China once again uses diplomacy to repair tense relations with the EU

In recent weeks, China has launched new efforts to repair ties with the EU, sending envoys for Eurasian affairs on “shuttle diplomacy” tours of several European countries while calling on Brussels to prioritize their mutual interests over differences.

At a press conference during China’s two sessions last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi rebutted the EU’s characterization of China as a “partner, competitor and systemic adversary” while reiterating that their common interests “outweigh” their differences.

“There is no fundamental conflict of interest between China and Europe, nor is there any geopolitical or strategic conflict,” he said in front of dozens of domestic and foreign reporters. “Both parties should be correctly characterized as partners, [and] Cooperation should be the defining feature of the relationship. “

Some analysts said Wang Yi’s emphasis on “common interests overriding differences” reflected Beijing’s attempt to use soft diplomacy to improve relations with Europe.

“In the past few months, China has not only tried to stabilize relations with the United States, but also with the European Union,” said Justyna Szczudlik, a China analyst and deputy director of research at the Polish Institute of International Affairs. )express.

Given Brussels’ tough stance on China, which includes imposing sanctions on Chinese companies that support Russia, Šzudlik said in a phone interview with VOA that Beijing is aware that the EU has influence over them.

“China also needs stability as it faces economic headwinds and social problems,” she said.

While Beijing has tried to ease tensions with European countries by offering visa-free travel to six other European countries, among other measures, some experts say the strategy has had limited effectiveness.

“While European countries recognize that Beijing is working hard to improve relations with the EU, all the old issues remain, including an unbalanced trade dispute and China’s stance on the war in Ukraine,” said Sari Aho, associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. Sari Arho Havren said. Brussels told VOA by phone.

She said that although Brussels has repeatedly highlighted its trade pain points and other concerns in meetings with Beijing, this information does not appear to be recognized by China. “Nothing happened [on the Chinese side]so I don’t think Beijing is listening to the EU’s concerns,” Hafren said.

Since the beginning of March, China’s Special Envoy for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui has carried out the “second round of shuttle diplomacy” in Europe, visiting Russia, Brussels, Poland, Ukraine, Germany, and France.

Li Keqiang, who met with top European diplomats in Brussels, said Beijing firmly opposed the EU’s inclusion of Chinese companies in sanctions against Russia and urged the EU to “get back on the right track of dialogue and negotiation with China,” the official said, according to a Chinese government release.

According to the South China Morning Post, in addition to urging Brussels to lift sanctions on Chinese companies, Li also told European officials that “there will be no discussion on Ukraine’s territorial integrity until the violence stops,” claiming that only if “the EU stops arms shipments to Ukraine” .”

In this regard, the EU expressed concern about China’s export of a large number of dual-use and advanced technology projects to the Russian military-industrial complex, and stated that China’s position on the Ukrainian war issue “inevitably affects” bilateral relations.

Brussels also urged Beijing to “play a constructive role” and called on Russia to withdraw all forces “from the entire territory of Ukraine” within internationally recognized borders.

Some experts said the EU report showed they did not expect Beijing to play a constructive role in promoting potential ceasefire and peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

“The EU believes that Li Keqiang’s message during the meeting was close to Moscow’s propaganda, which may make Brussels less willing to extend an olive branch to China,” said Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy, an expert on China-EU relations at the National Bureau of Statistics. explain. Tung Hwa University in Taiwan told VOA in a telephone interview.

Ferenczi said that while China’s commitment to its partnership with Russia undermined the EU’s trust in Beijing, Brussels had repeatedly said it was committed to “keeping channels of communication open” with China.

Amid Beijing’s renewed diplomatic engagement, the EU has adopted a series of measures that some analysts say signal a tougher stance on trade ties with China. Last week, the European Commission began customs registration of electric vehicles imported from China, paving the way for possible tariffs on Chinese EVs.

Separately, the EU is moving closer to passing an anti-forced labor law that could ban imports from China’s Xinjiang region, where some studies and media reports suggest large numbers of Uighur Muslims are being subjected to forced labor, a charge Beijing denies.

Poland’s Szodlik said that the potential adoption of these trade measures shows that the EU’s way of handling trade relations with China has shifted from “setting up defensive tools” to “offensive tools.”

“This process is a good example that the EU is not powerless when it comes to China,” she said.

The EU is preparing to hold parliamentary elections in June, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is running for re-election in 2024, but Taiwan’s Ferenczi said she does not expect major changes in China-EU relations in the short term.

“I expect that the European side will continue to be skeptical of China and push the same agenda,” she said, adding that the results of the two elections could have some impact on how the EU formulates its China policy.