Yves Leterme: Europe Cannot Afford to Decouple From China
Former Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme has delivered a forceful argument against European decoupling from China, warning that the continent’s green transition and economic competitiveness depend on continued engagement with Beijing. Speaking in the final episode of the VRT NWS podcast series “China Beyond the Wall,” Leterme said bluntly: “I think we really can’t do without China.”
Leterme, who has traveled to China approximately 80 to 90 times since his first visit in 2005 and now leads the European branch of the Chinese investment platform ToJoy, presented a pragmatic case for cooperation at a time when geopolitical tensions are driving European debates about economic dependence on Beijing. His comments, reported by VRT NWS, come amid intensifying scrutiny of EU-China trade relationships.
A Two-Decade China Journey
Leterme’s relationship with China spans nearly two decades, beginning with a visit to a Bekaert factory in Shenyang in 2005. Since leaving Belgian politics—where he served as Prime Minister in 2008 and again from 2009 to 2011—he has built extensive business ties with the country. In 2019, he became co-chairman of ToJoy Shared Holding, a Chinese business accelerator that connects startups with investors. He also previously worked as a consultant for Huawei.
His most controversial moment came in September 2025, when he attended a massive military parade in Beijing commemorating the end of World War II. Seated alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Leterme was seen shaking hands with Xi—an image that drew sharp criticism in Belgium. In the podcast, Leterme described seeing Putin and Kim treated with deference as “appalling,” but defended his attendance, arguing that countries like Turkey, Brazil, and Slovakia took a “wiser approach” by sending lower-level representation rather than staying away entirely. VRT NWS covered the parade attendance at the time.
The Economic Case for Engagement
Leterme’s central argument rests on a straightforward calculation: Europe depends on China for the majority of its batteries, solar panels, and rare earth metals—all essential components for the green transition. Without Chinese supply chains, he argues, Europe’s 2030 climate targets would become unattainable, and building independent alternatives would take years the continent does not have.
“The biggest work we have to do is do our own homework,” Leterme said, pointing to Europe’s expensive energy, high labor costs, and lack of a true internal market as structural weaknesses that cannot be blamed on China alone. He warned that closing Europe’s doors would repeat the historical error of China’s self-isolation after the Opium Wars, which he said “economically and culturally disabled” the country for generations.
In a separate, in-depth interview with MO* Magazine, Leterme expanded on his views, arguing that Europe needs “cross-pollination, openness, export, and import” to remain competitive. He criticized what he sees as excessive U.S. influence on European investment screening, saying: “I hope rationality returns to the public debate—that China is judged on its own merits and not on American pressure.”
Taiwan, Human Rights, and Controversy
On Taiwan, Leterme struck a notably cautious tone, describing the island as “a small country facing a behemoth” of 1.4 billion people and suggesting that China could achieve reunification through economic integration “without firing a shot.” This characterization aligns with Beijing’s narrative of peaceful reunification, contrasting with Western intelligence warnings about potential Chinese military action by 2027.
Leterme also addressed human rights concerns, acknowledging that he continues to raise the issue in meetings with Chinese officials. He condemned Mao Zedong’s legacy in strong terms, comparing him to Hitler and Stalin, but argued that engagement yields more influence than isolation. “Our credibility would be greater if we didn’t apply double standards ourselves,” he said, pointing to European shortcomings on homelessness and security as undermining moral authority.
Conflict of Interest Questions
Leterme’s financial ties to ToJoy have drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. Flemish politician Theo Francken (N-VA) has accused him of being paid by China, while VUB Professor Jonathan Holslag has questioned his objectivity. Leterme is unapologetic: “I do earn money at ToJoy and I admit that. So I sell services to that country and thus help our trade balance. What’s wrong with that?”
Implications for EU Policy
Leterme’s intervention adds a prominent voice to the ongoing European debate between economic decoupling and strategic engagement. The EU currently designates China as a “partner, competitor, and systemic rival”—a three-part formulation that reflects the bloc’s internal divisions. China remains Europe’s largest trading partner for goods, while Europe is China’s second-largest market.
As European policymakers weigh new trade defense mechanisms and investment screening rules, Leterme’s arguments—coming from a former head of government with deep personal and financial stakes in the relationship—underscore the fundamental tension at the heart of EU-China relations: the economic imperative of engagement versus the geopolitical and values-based arguments for strategic autonomy.
“Europe looks at China through the narrow lens of geopolitics,” Leterme said, “while behind that, 1.4 billion people lead a daily life we barely see.”
The full interview is available in the final episode of the VRT NWS podcast series “China Beyond the Wall” on VRT MAX.