TAIPEI, Taiwan (Reuters) – In a surprising development, China abruptly canceled a visit to Beijing by top European Union (EU) diplomat Josep Borrell. The EU announced the development on Wednesday, citing continuing disagreements between the two countries on various areas, including trade, human rights and the war in Ukraine.
Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, had originally planned to arrive in China on July 10 to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and others. Ambassador Jorge Toledo said the planned talks aim to address important issues such as trade, human rights and China’s position on the Ukraine conflict.
But China decided to cancel Mr Borrell’s visit without giving any reason, leaving the EU to explore alternatives. “Unfortunately, we have been informed by the Chinese side that the appointment scheduled for next week is no longer possible and that alternatives must be sought,” EU spokesman Nabila Masrari said. is up to China,” he added. Reason for communication. We adapt to the situation and find new dates together. “
China’s foreign ministry, while vague on the issue, said it would maintain strong Sino-European relations and stressed its openness to Mr Borrell’s future visits. “We welcome Mr. Borrell to visit China as soon as possible at the mutual request, and we are ready to continue exchanges with the European side,” ministry spokesman Wang Wenbing told a regular briefing in Beijing.
The suspension follows a recent EU summit where member states endorsed a strategy to diversify important raw material sources outside of China. The EU aims to reduce its dependence on China’s trade and supply chains, while maintaining a diversified stance on China, viewing China as a partner, competitor and systemic rival. This latter designation has long caused problems in Beijing. China, on the other hand, opposes the EU moving closer to the US in order to reduce its dependence on China’s trade and supply chains. Beijing has remained neutral in the Ukraine conflict, but has shown support for Russia through frequent state visits and joint military exercises, raising concerns among EU member states. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron have previously urged China to end its aggression against Russia and withdraw its troops from Ukraine.
Alongside trade and Ukraine disputes, the EU opposes changing the status quo in China-Taiwan relations. Despite continued threats from Beijing to take over the autonomous islands, the EU is doing all it can to maintain the status quo. However, there have also been some positive developments in China-EU relations. The two countries recently held a high-level climate dialogue, which was the first face-to-face bilateral meeting on climate change and the environment since the outbreak of the pandemic. In addition, China and the EU will hold two more summits in September, which will focus on economic and digital cooperation. At previous meetings, joint declarations on these issues were not possible.
As Borrell’s cancellation of his visit raises questions about the future of China-EU relations, the two sides must overcome differences to find common ground on various issues and deal with future challenges. The European Union’s sudden cancellation of top diplomat Josep Borrell’s visit to China reflects continued disagreements and tensions between the two countries on many fronts. Trade disputes, human rights issues and disagreements over the war in Ukraine have strained relations between China and the EU.
The abrupt cancellation of the visit by the European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, to Beijing by China reflects the ongoing disagreements and tensions between the two powers on multiple fronts.
Trade disputes, human rights concerns, and disagreements over the Ukraine war have strained relations between China and the EU. The EU’s endorsement of a strategy to diversify critical material sources away from China, while not seeking complete decoupling, has further complicated the relationship. This move has likely irked Beijing, which has been facing increased efforts by European countries to reduce dependencies on Chinese trade and supply chains by aligning with the United States.
China’s cancellation of Borrell’s visit without providing a specific reason suggests a potential cooling of relations between the two parties. The EU’s strong stance on condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China’s refusal to condemn it, and Beijing’s support for Russia through state visits and joint military drills have created tension within the EU. The EU member states have consistently urged China to press Russia to end the conflict and withdraw its troops from Ukraine, aligning with the position of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Another contentious issue between China and the EU is China’s relationship with Taiwan. While China continues to threaten to take over Taiwan, the EU remains committed to upholding the current status quo and opposes any change in the island’s situation.
