile, Europe grapples with internal divisions and a lack of consensus on how to handle the ‘China challenge’.
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