While Europe has been glued to its own crises — navigating a war on the continent’s doorstep, safeguarding the Transatlantic alliance, and dodging political fragmentation — China has been busy executing a quiet but profound strategic pivot.
And no, it’s not just about Taiwan or microchips anymore.
One is forgiven to feel that European or U.S. media only covers European or Atlantic events and has no columns for Asian news. A heritage of the colonial past? Maybe. Yet, it is worth to look at what is happening in China or Brazil, at the bare minimum on a good to know basis.
The last weeks weren’t empty in Beijing’s political calendar. If anything, they were quite busy.
Not only were China-U.S. trade negotiations on the agenda, but some non-strategic and a few real strategic decisions were also made on the domestic front.
In the spring of 2025, Beijing dropped two policy bombs.
First, a sweeping National Security White Paper(released on May 12), then a new Private Economy Promotion Law, that came into effect on May 20.
Each a bit more than your normal, dry bureaucratic texts.
Together, they mark nothing less than a profound reshaping of how the Chinese state sees itself — and, by extension, how it intends to interact with the rest of us.
Let’s start with national security, which, in China’s new framework, now covers everything from missile systems to the mood on Weibo.
The holistic security doctrine, championed by President Xi Jinping and enshrined in the May white paper, stretches the concept of national security into all areas of life: economy, technology, society, even ecology. In essence, everything is a matter of national survival — and therefore subject to political control. It’s a bit like turning your smoke detector into a life coach.
The white paper makes one thing crystal clear: political security—meaning the survival and supremacy of the Communist Party—is the non-negotiable foundation of all policy.
Development? Only if it doesn’t threaten the Party.
Innovation? Sure thing, as long as it aligns with state ideology.
Foreign investment? Welcome, as long as it doesn’t come with strings — or scrutiny.
It’s a sharp departure from the more pragmatic, economy-first strategies of the previous eras. Back then, getting rich was glorious. Today, it’s glorious only if it contributes to “high-level security”.
In short, the CCP has stopped pretending there’s a firewall between politics and economics. Now, everything is filtered through a security lens, by the CCP. If you’re wondering how that’s going to affect data flows, joint ventures, or your favorite European luxury brand’s supply chain — well, better check the fine print on your next trade deal.
Now, in what looks like a paradox but is in fact part of the same strategy, Beijing has also decided to roll out the red carpet for private business — with rules, of course.
The Private Economy Promotion Law, effective May 20, is the first-ever foundational legislation protecting China’s private sector. It promises fair treatment, bans arbitrary fees, and even acknowledges the private economy as a permanent pillar of national development.
So far, it sounds almost European, right?
But before we celebrate a Chinese Wirtschaftswunder redux, there are caveats. The law doesn’t touch judicial independence or provide entrepreneurs real tools to challenge state overreach. Foreign firms aren’t covered either — in case any were still feeling lucky. Still, for domestic firms bruised by past crackdowns, this legal clarity is something like a warm hug from a strict parent who just confiscated your phone.
So, what’s the real message behind these twin moves?
Beijing is rebalancing.
On one hand, it wants to tighten political control — centralizing power, cracking down on dissent, and asserting sovereignty in cyberspace and beyond.
On the other, it desperately needs growth, jobs, and tech breakthroughs to keep the economy — and public morale— afloat.
The result?
A dual-track governance model where you’re encouraged to innovate, but only within the invisible (yet very real) boundaries of ideological obedience. Not a far cry from the latest trend in U.S. politics, just it’s Chinese version.
And why Should Europe Care?
Well, for one, China isn’t just watching from the sidelines.
It’s actively reshaping global norms — not in opposition to the West, but as an alternative.
Reacting for the Western, mainly U.S. approaches.
The Global Security Initiative, promoted in the white paper, offers a China-led vision of global order: sovereignty above all, no lectures about human rights, and cooperation without strings — unless you count data flows, digital infrastructure, and strategic ports. It is a strategy and a message at same time. If you want business with us, we are open to offer you more openness, but there are topics that are not open for discussion.
This strategic shift in China’s policy mirrors the United States’ recent approach of integrating national security considerations into economic and trade issues.
For Europe, which still views China as both a partner and a rival, this development presents a complex challenge. While Brussels discusses “de-risking” ties with Beijing, the redefinition of China’s economic model as a national security instrument complicates these efforts. As the European Union focuses on supporting Ukraine and managing relations with the U.S., it may be underestimating the long-term implications of China’s internal realignment. This includes increased political repression, economic centralization, and a more resilient and adaptable approach to global competition.
The White Paper outlines a comprehensive framework that redefines security as an integrated system encompassing political, economic, military, technological, and societal domains. It positions political security as the “fundamental task” of national security, directly linking the survival of the Communist Party and the socialist system to China’s broader strategic resilience.
Understand: European leaders must give up lecturing Beijing about democracy and accept the Chinese model in order to build pragmatic economic relations. Whether we like it or not, this isn’t just China’s internal housekeeping. It’s a message — and Europe better start reading between the lines.
