Xi Jinping’s plane landed in France on Sunday, and while there will likely be no shortage of pomp and ceremony during his six-day tour of Europe, attitudes toward China have changed drastically since the president’s last visit.
In recent weeks alone, the European Union has launched new investigations into China’s wind turbines and medical trade, and raided the offices of Chinese security equipment maker Nuctech as part of a subsidy probe. Germany and the United Kingdom have also recently arrested or charged at least six people for alleged espionage and other China-related crimes.
In March, Italy officially withdrew from the Belt and Road Initiative, meaning China lost its only G7 member state.
And in the background, economic grievances continue to mount as the European Union prepares for a potential trade conflict with China, amid growing anxiety about Beijing’s global ambitions and influence, fueled by China’s deepening ties with Russia.
“China is nothing but a multifaceted threat to most European capitals. Of course, Europe itself is divided on how to deal with concerns about China, both in the economic and security spheres,” says Noah Barkin from the German Marshall Fund’s forge of ideas.
Xi Jinping’s tour of Europe – with stops in France, Serbia and Hungary – is a great opportunity to talk down critics. And not only: to show that, even as attitudes in some European countries become radicalized, there are those who welcome China with open arms, writes CNN.
Beijing would very much like Europe to stop getting angry over suspected trade manipulations – now is definitely not the most favorable time for the country’s economy. In addition, he would like Europe not to get too close to the United States (where it is not known how the presidential elections will end).
China’s fiercest critics are unlikely to budge and change their minds unless Xi Jinping steps up and offers some solid unexpected concessions. Rather, his visit will only increase divisions – and not only between Europe and China, but also within the old continent, although in some ways, according to analysts, it may even be beneficial for China.
And Xi Jinping began his diplomatic mission with one of his fiercest critics. On Monday, he met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron. The latter, worried about how to protect the country’s most important technologies, has initiated efforts to reduce the risks posed by Chinese supply chains and is leading a large-scale anti-subsidy investigation into the influx of Chinese electric cars in Europe.
Earlier this year, China itself launched an investigation into the prices of hard alcohol imported from the European Union. The move could deal a severe blow to France’s cognac sector, and experts interpret it as retaliation for the European Union investigation.
During the meetings, Xi Jinping is likely to try to push Beijing’s message that it is dangerous for Europe to distance itself from perceived Chinese risks, and try to silence European concerns about China’s overproduction and subsidies, while trying to draw attention to the role of Chinese electric cars in both European and global efforts to reduce fossil fuels. fuel use, CNN speculated. Only such speeches, if they are not accompanied by tangible trade and mutual market access commitments, will most likely not really make U. von der Leyen change her mind – there is not much time left before the European Parliament elections in June, and the President of the Commission wants to solve fundamental trade-related issues by then.
During the meetings, the topic of the war in Ukraine is also important. Despite repeated calls for Xi Jinping to use his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Beijing appears to have done little to encourage the Kremlin to end its war on Ukraine.
During meetings with European leaders, Xi Jinping rejected accusations that his country supports Russia’s war in Ukraine. “China is neither the creator of the crisis, nor a country or participant in it. But we are also not observers, we have always actively contributed to peace,” the Chinese leader said at a press conference on Monday.
EU Commission President U. von der Leyen said on Monday that she is confident that Chinese President Xi Jinping will help reduce tensions caused by Russia’s threats to use nuclear weapons.
“President Xi has an important role to play in de-escalating Russia’s irresponsible nuclear threats,” she said after a meeting with Xi and French President Macron in Paris.
“I am confident that President Xi will continue to do so, given Russia’s continued threats to use nuclear weapons,” she added, speaking just hours after President Vladimir Putin ordered the start of nuclear drills involving troops stationed near Ukraine. .
On the first day of negotiations with French President E. Macron and the President of the European Commission in Paris, the main focus was on trade policy and Ukraine. A more personal aspect of the visit is planned for Tuesday, with Xi Jinping and Macron visiting the Col du Tourmalet, one of the highest paved mountain passes in the Pyrenees.
From France, Xi Jinping is traveling to Belgrade, where he will be the guest of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. The Balkan country maintains warm relations with China, which invests in infrastructure projects and industrial facilities there.
Ahead of a visit to Serbia, Xi Jinping on Tuesday criticized NATO for the “brazen” bombing of the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia in 1999, warning that Beijing “will never allow such a tragic history to be repeated.”
Xi wrote in the Serbian daily Politika ahead of a visit to the Serbian capital, Belgrade, which will be the next stop on his first tour of Europe since the COVID-19 pandemic, later on Tuesday.
His visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of a bombing by the military alliance blamed on a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) mapping error that killed three people.
“25 years ago today, NATO brazenly bombed the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia and killed three Chinese journalists,” Xi wrote in Politika newspaper. – We should never forget that. The Chinese people cherish peace, but we will never allow such a tragic history to repeat itself.”
He also hailed the “steel-strength friendship” between China and Serbia, which he said was “forged with the blood of our countrymen.”
Xi is due to arrive in Belgrade on Tuesday evening after a state visit to France that has seen sometimes heated talks with President Emmanuel Macron on a range of topics including the war in Ukraine.
The other two stops of his visit in Europe – Serbia and Hungary – are considered to be among the most favorable European countries towards Moscow.
China has poured billions into Serbia and neighboring Balkan countries, particularly in the mining and manufacturing sectors, and Beijing and Belgrade signed a free trade agreement last year.
Analysts say the meetings in Serbia and Hungary are likely to be less controversial. “In Belgrade and Budapest, Xi will not have to listen to the criticism he hears in other European capitals,” Barkin of Germany’s Marshall Fund think tank told CNN. – The leaders of these countries are happy with Chinese investments and do not see a problem in China’s strengthening ties with Russia.”
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