Europe and an Inscrutable China

Only a few years ago, some of Europe's most respected thinkers and leaders called for increasing ties between the European Union and China, championing the EU's supranational and cooperative structures as a potential attraction to China. Now, as China has proven unwilling to cooperate with European approaches to international issues, Europe is reconsidering its stance. For example, in sending a deputy minister to the Copenhagen climate talks to spar with Western heads of state, China's approach was hardly that of the “responsible stakeholder”. Yet, the action helped awaken Europe to the reality that “leading by example” will not alone bring others into the fold. But Europe still lacks a comprehensive approach to China's new confidence. The worry might be that while policy makers dither, popular opinion drives a push for protectionist measures against China, which could send the world economy into a depression. In any event, a similar and more realistic grasp Chinese policy on both sides of the Atlantic could foster more open dialogue. Whether it will prevent China from sowing its wild oats is another story. – YaleGlobal