Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is, without a doubt, one of the European leaders who has best understood — and, to a certain extent, anticipated — the ongoing transformations in global politics.
In an international context marked by the growing fragmentation of power, the resurgence of major-power competition, and the erosion of multilateral consensus, it is difficult to imagine him aligning with those leaders who, from positions of political or strategic subordination, chose to uncritically support the approaches of others. In contrast, the recent trajectory of the Spanish government has been defined by a sustained search for coherence, even in scenarios shaped by strong external pressures.
This attitude, far from being merely rhetorical, has gradually consolidated a recognizable stance that has progressively gained respect and influence in various international forums.
It is within this framework that his fourth visit to China in four years must be understood. Rather than a shift or a correction in Spanish foreign policy, this trip constitutes the logical continuation of a line of action that responds to a consistent reading of international reality.
This reading, moreover, is rooted in a European diplomatic tradition that, at least in its classical formulation, has prioritized balance, dialogue, and the search for negotiated solutions over direct confrontation. Thus, the relationship with China is not conceived as an anomaly or an exception, but as a concrete expression of that vocation.
In the most recent crises — from Ukraine to Gaza, through the tensions in the Middle East — the Spanish government”s position has revolved around well-defined principles: the defense of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peace as normative axes of international action.
On this basis, a more far-reaching idea is beginning to take shape: the possibility that Spain, under certain circumstances, may contribute more effectively to global stability through flexible frameworks of cooperation — including its relationship with China — than within a European Union that, in recent times, appears to have reduced its diplomatic margin of maneuver in favor of more rigid alignments.
Sanchez’s commitment to active cooperation with China responds precisely to this logic. It is not merely about strengthening bilateral ties in economic or commercial terms, but rather about articulating a collaboration aimed at systemic stability. This cooperation is based on shared principles, such as the commitment to multilateralism, the defense of international law, and the need to jointly address global challenges of a structural nature, among which climate change stands out prominently.
In this sense, the bilateral relationship acts as a space for experimentation and consolidation of practices that could be projected onto broader scales.
In parallel, Spanish foreign policy has had to navigate a European environment increasingly conditioned by transatlantic dynamics. Pressures from the United States — whether in the form of demands to restrict the presence of Chinese technology or requirements regarding defense spending — have met with a nuanced response in Madrid, which has sought to balance allied commitments with the preservation of a certain margin of autonomy.
But this task has been made more difficult by a shift in the European context toward positions more inclined to adopt the logic of strategic rivalry with China, conceived in almost existential terms.
In the face of this trend, Spain has been shaping a stance that, without breaking with its traditional alliances, opts for an increased exercise of strategic autonomy.
This approach has sometimes translated into the expression of clear disagreements with approaches perceived as incompatible with the principles that inspire Spanish and European foreign action. Far from being interpreted as a deviation, this stance can be understood as a reaffirmation of the founding values of the EU itself, centered on cooperation, openness, and the primacy of law.
It is precisely this reclaiming of European ideals that marks the distance from certain more confrontational approaches. Spain projects a vision that privileges dialogue over bloc logic and understands interdependence not as a vulnerability, but as an opportunity for the shared management of global challenges.
In this context, asserting one’s own voice does not imply a break with the transatlantic link, but rather the definition of its limits and the vindication of autonomous decision-making capacity.
This understanding takes on particular relevance at the present moment, which can be characterized as a historical turning point.
The reconfiguration of the international order affects not only the distribution of power, but also the norms, institutions, and practices that have governed relations between states in recent decades. In this scenario, bilateral relations, far from losing importance, become key spaces for establishing new forms of cooperation and governance.
The relationship between Sanchez’s government and China is part of this dynamic, combining continuity and deepening of ties.
The comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries not only responds to shared interests, but also serves as a reminder of the EU’s original vocation as a global actor committed to stability and understanding.
Ultimately, Sanchez’s visit to China helps raise Spain’s political profile on the international stage. It reinforces the idea of a foreign policy that, without renouncing its traditional alliances, opts for greater strategic autonomy and diversification of its relationships.
In this framework, China’s presence in European politics is not perceived as a threat, but as a necessary element for building a more balanced international order, in which Europe can play a role consistent with its history, its values and its interests.
The author is the founder and emeritus advisor of the Observatory of Chinese Politics.
The views don’t necessarily represent those of China Daily.
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