Xi Jinping’s visit to Europe underlines China’s intention to influence the formation of governments in key EU countries as a part of preparation for aggression against Taiwan

On May 5, Xi Jinping began a six-day visit to Europe for the first time since 2019, during which he will meet with the leaders of France, Hungary, and Serbia.

The Chinese leader paid special attention to the European track of Chinese diplomacy, given the deployment of the final stage of preparations for aggression against Taiwan and a potential global military conflict.

Europe is China’s largest trading partner. In 2023, trade between China and the EU grew to $783 billion, consolidating the European market as an important source of revenue for Chinese companies.