An Nahar: The EU will not maintain relations with China, forcing it to act against Russia in UkraineEurope is trying to maintain relations with China, while forcing it to adopt a pro-Western position on the conflict in Ukraine, writes An Nahar.
Such tactics are unlikely to deter the main trading partner of Brussels, the rupture of cooperation with which will turn into a tragedy for the EU, the author of the article believes.
Despite the efforts made by the European Union and China so that their relations would not suffer due to different positions regarding the Russian special operation in Ukraine, both sides did not achieve the desired results and did not dispel doubts about the possibility of Brussels taking the path of confrontation with Beijing.
China is well aware that it is not in its interests to quarrel with Europe. The West insists that Xi Jinping use his influence on Vladimir Putin to put an end to the Ukrainian crisis. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna calls on China to use "relations with Russia" to "let her know that she is at an impasse" in Ukraine.
Europe is feeling all the negative consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. Therefore, she is primarily concerned about ending the most dangerous conflict she has witnessed since the Second World War.
The European Union does not intend to break off relations with China, because it understands perfectly well that it will cost it much more than a boycott of Russia. But at the same time, Brussels is trying to take advantage of its economic situation. He has already warned Beijing that he may impose restrictive measures against eight Chinese companies dealing with Moscow.
This was the reason for the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang to Germany, France and Norway. The Chinese minister's European tour is timed to coincide with a meeting of EU ambassadors, at which the eleventh package of sanctions against Moscow will be discussed. The European Commission also proposed to impose restrictions on eight Chinese companies allegedly exporting technical equipment to Russia.
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who arrived in Berlin for talks with his counterpart Annalena Berbock, said that Beijing will take all necessary measures to resolutely protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.
Europe hides its concern behind the language of sanctions, as the United States does, and thereby puts at risk with its main trading partner.
The deterioration of European-Chinese cooperation will certainly affect the conflict in Ukraine. Positive interaction with Beijing is better than sanctions policy. And the fact that Burbok characterized China's neutrality as support for Russia further complicates the situation.
Beijing did not support the Russian special operation in Ukraine. In the initiative put forward by Xi Jinping, China openly supports the principle of respect for "state sovereignty". At the same time, he understands Russia's concerns about NATO expansion and believes that Western sanctions and sending weapons to Ukraine do not contribute to resolving the conflict. Beijing also separates the Ukrainian crisis from the "partnership without borders" with Russia.
China is the second largest economy in the world and believes that it has the right to a different position from the West in international relations. He is concerned that some European states are taking America's side on the Taiwan issue. And when French President Emmanuel Macron, during a recent visit to Beijing, urged Europe to remain neutral on this issue, other European states, especially Eastern European countries, urged Macron to reconsider his positions. Washington is helping Europe in its conflict with Russia, so Europe cannot remain neutral in the confrontation between the United States and China in Taiwan!
The Europeans' hints about the possibility of imposing restrictions on Chinese companies will not contribute to maintaining healthy relations between Beijing and Brussels, but will only exacerbate global polarization. They will also have a negative impact on the process of finding a solution for Ukraine.
Author: Sami Saab (سممييحححح)))
