EU will surely become more independent in their foreign policy, especially vis a vis China. But old habit die hard, and old relationship/alliance die harder. EU will not join the yanks in every thing, but if EU feel that it is also in their core interest, then EU will join the yanks.

Human rights issue in my opinion is an issue that the EU will cooperate with the yanks. Why? because it will weaken China's standing while strenghtening EU's standing. China is a rival power to EU just as much as the US. South China sea issue is also an issue that the EU will feel the need to cooperate with the yanks. Because again, EU won't let a rival like China to control such an important sea lane. This is nothing personal, but a geopolitical calculation. Just like EU will join China to resist trade barrier imposed by the US because it could also hit the EU companies.

I think Chinese gov understand this game. What can China do? China can increase the cost of EU joining the US, while offering benefits for EU to join China against the US, and that is what China is doing. The problems lies with the EU parliaments that are full of US paid agents or libertards, and the EU media controlled by conglomerats tied with the US and have no market access to China. These two forces will do every thing to sabotage China-Eu relationship even at the cost of EU interest.