Europeans Are Talking About These Major Current Events That Americans Might Not Know About

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China is lifting sanctions it imposed on European Parliament members back in 2021 over human rights criticisms related to Xinjiang. The timing isn’t coincidental — Beijing is clearly trying to improve relations with the EU just as tensions with the US and Trump’s tariff policies intensify.

Why it matters: This is classic geopolitical chess. By extending an olive branch to Europe while battling with the US, China is attempting to drive a wedge between traditional allies. Beijing seems to be calculating that EU frustrations with American trade policies create an opening to strengthen economic ties with Europe. If successful, this strategy could reshape global trade alignments.

Source: Beijing offers to lift sanctions on MEPs, hoping to revive EU-China investment deal [Euronews]