Can HK ease Beijing's path to Europe amid US-EU trade spat?

A Europe stuck between a trade spat with the US and its own economic woes is also a window of opportunity that Beijing can exploit to assert influence in Europe and mitigate the impact of what seems to be an inevitable fallout with Washington.

Portugal's foreign minister Paulo Rangel, Italy's senate president Ignazio La Russa and France's foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot flying into China with outstretched hands this week marks scenes not strange to Beijing.

As US President Donald Trump's tariffs from 20-percent duties on 'everything' entering America to threats of 200-percent on European wine annoy European leaders, it offers Beijing a chance to pull Europe closer at a time when China is expected to face the brunt the most in a trade war.

On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi was frank, telling Rangel - the most senior Portuguese official to visit China in five years - that China wants Europe to be a key player in a 'multipolar world' and supports Europe's 'strategic autonomy.'

Later, Vice-President Han Zheng told Italy's La Russa that Beijing likes to deepen cooperation with Italy in economy, trade, tourism, culture, education and sports.

French Foreign Minister Barrot, due to arrive in Beijing today, is expected to take home a similar messages.

Beijing is rolling out a big red carpet for the VIPs from Europe.

Hong Kong, given its strength in financial and legal services, has been trying to help by smoothing deals between mainland firms and European players with the hosting of international events and forums, though its historical ties with the West have weakened over recent years.

Still, a European Union diplomat said although diplomatic corps have been positive about the SAR in their reports, these views were often drowned by Western media reports on "never-ending" court cases related to the 2019 social unrest, portraying the city in a bad light.

Trump's rhetoric on tariffs is not winning him friends in Europe even as he differentiates countries from China - for example, fentanyl-linked duties targeting Mexico and Canada were postponed but those aimed at China were slapped as planned.

Still, European leaders think Trump is not playing nice to them despite their long-standing alliances and relationships.

Trump's repeated threats that the European Union would be the next target casts uncertainty for its member states, especially 'belt and road' signatory Portugal and export giants including Germany in Europe's western half.

China is the natural Plan B for these countries, even if the EU is critical of China flooding the European market with electric vehicles.

Beijing has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and connection within Europe after years of dealings. It is just impossible for its policy-makers to miss opportunities arising from Trump's trade war tactics.

Rangel's visit may represent a soft opening for Wang to pitch Beijing's narrative to distance Europe from the US and split the EU from within. After all, Portugal was the only EU member welcoming Chinese EVs and abstained from a EU tariffs vote on Chinese EVs last year.

It is obvious that Beijing is dangling 'economic lifelines' for willing European partners to enhance its cards - and theirs - in response to escalating trade pressure from the US.

However, as China works to strengthen ties with Portugal and win over Germany, France and Italy, Beijing has its own baggage: its 'boundless friendship' with Russia which is still waging a brutal war on Ukraine.