Alexandar Sullivan:
As President Donald Trump’s shifting threats and power plays rattle allies, China is moving quickly to present itself as the steadier partner, courting governments that once leaned instinctively toward Washington.
During a recent visit to Beijing, Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin met President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People, where Xi unexpectedly cited The Gadfly, a novel by Irish author Ethel Voynich, as a formative teenage read. “It was unusual that we ended up discussing The Gadfly,” Martin told reporters, underscoring the personal tone of Beijing’s outreach.
The diplomatic opening comes as allies reassess risk after tensions tied to Greenland and tariff threats left the U.S. looking less predictable, even as Trump later pulled back from some escalation. Analysts warn that keeping channels open with Beijing may deepen reliance at a moment when Europe’s stated goal is “de-risking.”
The recalibration is also visible in Canada, where newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney traveled to Beijing and declared a “new strategic partnership.” He moved to lower Canada’s tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles from 100% to 6.1%, a shift that could boost Chinese EV market share despite earlier security and interference concerns.
In Britain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is scheduled to arrive in China next week seeking investment while facing pressure over human rights and national security. Finland’s Petteri Orpo is also set to land in Beijing on Sunday, as Nordic states balance trade interests against unease over China’s ties to Russia and the war in Ukraine.
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