Big Is back: Why Europe needs a clear strategy for China

In this episode of Future is Blue, Carlos Carnicero Urabayen speaks with Lourdes S. Casanova (Cornell University) and Raymond Torres (Funcas) about how Europe should navigate its increasingly complex relationship with China. The discussion explores whether China’s economic rise reflects strategic policy success or systemic distortions, why Chinese multinationals are reshaping global competition, and what Europe’s €360bn trade deficit signals about structural vulnerabilities. The episode also examines the need for EU unity in negotiations, the risks of fragmented national strategies, the role of countries such as Spain in attracting Chinese investment, and whether transatlantic tensions should push Europe closer to Beijing — or instead accelerate efforts to strengthen Europe’s own economic foundations.