Europe's populists show unexpected reluctance to criticize China

European populist politicians, typically quick to blame immigrants or foreign entities for domestic grievances, exhibit a notable reluctance to target China. Despite significant economic and geopolitical tensions, various political factions across the continent have maintained varying degrees of support or neutrality toward Beijing.

In Germany, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) has expressed interest in China’s ‘Belt and Road’ initiative. In Hungary, Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party, which rose to power by opposing Soviet-style communism, has become a supporter of the Chinese Communist Party. On the left, France’s Unsubmissive party has cautioned against European interference regarding potential conflicts over Taiwan.

This political blind spot persists despite economic pressures, including a massive trade deficit where China has transitioned from a major customer of European goods to a primary competitor in sectors like automobiles and chemicals. While the European Union has implemented measures such as tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, many populist leaders avoid criticizing China because doing so would require acknowledging the necessity of unified European action through Brussels.