Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez began his fourth visit to China in just over three years on Monday, April 13, 2026, as Spain continues pursuing deeper political and commercial ties with Beijing despite a massive trade imbalance that has China accounting for 74% of Spain's overall trade gap. The visit comes as European leaders navigate complex geopolitical tensions and as Spain's relationship with the United States faces strain over Middle East policy.
Sánchez is in China through Wednesday and is set to meet Tuesday with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and China's top lawmaker, Zhao Leji, the third-ranking leader of China's ruling Communist Party. The Spanish government says it wants to shore up more Chinese investment and boost exports to China, even though trade policy is conducted by the European Union on behalf of all 27 member states.
Trade Imbalance and Economic Dependence
Spain, the eurozone's fourth-largest economy, faces a significant trade challenge with China. China's exports to Spain are far greater than those of the Iberian nation of 49 million people, while China has a population of more than 1.4 billion people. Sánchez's government has had little success in rebalancing this relationship, with the trade gap highlighting the one-sided nature of the economic partnership.
The southern European nation, which generates more than half its electricity from renewable sources, needs Chinese critical raw materials, solar panels and green technologies, similar to other European countries transitioning away from fossil fuels. This dependence on Chinese supply chains for Spain's energy transition underscores the economic vulnerabilities facing European nations pursuing climate goals.
Geopolitical Positioning
On Monday, Sánchez urged China to assume a larger role in a multipolar world, speaking at Beijing's Tsinghua University a day before his meeting with Xi. He said, "China can do more. For example, by demanding ... that international law be respected and that the conflicts in Lebanon, Iran, Gaza and the West Bank and Ukraine cease." He later said, "We need China to do the same. To open up so that Europe doesn't have to close itself off."
Sánchez also encouraged China to play a larger role alongside the EU to fight climate change, promote global health and control the development of responsible artificial intelligence as well as nuclear weapons. He said, "Especially now that the U.S. has decided to withdraw from many of these fronts."
The visit comes at a complex geopolitical moment as European leaders try to influence an end to the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran, and as Spain's relationship with the U.S. has been strained by Sánchez's vocal disapproval of the conflict. Spain says it wants to diversify its political relations with the world's large powers, including Beijing.
Strained U.S.-Spain Relations
Politically, the trip comes as Spain has positioned itself as Europe's loudest critic of the U.S. and Israel's military actions in the Middle East. The Sánchez government recently declared its airspace closed to U.S. planes being used in the Iran war and refused the U.S. the use of jointly operated military bases in southern Spain.
Eric Sigmon, a Madrid-based political analyst and a former U.S. national security adviser, said, "Given the increased frictions with the U.S. administration, these annual meetings have taken on an increased importance," about Sánchez's latest trip to China.
Alicia García-Herrero, chief economist for Asia Pacific at the French investment bank Natixis, said, "This repeated annual pilgrimage by Sánchez — his fourth in four (calendar) years — highlights an increasingly one-sided and unbalanced relationship." She said China serves as "a relatively soft, conciliatory partner" that advocates for dialogue over tougher EU measures.
Spain has been less adversarial toward China than other EU countries in recent years. It has sought to reposition trade relations with China, whose exports to Spain are far greater than those of the Iberian nation. Spain's King Felipe VI also made an official visit to China last November, the first time in 18 years that a Spanish monarch did so, demonstrating the nation's interest in bolstering its relationship with Beijing.
Sánchez's last visit to Beijing ruffled feathers in Washington and took place shortly after the Trump administration announced sweeping global tariffs. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at the time warned Spain about "cutting your own throat."
Why This Matters:
Spain's deepening relationship with China raises fundamental questions about European economic sovereignty and strategic alignment. The 74% trade gap reveals how dependent Spain has become on Chinese exports, creating economic vulnerabilities that could limit Madrid's policy independence. As Spain distances itself from the United States over Middle East policy while simultaneously courting Beijing, the nation risks isolating itself from its traditional security partners without securing tangible economic benefits in return. The reliance on Chinese critical raw materials and green technologies for Spain's energy transition creates supply chain dependencies that could be exploited for political leverage. For European unity, Spain's softer approach toward China complicates EU efforts to present a unified front on trade imbalances and strategic competition, potentially undermining collective bargaining power with Beijing.