The EU and China: Partners, Competitors or Rivals? | Lecture and conversation with political scientist Guangyu Qiao-Franco, cybersecurity expert Bart Jacobs and political scientist Angela Wigger

Announcement

How can the EU rely on Chinese technology without ignoring the risks? The EU depends heavily on China for technologies like solar panels and electric vehicle batteries needed for the energy transition. But this same partner also brings security, economic, and political risks. What kind of trade relationship should the EU pursue with China? And how does Europe fit into China’s global ambitions? Come and listen to political scientist Guangyu Qiao-Franco, cybersecurity expert Bart Jacobs and political scientist Angela Wigger about the complexity of the China-EU relation.

Political, economic and security risks 

Europe’s dependence on Chinese technology is cause for concern. What happens if access to key technologies becomes less predictable during moments of tension, and China’s role in these supply chains shapes the political dynamics? Cybersecurity risks, such as espionage and cyber-attacks, add another layer of uncertainty. While the EU wants to become more independent, especially in the tech sector, is that a realistic goal—or is it more about managing risks? And how could Europe reduce these risks while keeping trade stable?

Market or geopolitical actor?

Is Europe more than a market for China? Under Xi Jinping, China aims to position itself as a global power. Europe is China’s third‑largest export market and its biggest source of imports, making it economically significant. However, does Beijing see the EU also as a real political actor on the world stage? How does China respond to Europe’s plans to become more technologically independent? And might it use the EU’s internal divisions to advance its own goals?

After lectures by Guangyu Qiao-Franco and Angela Wigger about China’s stance on the EU and the EU’s view on China, respectively, Bart Jacobs will join the discussion on how the EU should balance its economic interests with its goal of becoming more digitally independent. 

This programme is in English.

About the speaker

Guangyu Qiao-Franco is assistant professor of International Relations at Radboud University. She is also the Principal Investigator of the Dutch government-funded Project on China's Export Control Strategy of Dual-Use Technologies under the China Knowledge Network. Her research focuses on international norms and policy development related to the military application of AI technologies, with particular attention to the role of Global South initiatives in this process.

Bart Jacobs is professor of Computer Security, Privacy & Identity at Radboud University. His work covers both theoretical and practical work, especially in computer security and privacy, intelligence, law and ethics. He is an prominent figure in societal debates about security and privacy, in the media and in various advice roles e.g. for government and parliament. Jacobs is also co-founder of Nijmegen's interdisciplinary iHub on digitalisation and society.

Angela Wigger is an associate professor of International Relations at Radboud University. She studies how global powers like the US, China, and EU compete for economic dominance — using subsidies, trade tools, and securing supply chains (especially for critical raw materials and rare earth elements) – amid rising geopolitical tensions.

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