Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming six-day European tour, starting in France, marks his first return to the continent since 2019. During his last visit, Xi was warmly welcomed in Italy, where the country joined China's Belt and Road initiative. However, the current climate in Europe towards China has significantly shifted.
Recent events, such as the EU launching trade probes into China's wind turbines and medical equipment procurement, as well as arrests related to alleged espionage linked to China in Germany and the UK, reflect the growing concerns about China's global ambitions and influence.
