The failure of the European Union-China summit last week to achieve anything concrete signals a new low in ties between the two sides. This special gathering of leaders - which went online because of Covid-19 - was to be where a Comprehensive Investment Agreement that was seven years in the making would be concluded. But that did not take place and there were no agreements on other issues such as climate change either.

Instead, EU leaders made reference to troublesome issues such as Hong Kong and Xinjiang, showing that European unhappiness with the Chinese went beyond trade. Indeed, Europe is re-evaluating its relations with China as it realises that its strategy of changing China through trade is not working.