The European Union must find a new balance in its relations with China. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this in her speech in Brussels this morning. Next week he will visit China with French President Macron.
The visit comes at a time when EU-China relations are tense. The EU is concerned about China’s high economic dependency. The EU is also concerned about the close ties between Chinese President Xi and Russian President Putin.
“During his Moscow visit, Xi did not condemn Russia’s appalling and illegal invasion of Ukraine,” von der Leyen said. said. He said that as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China should support peace.
most powerful country in the world
According to von der Leyen, China’s way of expanding its sphere of influence is wrong. He emphasized that China wants to be the most powerful country in the world and therefore is more assertive militarily in its own region, for example around Taiwan.
Von der Leyen also pointed out that China is spreading disinformation and human rights violations in Xinjiang. Anything that proves to them that relations with China need to be reconsidered.
According to von der Leyen, relations with the EU have become “more distant and complex”. Still, he does not want to break relations with China under any circumstances. This is in the interest of the welfare and security of the EU. Diplomatic relations should aim to minimize risk.
chip technology
The European Commission is also coming this year with a proposal to limit investment in sensitive technologies in China. These include microchips, artificial intelligence and biotechnology.
In early March, the Dutch government announced that it had banned the export of some advanced chip machines to China, without naming the country. The plan, announced by Der Leyen, also aims to prevent the abuse of European technology by China for the defense industry.
Source: NOS
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
