What are the pros and cons of the rail routes compared to the sea?

This piece presents updated insights from a research chapter I authored entitled “China and the European Union: more partners than rivals?” that was published in Routledge’s book “China and Eurasian Powers in a Multipolar World Order 2.0 Security, Diplomacy, Economy and Cyberspace” in March 2023. The article offers a comprehensive analysis of the ever-changing geopolitical dynamics between China and the EU, taking into account the influence of the U.S. approach.