European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen might be smiling, but the European Union has quite literally sold its soul to Communist China.

Announcing a landmark trade agreement with China on Wednesday, the EU claimed that it had reached a fair deal for both sides. Nothing is further from the truth. China has gained a massive gift of EU political prestige and deference for the years to come. Beijing will use this agreement to undermine further the post-World War II, U.S.-led, liberal international order. Xi Jinping made clear as much in his video conference statement to the EU’s leadership: “As the world’s two major forces, two markets, and two civilizations, China and the EU should show responsibility and act actively to be cooperative builders of world peace and progress.”