Navigating China-EU Relations: Balancing Cooperation and Rivalry

China has offered a surprise concession to the EU by agreeing to move on data flows, a sphere where it has been trying to restrict the ability of foreign companies to export data generated within the country. This move is seen as an attempt to keep foreign investors onside amid growing fears about China's precarious economy. While the EU welcomes this development, it remains cautious and will wait to see how Chinese authorities implement the new provision. China's self-correction is seen as a response to its own problems rather than an act of benevolence, and the EU should leverage China's underperforming economy to push for further opening up.