The China-European Union strategic partnership during the period 2010-2018: economic interdependence and normative tensions

Abstract

The research analyzes the development of the China-European Union (EU) strategic partnership during the period 2010-2018. Along this time, the China-EU relations have been characterized by two processes: on the one hand, in order to continue with their commercial relations, both actors have favored the deepening of their economic interdependence relations in a pragmatic way. On the other hand, the bilateral relations experience tensions and constant disagreements due to the political, economic and normative asymmetries existing between China and the EU. This paper uses a liberal institutional approach in order to analyze the priority issues of the bilateral agenda, and how the strategic partnership has become an institutional mechanism to negotiate disagreements and tensions, as well as the accommodation of their interests.