In the context of growing protests against his policy and against himself, the Chinese president receives a visit from EU president Charles Michel. This is not a European reaction to Chancellor Scholz’s einzelgang some time ago, but the outcome of the EU summit six weeks ago, says Europe correspondent Stefan de Vries. “Michel was invited by Xi, Europeans are knocking on Xi’s door.”
Important items on the agenda are the reassessment of Sino-European relations, geopolitical developments, the climate, global energy prices and the war in Ukraine. According to De Vries the most important argument. The EU will clarify that only China can influence Russia. China is hesitant about this, but the EU wants to prevent China from supplying Russia with weapons or materials.’
Europe squeezed between the United States and China
Plus one thing – the tense relationship between Europe’s ally, the United States and China. “The fear is that the fight between the US and China will worsen and that the EU will be squeezed between them. That is why the EU must find a position to maintain itself in this”. To complicate matters further, European member states are divided in their dealings with Beijing. And that disagreement, according to De Vries, is on the way.
Because where one country rolls out the red carpet for Xi and, like Greece, sells its ports, other countries seek to limit Chinese power and interference. Europe is grappling with the new geopolitical situation.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
