Spain has emerged as one of Europe's most vocal proponents of trade expansion, opting to treat China as a strategic ally rather than the economic and geopolitical rival envisioned by Trump.
This latest diplomatic mission highlights Sánchez's determination to remain unaligned with Trump -- who has sharply criticized Spain for denying landing rights to U.S. forces during the conflict with Iran and for its relatively low defense spending -- and has threatened to penalize NATO military allies that fail to cooperate.
While Sánchez's approach remains popular with voters, it has unsettled businesses and opposition politicians who fear that friction with the U.S. administration could prove costly for Spain.
GEOPOLITICAL STANCE RAISES CONCERNS IN SPAIN
A government source, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that Tuesday's meeting with President Xi Jinping would focus on geopolitics, noting that Spain views China as a stabilizing force.
However, Ramón Gascón Alonso, Asia-Pacific coordinator for the Spanish Exporters and Investors Club, warned that this approach could further damage trade, already burdened by Trump's tariffs on European Union imports, and "considerably worsen our already precarious situation."
"The United States is the primary foreign investor in Spain," he noted. "We maintain a significant volume of trade with the U.S. in sectors that are fundamental to our economy, absolutely vital."
Sánchez stands out among European allies as an outspoken critic of U.S. and Israeli military campaigns.
A senior opposition source cautioned against further criticism while Sánchez is in China, accusing the Prime Minister of confronting Trump for domestic political gain and risking NATO unity as well as the U.S. military presence in Spain.
The Chinese Ambassador to Spain, Yao Jing, remarked that strong bilateral relations have encouraged Chinese firms to invest.
"Spain is more reasonable in its dealings with China," he said. "It has its own judgment, its own interests, and seeks access to Chinese markets. So, we do business."
CHINESE INVESTMENT IN SPAIN SURGES
Chinese companies invested 643 million euros in Spain in 2025, up from 149 million euros the previous year, according to Ministry of Economy data. This brings the total to 9.7 billion euros between 2010 and 2025, primarily concentrated in the extractive industries and the energy sector.
During the three-day visit, Xi will host Sánchez and his wife, Begoña, at a formal banquet. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and top legislator Zhao Leji.
On the first day, Sánchez will visit the headquarters of tech giant Xiaomi and preside over a forum for Spanish and Chinese companies in the energy, infrastructure, bioscience, and technology sectors. He will also meet with international relations specialists and deliver a speech nL6N40W09I at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
Madrid hopes the visit will help narrow a trade deficit that has more than doubled in four years to nearly 50 billion dollars in 2025, aiming to boost agricultural and manufacturing exports to offset high volumes of Chinese imports.
Nevertheless, Sánchez is not accompanied by a business delegation on this occasion, and no major deals are expected to be announced.
Authorities hope to sign a regionalization agreement for Spanish poultry exports affected by avian flu outbreaks. A similar agreement for the pork sector is credited with averting a severe blow to one of Spain's most lucrative exports during a recent outbreak of African swine fever.
(Reporting by Aislinn Laing, David Latona, and Charlie Devereux; writing by Aislinn Laing; editing by Kevin Liffey; Spanish editing by Benjamín Mejías Valencia)
