Unfortunately, the major European players have generally proven to be utterly lacking in geopolitical foresight and incapable of acknowledging (much less taking credible action against) imminent or active threats until they smash down the front door, and as they did with Russia, China is no exception.

If Europe is to become the independent power bloc it loudly proclaims it will, it needs to understand that they need to expand their horizons beyond their immediate periphery. It cannot simply continue to pretend that the the affairs of the world outside of the EU borders are immaterial like they did in 2014.