reduce dependencies
Baerbock advocates de-risking with China
04/05/2023 11:07 am
The EU’s relations with China are one of the major issues of the future. While Commission President von der Leyen and French President Macron are traveling to Beijing, Federal Foreign Minister Baerbock is calling for risk minimization. Dependencies on China must be reduced.
In relations with China as an economic powerhouse, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock advocated risk minimization. On the fringes of a NATO meeting in Brussels, the Green politician emphasized that this does not mean decoupling from the People’s Republic. However, one-sided dependencies would have to be reduced in the interest of one’s own security.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron want to meet Chinese head of state and party leader Xi Jinping in Beijing this Thursday. Last week, in a keynote speech on the relationship between the EU and China, von der Leyen also advocated rebalancing relations with the world’s most populous country. She also emphasized that the EU must become more independent and minimize economic risks. However, it is not in the interest to turn away from China.
Meanwhile, Macron began his three-day state visit. The focus will be on consultations with Xi on Thursday and Friday, particularly on Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. Because of the close partnership with Moscow, the Élysée Palace believes that China is the only country “that can exert direct influence” to move developments in one direction or the other, as it was said in advance from Paris. Upon arrival, Macron first wanted to meet members of the French community in China.
Baerbock criticizes China’s “neutrality”
Baerbock also cited China’s stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a reason for her positioning. As a member of the UN Security Council, the People’s Republic actually has a special responsibility. The retreat “to a so-called neutrality” is not appropriate for China. That is why the European partners have made it clear that de-risking is necessary, said Baerbock.
Within NATO, the United States in particular is pushing for possible risks in relation to China to be addressed. Lithuania also warns vigorously of the dangers of too great a dependency. China has imposed sanctions on the Baltic country after strengthening ties with Taiwan. China sees the island republic as part of the People’s Republic and is trying to prevent Taiwan’s international relations.