China has urged the European Union to honor its market openness commitments and uphold fair competition principles, particularly in light of an EU probe into Chinese wind turbine giant Goldwind. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that such measures signal protectionism, damage the EU's image, and undermine Chinese firms' confidence in investing in Europe.
Event Background
On February 5, 2026, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian addressed a regular press briefing regarding the European Union's anti-subsidy probe into Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co Ltd (Goldwind). He urged the EU to stop abusing unilateral economic and trade tools and to provide a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory business environment for companies from all countries.
Lin noted that the EU has repeatedly resorted to such tools, imposing discriminatory and restrictive measures on Chinese firms. This sends a protectionist message, harms the EU's image, and dampens Chinese companies' confidence in investing in Europe. China firmly protects the legitimate rights and interests of its enterprises.
China's Response
In a statement, China's Ministry of Commerce criticized the EU's investigation as "targeted" and "discriminatory," pointing out that it generalizes the concept of 'foreign subsidies' with issues like insufficient evidence for case openings and a lack of procedural transparency. "This is a typical case of practicing protectionism under the guise of fair competition," the ministry said.
It stressed that Chinese renewable energy firms are competitive due to strong innovation and technological advantages. The EU's "abuse of investigations" harms China-Europe cooperation, Chinese firms' confidence in the EU, and the bloc's green ambitions. The ministry called on the EU to immediately correct its practices, use the foreign subsidies regulation with caution and restraint, and create a fair, just, and predictable market environment. Beijing will take necessary measures to firmly safeguard Chinese enterprises' rights and interests.
EU Probe Details
The European Commission's probe examines whether financial support from Beijing has unlawfully strengthened Goldwind's position in the European market. Brussels stated that preliminary investigations uncovered "signs" that the company "may have received foreign subsidies that distort competition within the internal market."
The incident highlights escalating trade frictions between China and the EU, particularly in clean energy. China hopes to resolve differences through dialogue to foster cooperation.
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