Global Power Shifts:

European Perceptions of China Between Security Concerns and Strategic Derisking

Event Description

In an era of profound geopolitical uncertainty, Europe finds itself navigating a shifting global order. As confidence in U.S. security guarantees wanes and calls for greater strategic autonomy grow louder, the continent is reassessing its place between competing global powers. Within this evolving landscape, perceptions of China are becoming a critical mirror of Europe’s own strategic anxieties and aspirations.

Once framed primarily through an economic lens, China is now increasingly discussed in terms of security, resilience, and technological dependence. The EU’s “derisking” approach has not only reshaped institutional strategies but also tapped into broader public sentiment, reflecting European citizens’ heightened awareness of security vulnerabilities, value-based divides, and the delicate balance between proactive engagement and necessary caution.

Moderated by European Guanxi, this panel brings together three leading voices in the study of EU–China relations and international security to explore how global power shifts are influencing European public opinion toward China. Drawing on recent surveys, academic research, and policy insights, the discussion asks: does the erosion of transatlantic trust open new opportunities for dialogue with China, or are nationalist currents and security sensitivities pushing Europe and China further apart?

About our speakers

Dr. Richard Q. Turcsányi

Program Director, Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS); Assistant Professor, Mendel University in Brno

Dr. Turcsányi is a leading scholar on Central and Eastern European perceptions of China and public opinion dynamics in EU–China relations. As co-author of the China Index, he has been at the forefront of mapping Chinese influence across Europe and analyzing how European societies interpret China’s rise within the broader context of transatlantic uncertainty and strategic derisking.

Dr. Andrew Chubb

Senior Lecturer, Lancaster University; Principal Investigator, Chinese Foreign Policy and Public Opinion Project (CFPO)

Dr. Chubb’s research bridges foreign policy analysis with public opinion studies, investigating how narratives about China, both within and beyond its borders, shape national policy responses and global perceptions. His empirical work, including large-scale surveys, offers valuable insight into how citizens’ views interact with elite decision-making in the context of evolving security debates.