European officials are preparing to speak about find out how to take care of China after a series of controversial events.
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China said on Monday it respected the independence of the countries of the former Soviet Union after remarks by its ambassador to France were deemed “unacceptable” in Europe.
It comes as the 27 members of the European Union reassess their diplomatic and economic relations with Beijing.
Lu Shaye, China’s ambassador to France, told French media on Friday that the countries that were once part of the Soviet Union don’t have any status in international law. The transcript with the ambassador’s remarks was removed by the Chinese embassy on Monday morning, in accordance with Bloomberg.
The comment sparked criticism in several European capitals, especially in the Baltic states that broke free from the USSR after its collapse in 1991.
“We aren’t countries of the former Soviet Union. We’re countries that were illegally occupied by the Soviet Union,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told reporters in Luxembourg.
This sentence was repeated by Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna: “We’re an independent country, a member of the EU and NATO. I hope there can be an evidence.”
Also speaking in Luxembourg, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said the Chinese ambassador’s comments were “totally unacceptable”.
“We condemn such an announcement and I hope that this ambassador’s bosses will straighten things out,” Lipavsky said.
On this context, the spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning he said Monday: “China respects the status of former Soviet republics as sovereign countries after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.”
That is just the latest episode in a series of controversial events between China and the European Union.
The EU will “recalibrate” the Chinese strategy
Getting back from a visit to China earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron said the EU should have its own policy on Taiwan and avoid following the US agenda on the issue. He added it later being an ally doesn’t mean being a vassalreinforcing the idea of an independent EU policy.
Macron’s intervention was criticized in the US, but additionally in Germany and other European nations. Normally, some EU countries are afraid of a clash with the US, especially given its key role in the field of security and defence.
Macron’s comments also revealed divisions inside the EU over what kind of relationship the bloc wants with China. Some are afraid of antagonizing China and jeopardizing deep economic ties, while others are in favor of a transatlantic alliance.
The subject can be debated by 27 heads of state, including Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at a gathering in June.
“We’ll reassess and recalibrate our strategy towards China,” EU top diplomat Josep Borrell said on Monday.
Nevertheless, it will likely be an extended and hard discussion and it stays to be seen whether the bloc can be united on this issue.
In 2022, China was the EU’s largest source of imports and the third largest buyer of EU goods, underlining Beijing’s economic importance to Europe. This is particularly necessary when economic growth in the EU is vulnerable to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this in March China is a systemic rival, economic competitor and strategic partner. This is applicable in alternative ways to different policies. For instance, on climate issues, the EU believes that China is usually a strategic partner; but when it involves securing market access, the bloc complains that Beijing is a competitor.
Nevertheless, combining all these different dynamics might be difficult to realize.
“Managing these relationships and sharing openly and truthfully with our Chinese counterparts is a key element of what I’d call risk reduction in our relationship with China,” von der Leyen said ahead of her visit to Beijing.
“We’ll never hesitate to deal with the deeply troubling issues I even have already outlined. Nevertheless, I think we want to go away room for discussion on a more ambitious partnership and the way we will make competition fairer and more disciplined.”