China has launched a new round of diplomatic outreach to European countries amid rising tension between the United States and its European allies. While top U.S. officials and European leaders clashed over issues such as values, democracy and Ukraine at the Munich Security Conference over the weekend, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi held bilateral meetings with several top European officials, including EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
“There is no fundamental conflict of interest or geopolitical conflicts between China and the EU,” Wang said during his meeting with Kallas on Saturday, adding that Beijing “supports all endeavors conducive to peace and backs Europe in playing a significant role” in the peace negotiation process regarding the war in Ukraine.
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tirsdag 25. februar 2025
Why China wants EU to be involved in Ukraine peace talks
The message from China at the UN Security Council on Tuesday was clear. "China welcomes all efforts dedicated to peace, including the recent agreement reached by the United States and Russia to start peace talks," China's UN ambassador, Fu Cong, told a briefing.
"China hopes all relevant parties and stakeholders involved in the Ukraine crisis will engage in the peace talks process. As the conflict has been unfolding on European soil, it is imperative for Europe to work for peace," he said, seemingly in contrast to the position of Russia, Beijing's foremost strategic partner.
On Monday before meeting with a US delegation in Saudi Arabia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he saw no place for the European Union at the negotiating table, claiming that the EU had already had several chances to participate in talks to settle the conflict.
"China hopes all relevant parties and stakeholders involved in the Ukraine crisis will engage in the peace talks process. As the conflict has been unfolding on European soil, it is imperative for Europe to work for peace," he said, seemingly in contrast to the position of Russia, Beijing's foremost strategic partner.
On Monday before meeting with a US delegation in Saudi Arabia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he saw no place for the European Union at the negotiating table, claiming that the EU had already had several chances to participate in talks to settle the conflict.
Trump’s Europe Shock Creates an Opening for China
The Biden administration spent four years building a united front with Europe to counter China. A month into President Donald Trump’s second term, that united front is becoming collateral damage as the new administration dramatically upends former President Joe Biden’s approach, befriending Russia and alienating Europe.
In the wake of Trump’s wrecking ball, China is now probing opportunities to build its own united front with Europe.
At the Munich Security Conference, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a slew of meetings with European leaders and made a direct appeal to them in his speech. “China has always seen in Europe an important pole in the multipolar world. … China is willing to work with the European side to deepen strategic communication and mutually beneficial cooperation,” he said.
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