EU says China’s links with Russia now ‘determining factor’ in ties • FRANCE 24 English

The mood decidedly unseleelebratory as the EU and China held a bilateral summit Thursday to commemorate five decades of diplomatic relations. Expectations were low as what was to be a two-day affair in Beijing was cut to just one amid a series of disagreements. Among the points of contention, China’s close ties to Moscow and its tacit support for Russia’s war on Ukraine. The EU has slapped sanctions on a number of Chinese firms and banks for allegedly helping to supply Russia’s weapons industry. We call on China to use its influence on Russia to respect the United Nations charter and to bring an end to its war on aggression against Ukraine. Another awkward subject, trade. The EU currently has a massive trade deficit with China, importing nearly 306 billion euros more of its goods last year than the block sent back as exports. Brussels has accused China of state subsidized industrial overp production, flooding foreign markets like the EU with artificially cheap goods that threaten the block’s domestic manufacturing base. Xi Jinping in response urging Europe to make correct strategic choices, a thinly veiled reminder of China’s power. Europe’s 45% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles have been met with Chinese export restrictions on rare earth minerals and magnets critical for high-tech manufacturing. Beijing has also slapped tariffs on French liquor and launched trade investigations into European pork and dairy imports. The European Union is very important for Chinese industry. It is uh a big market for Chinese product which is especially important at a time when the American market is not as accessible um as it was before. That closing American market has further complicated EU China ties. Brussels is trying to negotiate a trade deal to avoid at least some of Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs and is worried that any perceived realignment with Beijing could imperil such a deal.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen warned on Thursday that China’s ties with Russia were now the “determining” factor in its relations with the European Union, as she wrapped up a tense summit in Beijing that also saw China agree to speed up exports of rare earth minerals to the bloc.
#China #EU #Summit

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33 comments

  3. These summits always look polite on the surface, but underneath it’s all about power and interests. The EU talks about human rights, China talks about trade—and in the end, both sides just want to protect their advantage without giving much up. Global politics at its most elegant… or hypocritical.

  4. China and Russia are geographical neighbors. China has a strong manufacturing base, while Russia is rich in natural resources — making them highly complementary partners. The EU? The EU wants China to distance itself from Russia? That's simply foolish. What real benefits can the EU offer China?

    If the EU is dreaming of supporting Ukraine to defeat Russia, that’s even more delusional. China’s stance is clear: if Russia truly couldn't hold the line, China wouldn't mind stepping in directly. But judging by the current situation, China only needs to provide some industrial capacity — Russia can handle Ukraine on its own.

  8. Imagine EU used to enjoy cheap energy from Russia and now their industry is dying just to appease Usa who is applying sanctions on them.Hilarious! 😂😂

  12. EU is asking China not to buy Russian while EU has been purchasing Russian oil and gas through India shadow fleets in last 3.5 years.
    what’s more, such natural energy is covered in the deals which China already made the energy deals over 15 years ago.

  17. What are the western leaders thinking to distance the two countries that were already friends before they were born into this world🤣

  19. Lol, funny how Europe still thinks it has a say in the world 🤣… they can't even agree internally on anything. Somebody please give Europe its medication, its way past its bed time.

  21. The European Union is like a middle-aged woman whose husband no longer loves her; perhaps she needs a new husband: China

  24. The E.U. is useless they won't stop the war in Gaza but feel they have authority to speak to Russia and China kick rocks the world is moving on

  26. Europe is sleeping giant and China laugh
    Monitoring of Corporate and Front Companies: U.S. intelligence investigates Chinese firms and front companies involved in supplying critical components or technologies to Russia, including those sanctioned for such activities.

    While the U.S. has not confirmed direct lethal weapon deliveries from China to Russia, it has documented extensive technological and logistical support facilitating Russia’s military production. The tracking relies on a combination of trade data scrutiny, sanctions enforcement, satellite reconnaissance, and cooperation with allied intelligence agencies

  27. Presumably most readers here are European. You seem sensible. Why is your governments acting in opposition to your views? Is your democracy real?

  29. EU has no leverage, so they leverage the entire relationship to get their way. Then the EU'll lose it all. Individual state, still soverign in foreign policy, will deal with China bilaterally.

  32. EU problem is world problem but world problem is not EU problem. Well done China. EU needs to stop its colonial mindset. EU started this war and now there is no exit and they blaming others for there problem.

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