The EU-China Strategic Partnership: Opportunity, Reality, and Euphemism

Abstract

Relationship between European Union and The People's Republic of China declared in 2003 as the "strategic partnership" attracts attention as a new and remarkable phenomenon within post-bipolar international framework. This article reviews essentials and motives of both partners' mutual and deepening relations by pointing at their growing economic interdependence, upgrading political relations, and further developing their cultural, science and technology, academic, environmental etc. cooperation. However, while critically analysing EU-China basic agenda of the strategic partnership and its real outcomes, this article points at poor Chinese human rights record, persistence of EU arms embargo, mutual trade disputes, Chinese failure at obtaining the EU's Market Economy Status, as well as insufficient intellectual property and trade mark protection in China. This study concludes with finding an attaining the real EU-China strategic partnership questionable, considering that as a mere term of official-level politeness, lacking behind expectations and potential.