Welcome to Red Thread, Euractiv’s weekly newsletter on the EU’s relationship with China and the wider Asia-Pacific.

I’m Christina Zhao in Oceania, joined by Anupriya Datta in Europe.

This week, we look at why Beijing thinks Brussels won’t escalate trade tensions…

Ursula von der Leyen surrounded by national leaders at the EU summit (Photo by Thierry Monasse via Getty Images)

“Europe is not in a good place.”