EU leaders harden tone with China at time of transition in world order

BRUSELAS, 21 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The leaders of the European Union have hardened their tone regarding China this Friday, assuring that it is time to "clarify ideas" regarding the Asian giant and be vigilant regarding economic dependencies, at a time of changes in the world order in the midst of war of Ukraine and greater assertiveness of Beijing in its neighborhood.

In a strategic debate on relations with the Asian giant, the Heads of State and Government locked themselves in for three hours without mobile phones for a discussion that did not bring about profound changes regarding the rapprochement with Beijing but the will to leave behind a a certain European innocence about China.

"We are witnessing a geopolitical transformation and at this time of transition it is important to have clear ideas. It is a matter of unity but also of power," the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, assured at a press conference from Brussels.

In the opinion of the former Belgian prime minister, the European leaders have expressed the "clear will" not to be "naive" with China, although they have avoided feeding the logic of systematic confrontation.

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has confirmed European misgivings towards China amid international "accelerating trends". Thus, she has pointed out that the Chinese Communist Party, which is celebrating its 20th congress these days, continues its "assertive course" and the "mission of domination" in the Asian region, referring to the military rhetoric on Taiwan.

Relations between Moscow and Beijing, consolidated with the agreement sealed between their presidents, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, respectively, just before the invasion of Ukraine, also arouse mistrust in the EU. "This will affect relations with China," Von der Leyen warned.

The conservative German has called to be "vigilant" on existing dependencies in terms of technological supplies and raw materials, warning that Europe has to diversify suppliers and increase production capacities in its territory.

In this context of rethinking the EU's relations with China, the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has defended his next trip to the Asian country because "it is good to take care of international relations" and because, he has warned, he has not heard "voices in Europe who defend 'deglobalization'".

Scholz has conceded that China and European countries have "completely different ideas of society and good government", but that the Twenty-seven are united in the defense of fundamental rights and that "no one who does business" with the bloc should have "illusions" that they will set aside those values. However, he added, in a "multipolar" world, the EU countries should not focus on relations with just one.

"Three hours of intense debate to clarify the path that the EU wants to be able to follow with China, without naivety but with autonomy to choose its path," said French President Emmanuel Macron about the debate held with European partners.

According to the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, situations such as the pandemic showed the "extraordinary dependencies" that Europe has with the Asian giant, which make it "vulnerable".

In this sense, he has advocated a "much more intelligent" foreign policy for the European bloc that diversifies relations with Africa or South America. "Spain defends a double approach, it is a rival, a competitor and a necessary collaborator in challenges such as climate change," she stressed, recalling the EU's common line on Beijing, which for the moment remains intact.

Before the meeting, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stressed that the EU treat China as "a systemic rival" and speak with one voice, setting aside alternative formats and "separate agreements". with Beijing. "I think that with China it is the same as with Russia. It is in their interest that we are divided. It is in our interest that we are united and speak with one voice," she summarized.