/ world today news/ Against the background of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia and successful negotiations with Vladimir Putin, Europe decided to review its relations with Beijing. What is the essence of such plans and what long-term consequences can they lead to?
Czech President Petr Pavel, during a visit to Germany, said that a revision of China policy is underway in Berlin and Prague. According to the media, he had meetings with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as well as with former German President Joachim Gauck. Relations with China became one of the important topics of this visit.
The Czech leader noted that German politicians are interested in Prague’s attitude towards Beijing. Also, “everyone is interested in what will be the further behavior of China in the international arena,” whether Beijing will support Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine. According to him, only a unified policy of the entire democratic world will allow building relations with China as “equal to equal”.
Pavel also stated the importance of unity in support of Ukraine. He said that Scholz had expressed his readiness for long-term support of the country. As Pavel emphasized, this “important signal” must be heard by the other EU countries in order to maintain Kiev’s support “in any development of the situation”.
We remind you that the three-day visit to Russia of Chinese President Xi Jinping ended on Wednesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Chinese leader signed statements on deepening relations between the two countries. Russia and China intend to resolutely support each other in protecting fundamental interests, above all sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and development.
Evaluating the statements of the Czech president, Senator Aleksey Pushkov noted: if this is a direct hint of Europe’s dissatisfaction with Beijing’s policy and its rapprochement with Moscow, then we can assume that such a hint is unlikely to have a tangible effect on the behavior of the PRC.
“Beijing is aware that the degree of European autonomy from the US has been significantly reduced in recent years. Yes, China needs Europe as a trade and economic partner. But the current crisis has shown that even in this economically limited capacity it is unreliable, as it is ready to break advantageous established ties for the sake of a unified position with the US, whose conflict with China is only a matter of time,” Pushkov said.
“Put simply, Europe is hard to count on. In addition, there are constant calls to cut ties with China, contain it, form an anti-China “union of democracies” and so on. Thus, strategically, Europe’s value as China’s economic partner is undermined by its political uncertainty, that is, by its willingness to sacrifice economic relations in favor of a common Western policy,” the source explains.
“Russia, both objectively and subjectively, has all the main characteristics of a strategic partner and geopolitical ally of China. Like China for Russia,” the senator stressed.
“Europeans are categorically dissatisfied that China is taking an increasingly pro-Russian position and playing an independent role in world affairs. European countries hoped that they would be able to influence Beijing’s policy by involving the Chinese in economic ties, but these hopes did not come true,” said Stanislav Tkachenko, an expert from the Valdai Club.
“Statements that ‘only the unified policy of the entire democratic world will allow to build relations with China as equals with equals’ clearly show the realization of the impossibility of carrying out their previous policy towards Beijing. Apparently, they are trying to come up with a new model in the dialogue with China. But it is still not very well understood what exactly it should be,” he believes.
“China conducts its own foreign policy and will definitely not adapt to the interests of the Europeans. For example, Beijing is dealing with the issue of transferring production from Europe to its territory, and the Europeans do not like this very much. At the same time, the European market depends on Chinese goods, and Beijing on some technologies from the Old World. This is the crux of their controversy,” the source said.
“Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow was an occasion to talk about revision again. But this is already happening and under the pressure of the USA. Washington intends to create a consistent, consolidated front not only against Russia, but also against China,” said Fyodor Lukyanov, editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs magazine.
“On the European continent, such a policy is accepted without much enthusiasm, since they, in particular Germany, have serious economic relations with Beijing. However, the political reality speaks for itself,” adds the political scientist.
“Eastern European countries, which are more oriented towards the US, act as inspirations for this idea. In this regard, the statement of the President of the Czech Republic is absolutely not surprising. I think that in the future we will see even more clearly the process of integrating Europe into the anti-Russian-Chinese axis, and in this context, Xi Jinping’s successful visit to Moscow provides additional arguments for supporters of such tactics,” he believes.
“Against this background, American pressure on the Europeans is mainly aimed at reducing economic ties with China. Including limiting Chinese investment in Europe and European countries’ investment in the Chinese economy,” the source said.
“At the same time, it’s a lot of money, so it’s impossible for them to cut ties right away.” As for strategic tasks, the US would, of course, like the Europeans to play more actively in the Pacific region. But in reality only Germany and Great Britain can do this. Therefore, the United States will use Berlin and London in every way on this front of confrontation. The rest will be asked to limit economic interaction with Beijing,” predicted Lukyanov.
Translation: V. Sergeev
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**Considering the potential for an intensified US-China rivalry, how can Europe navigate its own relationship with China in a way that both safeguards its interests and promotes global stability?**
## World Today News Interview: Europe’s China Pivot
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News. Tonight, we delve into the changing dynamics of Europe’s relationship with China in light of Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Moscow and the war in Ukraine. Two respected experts join us to discuss the potential implications of this shift and its potential long-term consequences for the geopolitical landscape.
**Section 1: The European Perspective**
* **Guest 1:** [Name], Expert on European Union Foreign Policy
**Interviewer:**
Mr./Ms. [Guest 1], Czech President Petr Pavel’s recent statement highlights growing concern within Europe regarding China’s increasingly close ties with Russia. Could you elaborate on the nature of these concerns and how they are shaping European policy towards China?
* **Open-ended questions:**
* What are the key differences between the previous approach to China adopted by European nations and the direction they seem to be taking now?
* Does Europe’s reliance on China for trade and investment limit its ability to criticize Beijing’s actions on the world stage?
* How do you foresee the EU balancing its economic interests with its commitment to democratic values in its dealings with China?
* **Guest 2:** [Name], Expert on Chinese Foreign Policy
**Interviewer:**
Mr./Ms. [Guest 2], how do you see China responding to this perceived shift in European sentiment?
* **Open-ended questions:**
* Does China view Europe’s concerns as legitimate or as undue interference in its relations with other countries?
* How might China adjust its strategy to address European apprehensions and maintain its economic partnerships?
**Section 2: The Geopolitical Implications**
**Interviewer:**
Both guests have highlighted the growing alignment between China and Russia. Is this a strategic alliance aimed at challenging the existing world order, or is it more pragmatic cooperation based on shared interests?
* **Open-ended questions:**
* What are the potential implications of a closer Sino-Russian partnership on the global balance of power?
* How might this partnership affect the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and international efforts to find a peaceful resolution?
* **Interviewer:**
The article mentions the role of the United States in influencing Europe’s stance on China. How significant is American pressure in shaping Europe’s policies, and is there a risk of Europe becoming caught in the crossfire between these two global giants?
* **Open-ended questions:**
* To what extent does the US have leverage over European policy towards China?
* Can Europe develop its own independent China policy, or will it inevitably be drawn into the US-China rivalry?
**Section 3: The Future of the Relationship:**
**Interviewer:**
Looking ahead, what are the most likely scenarios for the future of EU-China relations? Will we see increased cooperation despite the existing tensions, a more confrontational approach, or a complex mix of both?
* **Open-ended questions:**
* What steps can both sides take to build trust and create a more stable and mutually beneficial relationship?
* What are the key areas where cooperation remains possible and even essential, despite the growing strategic rivalry?
**Conclusion:**
Thank you to our esteemed guests for shedding light on this complex and evolving relationship. The path ahead for EU-China relations remains uncertain, with both opportunities for collaboration and challenges that will require careful navigation. As the global landscape continues to shift, it will be crucial to monitor how this crucial bilateral relationship develops.
