China cancels a recorded message from Michel at the opening of an economic forum in Shanghai

BRUSSELS, Nov. 8 (EUROPE PRESS) –

The Chinese authorities have canceled this Tuesday the intervention of the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, at the Hongqiao Economic Forum by failing to broadcast a recorded message planned for the opening ceremony of the meeting that takes place in Shanghai.

As reported by his spokesman, Barend Leyts, the president of the European Council was scheduled to participate in the 5th Hongqiao Economic Forum and, at the request of the Chinese authorities, an intervention was recorded.

“We have provided a recorded message that has not finally been shown. We have already addressed this situation through the usual diplomatic channels,” Leyts told Europa Press.

Although Beijing’s reasons for eliminating Michel’s intervention at the last minute have not transpired, European sources point out that the former Belgian Prime Minister’s message made direct references to the war in Ukraine and the economic consequences of dependencies on Europe, an issue that the Russian invasion in the Ukraine has made clear.

This message coincides with the EU’s hardening of its tone towards China in the wake of Russian aggression. During the last European summit, the heads of state and government defended the need to “clarify ideas” regarding the Asian giant and be vigilant about economic dependencies, at a time of change in the world order.

The strategic debate did not bring about profound changes in the EU’s position on Beijing, but the will to leave behind a certain European innocence when dealing with China. After the summit, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, denounced that Beijing continues its “assertive course” and the “mission of domination” in the Asian region, referring to the military rhetoric on Taiwan, and showed her mistrust for the alliance between Beijing and Moscow in the midst of the war in Ukraine.