Despite assurances that the EU does not want to decouple its trade from China, Chinese companies operating in Europe say they are facing uncertainty regarding their future, but nevertheless continue to invest in the bloc.

Since the announcement of the “de-risking” paradigm, the European Commission has presented multiple policies aiming to reduce the dependence on China, notably on critical raw materials and products needed for the energy transition, such as solar panels and wind turbines.

As a recent survey reveals, 73% said that their operation was negatively affected by the “de-risking” approach. Nevertheless, 83% of the businesses report that they want to expand their presence in Europe, with a majority expecting revenue from existing operations to increase.

"Chinese enterprises are really concerned regarding the EU’s de-risking strategy and trade barriers, they believe that this initiative will harm China and the EU and impact global economy recovery,” Yang Xiaohong of Roland Berger said when presenting the survey results.

  • GregorGizeh@lemmy.zipEnglish
    353·
    1 year ago

    I would hope they are displeased. Chinese companies don’t act in “good” capitalist faith, with just the amoral goal of obtaining profit, they are always an extension of the governments machinations.

    The less dependent Europe is on China the better.

    • branchial@feddit.deEnglish
      83·
      1 year ago

      What is good capitalist faith and how is the amoral amassing of more capital not the goal of businesses from capitalist countries?

      • GregorGizeh@lemmy.zipEnglish
        4·
        1 year ago

        The point is, that should be the goal in a capitalist system. Making money. It sucks for the normal people, but that’s how things are for the time being. The issue is that Chinese corps dont do that. They further the geopolitical agenda of a government.

        • branchial@feddit.deEnglish
          21·
          1 year ago

          So its not amoral for companies based in capitalist countries because that is the basis of the economy of their home country but it is amoral for companies based in countries that do not have a capitalist economy? Edit: also how do you propose foreign companies should act?

          Also what do you mean “for the time being”? What comes after for the normal people? And after what?

          I legit have no idea what is going with your comment and am extremely curious what your basis is. Sorry if I’m coming off overly inquisitive, feel free to only answer the questions you feel like.

          • GregorGizeh@lemmy.zipEnglish
            5·
            1 year ago

            Capitalism is a terrible system for the vast majority of people and the world we inhabit. Eventually some sort of systemic change must happen because otherwise society and our ecosystem collapses. Just so that we a clear on my ideological position here.

            However I do recognize that we currently operate under globalized capitalism, even the vast majority of countries who nominally claim to be something else are participating. Now we arrive at this Chinese influence issue, who support their corps with their authoritarian apparatus in exchange for absolute loyalty to the government.

            So I would rather have “traditional” capitalists, who just seek to maximize their gains, over the same level of greed exercised at the behest of a totalitarian regime that seeks global hegemony and political influence over other countries.

            If I could do away with both, I would in a heartbeat, but that’s not very likely in the current political and ideological climate.

            • branchial@feddit.deEnglish
              1·
              1 year ago

              How do you propose this systemic change should happen and what would it be replaced with? I guess my confusion stems from what you’re describing is very much communist thought, but you’re also saying that the most powerful communist nation in the world is worse for the world than capitalist hegemony.

              • GregorGizeh@lemmy.zipEnglish
                3·
                1 year ago

                I suppose because I don’t consider China and Russia communist, or even socialist.

                China has taken the worst of both worlds and created authoritarian capitalism with geopolitical ambitions, fully backed by a governing and legislating system. It is illusory to pretend that China has some sort of benevolent agenda of spreading the common good, they are just another uncaring geopolitical power player that seeks to further the interests of their power structure first, their people second, with no consideration for everyone else except under strategic aspects.

                As for Russia, they at least dropped the pretense of being anything else than a morally bankrupt kleptocracy, ruled by a class of soviet collapse profiteering oligarchs and their apparatus of oppression.

                I would rather a western form of socialism, or even just anti-capitalism emerges that pairs our western concepts of individual liberty, societal pluralism and freedom of thought with a more enlightened economic system.