In its analysis of the vote, the semi-official newspaper Global Times rules out changes in course by Brussels in its (tense) relations with China. The inauguration of Ursula Von der Leyen should lead to the reconfirmation of the hard line with Xi Jinping. Decisions are expected in the coming days on the issue of tariffs on electric vehicle manufacturers, on which Beijing threatens retaliation.
Beijing (/Agencies) – The Dragon Boat festival in China has today postponed the official reaction of the Beijing Ministry of Foreign Affairs until tomorrow, at its usual daily press conference. But this does not mean that in the People’s Republic of China special attention has not been paid in these hours to the result of the European Parliament vote. In fact, the confrontation with the European Union over trade policies has been one of the dominant themes of Chinese foreign policy in recent months. And decisions from Brussels on the burning issue of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers, against which Beijing threatens retaliation, are expected any day now.
It is no coincidence that – last week, from Spain – the Chinese Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao, declared that protectionist measures are not viable solutions, but rather a “dangerous dead end.” He added that “China is willing to discuss economic and trade issues with the European Union on an equal footing and engage in fair competition on the basis of expanded cooperation.”
The question in Beijing, therefore, is: what effect could yesterday’s election results in Europe have on this game? On this issue, andThe semi-official English-language newspaper Global Times ask Chinese political scientists today, who tend to rule out big changes. Despite the assertion of the far right in France and Germany with the defeat of French President Macron and German Chancellor Scholz, the balance of power between the sides in the European Parliament seems to reconfirm the central role of the outgoing president of the European Commission , Ursula Von der Leyen, supporter of a hard line against Xi JInping’s China. And even Beijing’s main supporter in the European Union, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban – who received the Chinese president in Budapest a few weeks ago – has also suffered a sharp drop in support, despite the fact that he retained the majority in his country. .
The experts interviewed by the Global Times comment on these results, arguing that they will have a significant impact on European immigration, security and ecological transition policies, “issues on which public opinion is largely dissatisfied and on which the policies of political parties right have won points”. But in foreign policy, they add, great changes cannot be expected. Specifically, Cui Hongjian, professor at the Academy of Regional Studies and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, states that “the impact on EU-China relations will depend on how current problems in China are exacerbated or adequately addressed. relations between China and the EU”.
Increasing conservatism in European politics,” adds Cui, “will lead to a more protectionist stance on economic and trade issues, and it is possible that in the future the EU will tend to put more emphasis on its internal affairs and prioritize national interests. “In general, however,” concludes the Chinese academic quoted by the pro-government newspaper, “the result of the US presidential elections will have a more direct and greater influence on ties with China than these parliamentary elections.”
It must also be remembered that the issue of relations with China is one of the main ones on the agenda of the G7 summit of heads of state and government scheduled in a few days in Puglia. And it is precisely Giorgia Meloni – Italian Prime Minister and one of the European leaders most rewarded by the result of the polls – who plans to visit Beijing in July, in a highly anticipated visit after Rome’s decision to abandon the Belt and Bank Initiative. the Route, although maintaining a solid commercial partnership with China.
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