China appeared to be drawing closer to Europe when it reached a “China-Europe Investment Agreement” with Europe on the eve of President Joe Biden‘s inauguration, and Xi Jinping held a “171” summit with Central and Eastern European countries on the 9th of this month. However, a report by the Catholic media AsiaNews.it points out that some small European countries have chosen to distance themselves from China and are calling for a tougher stance against it.
According to AsiaNews.it, some European countries showed little interest in the China-led “171” summit, with only ministerial-level representatives from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria attending.
Despite Xi’s promises to increase Food imports from Central and Eastern Europe, simplify customs controls and provide Chinese vaccines for the coronavirus, most of Europe’s 171 members are unhappy with Beijing. They point out that Chinese investment is decreasing rather than increasing, while these European countries have a growing trade deficit with China.
The China Global Investment Tracker estimates that the Communist Party invested only $46.5 billion in the Belt and Road Initiative last year, well below the $103 billion in 2019 and the $117 billion in 2018.
Lithuanian Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Egidijus Meilūnas called on the EU to develop a common strategy to manage relations with China. He stressed that economic ties with Beijing must be based on respect for the world order and that this must be at the top of the EU’s agenda.
The problem with Melunas’ proposal is that the EU remains divided on how to deal with China’s geopolitical challenges, the Asia News report noted. The EU reached a major investment deal with China on Dec. 30, despite warnings from U.S. President Joe Biden before his inauguration. As Slovak MEP Miriam Lexmann pointed out in a recent interview with Apple Daily, the agreement is likely not to be ratified by the European Parliament without a clear commitment by the Chinese to human rights.
Germany and France strongly support the trade agreement with China. Germany wants to protect German companies, while French President Emmanuel Macron wants to increase the “strategic autonomy” of the EU.
Smaller countries such as the Czech Republic and the Baltic states have called for a tougher stance on China, with a report in Asia News suggesting that U.S. pressure may be behind the move. Estonia’s Foreign Intelligence Service released an annual report on the 17th stating that the Chinese Communist Party is trying to create a rift between the United States and Europe. For the Estonians, the Chinese Communist Party wants a “silent world” that relies on Chinese technology and is dominated by Beijing.
Recent Comments