Overview
- In Beijing, Sánchez urged Western countries to give up seats in global bodies and backed a “reformed” world order in language close to China’s, before meeting Xi Jinping.
- Barcelona’s Global Progressive Summit, which drew leaders such as Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, gave PSOE a lift that party figures tout as proof of international backing.
- Analysts in El Periódico say the Beijing stance lacks prior domestic and EU agreement, which limits its viability and risks friction inside the bloc.
- Critics highlight China’s record on human rights, citing UN-noted abuses in Xinjiang and the Hong Kong security law as reasons to question closer alignment.
- Coverage also points to costs, noting a record €42.278 billion trade gap with China last year and Spain’s 2024 shift away from EU electric-vehicle tariffs.