Why are the EU and China getting closer, and why are various parties in the EU dissatisfied?

Spain and China are experiencing a period of mutual appreciation, exemplified by cultural exchanges like the "Barcelona Holy Innocents Festival," where Chinese performers mingled with Catalan traditions. This friendly atmosphere is not universally accepted within the European Union. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has engaged in multiple meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, actions that have caused dissatisfaction among some EU partners who view Beijing as a strategic competitor posing a potential geopolitical threat to the EU. Dissatisfaction stems from concerns that opening the Spanish market to Chinese companies might make China an economic enemy within the EU.
This dynamic is complicated by broader geopolitical uncertainties; some EU states are seeking to align with other powers due to concerns about the unpredictability of US policy under Trump and growing anxiety over China's relationship with Russia, which involves technological support provided to Moscow. This environment has led some member states to seek independent strategic partnerships, potentially leading to fragmentation within the EU and NATO unity.
Furthermore, increased Chinese investment in Spain is visible in sectors like automotive and battery manufacturing, raising concerns among critics about localization efforts designed to circumvent EU trade regulations. While some view this as an attractive economic opportunity for Spain, others perceive it as a prioritization of national interests over broader European cohesion.

* Shanghai was invited as the host city for the "Barcelona Holy Innocents Festival."
* The Deputy Mayor of Shanghai visited Barcelona to attend the festival opening.
* Spain and China are in a period of mutual appreciation.
* Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez met with Chinese President Xi Jinping four times over four years.
* Germany and France have joined forces to support a tougher stance against China regarding subsidies.
* The trade imbalance with Beijing is reported as €10 billion daily.
* Spanish investment in China is growing, particularly in battery factories and automobile plants.
* Chinese companies are investing in the Spanish automotive industry; Chery chose Spain as a European manufacturing hub.
* Chinese battery and fixed-energy storage company Haichen Energy is investing in Navarre.
* Spain's net investment to the United States has decreased by approximately €1 billion.
* 54% of Spaniards hold a positive view of China, compared to 30% for the United States.
* A railway line connects Yiwu and Madrid, transporting goods between China and Spain.

The narrative of burgeoning bilateral ties is overlaid by systemic fragmentation driven by external geopolitical pressures. The divergence in EU response—where some states seek closer economic alignment with China while others focus on a unified anti-China stance backed by the US—reveals a struggle for cognitive sovereignty at the EU level. The core tension arises from whether localized national economic strategy (like Spain's pursuit of Chinese investment) can be reconciled with the imperative of collective security, particularly in light of China’s indirect involvement in conflicts and its strategic positioning as a competitor to Western interests.
The case of Spain highlights how economic incentives can be leveraged to prioritize divergent foreign policies. When actors perceive external alliances (like the US) as unreliable or inconsistent, domestic strategic alignment becomes a necessary defensive measure. The concerns raised by experts regarding data sharing (Huawei contract) and technology transfers illustrate that seemingly benign economic relationships are deeply intertwined with security architecture.
The underlying pattern suggests that in an increasingly multipolar world, national actors—whether governments or influential economic sectors—are re-calibrating their trust based on perceived immediate utility rather than long-term multilateral commitments. The tension between Spain's pursuit of investment and the EU’s desire for unified strategic cohesion demonstrates a fracturing reality where specific national interests can easily supersede collective security goals, creating vulnerabilities that are amplified when facing external strategic competition like that posed by China and Russia. What mechanisms exist to ensure that pragmatic economic gains do not irreparably erode shared security understandings?