Researchers found that China’s investment in the 27 EU member states and the United Kingdom tumbled to a decade-low in 2020, and the downward trend could continue this year due to the climbing bilateral defense and “souring political relationship.” The key findings were released earlier this week by research provider Rhodium Group and Mercator Center for China Studies (MERICS), a German think tank on China. A 45 percent decline in completed Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) occurred in Europe last year, down to $7.7 billion from $13.9 billion in 2019, taking Chinese investment in Europe to a 10-year low, according to the joint report, “Chinese FDI in Europe: 2020 Update,” concluding that it was partly due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and changed domestic economic circumstances. “However, the pandemic was not the only force at work,” said the full report, adding the headwind of capital controls in China, the EU FDI …