Europe and China were on course for a reset. Coronavirus changed all that
(CNN) Before coronavirus brought the world to its knees , 2020 was slated to be a crucial year for the European Union and China. At a showpiece summit in September, the two are set to take a significant step forward in their economic and strategic relationship. At least that was the plan. China's response to covid-19 has left a bitter taste in the mouths of European officials. From draconian clampdowns on its own citizens to accusations of spreading misinformation in Europe, this crisis has been a reminder that closer engagement with China comes with risk. As things stand, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to gather EU leaders and China's President Xi Jinping in the German city of Leipzig on September 14. German diplomats say the location was selected because of the former East Germany's historical relationship with China. They say that Merkel, chairing the EU Council presidency for the final time in her chancellorship, was personally invested in the summit'...