A year of hard geopolitics has exposed Europe’s position between the world's two superpowers, with neither treating the European Union as a central player. This discussion will examine where EU–China ties really stand, why the predicted détente never materialised after Trump’s return, and how Brussels is trying to balance economic interests with China with growing concerns over security and trade imbalances.

Finbarr Bermingham is the Chief Europe Correspondent at the South China Morning Post, specialising in geopolitics, geoeconomics and EU-China relations. He has spent the last five years reporting from Brussels, breaking news on the EU’s attempts to unpick its economic dependencies on China and the backlash against Beijing’s growing assertiveness. Previously based in Hong Kong for seven years, he covered China’s trade and economy. He has also worked in London and South Korea. Finbarr is a regular commentator across TV, radio and podcasts, and speaks at events across Europe.