China and EU at odds over top diplomat’s visit canceled at last minute

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China abruptly canceled a visit to Beijing by the European Union’s top diplomat, the EU said Wednesday, amid lingering disagreements between the two powers over trade, human rights man and the war in Ukraine.

Josep Borrell, the EU’s top representative for foreign affairs and security policy, was due to arrive in China on July 10 for talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and other officials, according to a Sunday announcement from the EU Ambassador to Beijing. European and Chinese diplomats were expected to discuss topics such as trade, human rights and China’s position on the war in Ukraine, according to Ambassador Jorge Toledo.

But China canceled Borrell’s visit, the EU announced, without specifying why.

“Unfortunately, we have been informed by our Chinese counterparts that the dates envisaged next week are no longer possible and that we must now look for alternatives,” EU spokesperson Nabila Massrali said in a statement on Wednesday. sent by email.

“It is up to China to communicate the reasons,” she added. “We will adapt and find a new date together.”

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has remained vague on the subject.

“China attaches great importance to China-Europe relations and has maintained exchanges with Europe at all levels and in various aspects,” ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbing said at a press briefing on Wednesday. routine in Beijing. “We invite Representative Borrell to visit China as soon as possible, at the convenience of both sides, and we are ready to continue exchanges with the European side.”

Borrell was originally scheduled to travel to Beijing in April but had to postpone after testing positive for Covid-19, the EU said.

Although it is unclear what caused this latest cancellation, it follows a summit of EU member states last week at which the bloc approved a strategy to try to procure materials criticism from sources other than China, while insisting that he did not want to “decouple” entirely from the world’s second-largest economy.

Member states also affirmed the EU’s “multifaceted” stance towards China, which the bloc describes as “partner, competitor and systemic rival”.

The “systemic rival” designation, first adopted by the EU in 2019, has long angered Beijing, as have recent European efforts to align with the United States in reducing dependence on with regard to Chinese trade and supply chains.

Brussels, on the other hand, disputes China’s refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Beijing claims neutrality in the conflict but supports Russia by organizing frequent state visits and joint military exercises.

Last week, EU member states urged China “to put pressure on Russia to end its war of aggression and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine “. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron made similar demands during their visits to Beijing earlier this year.

The EU also opposes a change in the status quo in relations between China and Taiwan, even as Beijing continues to threaten to seize the self-ruled island, which it considers a breakaway province.

China and the EU appeared to find common ground during a high-level climate dialogue in Beijing on Monday between Chinese climate envoy Xie Zhenhua and Europe’s top climate official, Frans Timmermans. This was the first in-person bilateral meeting on climate change and the environment between the two sides since the start of the pandemic.

Beijing and Brussels are expected to hold two more summits, focused on economic and digital cooperation, in September, Toledo said. The last two recurring meetings on these subjects did not result in joint declarations.