China strives to present itself as an alternative partner to the United States in Italy, leveraging the impact of US tariffs and anti-American sentiment. Chinese Ambassador Jia Guide, in recent interviews and media releases, highlighted the potential for deeper Sino-Italian cooperation across sectors such as automotive and technology while criticising EU protectionist measures
Driving the news. Like in other EU and NATO member states, China is working to promote an alternative to the United States in Italy, leveraging the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs and the anti-American sentiment supported by parties such as the Five Star Movement.
- Recent communications—including those in the latest “Newsletter sulla Cina” sent out by the Chinese Embassy in Rome—highlight this strategy.
- In a recent interview with Tribuna Economica’s International Relations media, Ambassador Jia Guide depicted China and Italy as “active promoters and beneficiaries of global economicisation” in an era marked by sluggish global growth and rising unilateralism and protectionism.
- He asserted, “China intends to collaborate with Italy to deepen pragmatic cooperation, expand bilateral trade and investment, and, taking advantage of the 55th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, promote Sino-Italian cooperation to yield new results and jointly contribute to global prosperity and development.”
Chinese influence in key sectors. Ambassador Jia also turned his attention to the automotive industry, a sector central to Sino-Italian relations and broader EU-US-Chinese dynamics.
- “Italy is a powerhouse in European automotive manufacturing, and there are significant opportunities for cooperation with China in the electric vehicle sector,” he explained.
- He added, “China hopes that Italy will maintain an objective and fair stance, play a constructive role in promptly resolving economic and commercial tensions between China and the EU, and boost the confidence and willingness of Chinese electric vehicle companies to invest in Italy and Europe.”
- In this context, Brussels is squarely in the crosshairs, as it has imposed high tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles—a move that Jia dismissed as a typical protectionist practice masking the “so-called subsidies” that have driven the European Commission’s reaction.
Echoes in the media. The diplomat’s message echoes the broader coverage of Chinese influence in Italy.
- The newsletter opens with a message signed by over 40 international business leaders who recently met President Xi Jinping, lauding China as a “beacon of stability for the global economy.”
- Further reinforcing his narrative, Ambassador Jia’s articles in Il Messaggero e Mattino stress that unilateralism and US-led trade wars undermine the multilateral, rules-based system of the World Trade Organisation.
- In another piece published by Il Sole 24 Ore—a publication that has, in the past, inflamed internal tensions with its “pro-China” coverage—Jia called for greater European commitment to enhanced cooperation with China to foster a balanced and sustainable form of globalisation.
- Finally, an article in ANSA, also signed by Jia, asserts that Chinese diplomacy remains determined to “stand on the right side of history,” highlighting a clear ideological stance.
