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The European Union will not be able to develop normal relations with China if Beijing does not use its influence on Moscow. This was stated by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell. This week, the European Parliament discussed future relations with Beijing, FREEDOM reports.
Over the past month, many European leaders have come to China on official visits. Among them are Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock. But everyone has the same question: will Chinese President Xi Jinping be able to influence Russian President Vladimir Putin to withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine? The EU also fears that China may start supplying weapons to Russia.
“We expect that China will not directly or indirectly supply any weapons to Russia, since we all know that the supply of weapons to the aggressor will be a violation of international law and will seriously damage our relations,” Von der Leyen said.
At the same time, European leaders stressed the importance of further economic cooperation with Beijing. China was the largest source of EU imports and the third largest buyer of European goods last year, according to Eurostat. According to Foreign Policy, the French president brought a business delegation of 50 people with him to China.
“… Also present was former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, who is the French equivalent of Gerhard Schroeder, who sold out to Russian and Chinese interests. This is nothing more than a signal that, due to support for Russia’s war against Ukraine, EU-China relations are no longer business as usual.
The West seeks to prevent further rapprochement between China and Russia.
“A lasting peace can only be achieved with respect for the Ukrainian people who are being attacked by Russia. This is a European security architecture that needs stability in the future. And this is impossible if the European countries are occupied. How is it happening now in Ukraine,” Macron said.
China’s position on this issue remains ambivalent. At least publicly. The head of the PRC repeated phrases about respect for the sovereignty of all countries and the need to avoid any actions that would lead to new human casualties. The only topic where the PRC is categorical is nuclear weapons.
“We call on all parties not to use nuclear weapons and not to wage nuclear war. Under no circumstances should biological and chemical weapons be used. Resist armed attack on civilian nuclear facilities such as nuclear power plants,” Xi said.
The further strategy of relations between the EU and China has become one of the main issues of the plenary session of the European Parliament.
“Our relations with China cannot develop normally if China does not use its influence on Russia to force it to withdraw its troops from Ukraine and end the war,” Borrell said.
Nevertheless, the EU is increasingly discussing how to reduce economic dependence on Beijing, the President of the European Commission said during a speech to members of the European Parliament. As China changes its foreign policy, she said, Europe must adapt and strive for balance.
