Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin has dismissed calls for economic separation from China as unrealistic during a recent episode of Leaders Talk, emphasizing Europe's interconnected future with Asia's largest economy. Speaking on January 11, 2026, Martin noted that bilateral trade between Ireland and the Chinese mainland reached €45 billion in 2025, supporting over 40,000 Irish jobs.
The Taoiseach highlighted Ireland's strategic position as a bridge between Chinese and European markets, particularly in technology and pharmaceuticals. "Our multinational corporations operate 128 R&D centers across the Chinese mainland," Martin revealed, underscoring the depth of commercial integration.
This stance comes as the EU debates its China policy framework ahead of the 2026 APEC Leaders’ Meeting. While acknowledging concerns about supply chain resilience, Martin advocated for "managed competition" rather than isolationism, pointing to climate cooperation and pandemic preparedness as shared priorities.
The comments align with recent moves by German and Dutch leaders to maintain economic engagement with China. Analysts suggest Ireland's perspective carries particular weight given its status as the EU's fastest-growing economy and home to regional HQs of 950 multinational corporations.
