On Monday, July 15th, 2026, the European Union adopted a new position paper strongly criticizing China alongside Russia for efforts to reshape the global order to suit their interests. The paper accuses both nations of fostering a return to a sphere-of-influence logic, challenging European security and the international rules-based order.

The document, prepared by the EU’s External Action Service, labels China as a “key enabler” and “crucial enabler” of Russia’s war on Ukraine, language previously used by NATO. This marks some of the bloc’s strongest official criticism of Beijing to date.

The paper highlights the determination of Russia and China to establish regional dominance and reshape global power structures in line with their interests.

Despite this critical stance, a recent Financial Times report revealed that the EU allowed Ukraine to spend €6 billion in EU funds to purchase drone components from China, illustrating the tension between holding Beijing accountable and Kyiv’s reliance on Chinese hardware.

Sources