EU still has key role as US-China bridge as it ‘does not challenge either on tech’

The EU can still play mediator between the United States and China despite worsening ties between the rival powers, a leading European academic has said.

According to Dominique Turpin of the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in Shanghai, the European Union’s role as a US-China bridge remains vital, especially as the bloc does not compete directly with either country in the technology arena.

“The Americans are kind of extreme because they see China as a threat to their technology,” said Turpin, CEIBS’ European president.

“With Google, Facebook, and all these [US] companies developing technology for the world – you don’t see a European Alibaba [or] a European Google, so maybe we are more open.”

Alibaba is the owner of the South China Morning Post.

A tight US presidential race has also fuelled uncertainties about the US-China relationship, amid concerns that Republican candidate Donald Trump might be tougher on China than the Democrats’ Kamala Harris if he were to return to the White House.