Spain's Ambivalent Stance on China Highlights Strategic and Security Concerns
Spain's perceived 'China friendly' stance reflects limited debate on China, raising concerns about strategic vulnerabilities amid evolving EU-China relations.
- • Spain is viewed as 'China friendly' due to limited public debate on Chinese influence.
- • COSCO's acquisition of Noatum Ports raised strategic concerns but lacked scrutiny in Spain.
- • The EU labels China a 'systemic rival' since 2019, while Spanish public opinion remains more favorable to China than the US.
- • Spain’s contract with Huawei poses national security risks amid US concerns.
Key details
In recent discourse, Spain has been characterized as the EU's 'China friendly' country, a perception rooted less in strategic coherence and more in a limited public debate on China’s growing influence. At the Foro La Toja, a European Commission official pointed out Spain's lax scrutiny of critical economic engagements, notably the acquisition of a 51% stake in Noatum Ports by China’s COSCO Shipping, a state-owned enterprise—raising concerns about Spain’s control over strategic infrastructure.
While the EU has reclassified China since 2019 as a 'systemic rival,' Spain’s public opinion remains relatively favorable toward China, with 51% viewing it positively compared to 43% for the US. However, this warmth contrasts with mounting security concerns, especially regarding Spain’s contract with Huawei for digital communications storage, in light of US warnings about Chinese technology and national security risks.
The article suggests that Spain’s 'China friendly' image stems from a lack of informed debate rather than strategic planning, creating vulnerabilities in technological and economic dependency. Experts emphasize the need for Spain to develop a deeper understanding of China’s geopolitical ambitions and to align public and political discourse accordingly, balancing economic opportunities with security commitments to NATO and the EU. Without such a strategic approach, Spain risks undermining national interests amid an evolving geopolitical environment.