Diplomatic slap in the face for the EU

Diplomatic slap in the face for the EU

Bernhard Tomaschitz

Source: https://zurzeit.at/index.php/diplomatische-ohrfeige-fuer-die-eu/

China cancels visit of EU foreign affairs envoy Borrell without giving reasons

No country likes lectures from abroad. This is especially true for China, which the EU must now realise. Beijing has cancelled a visit by EU foreign affairs envoy Josep Borrell planned for next week without giving any reasons, which is to be seen as a diplomatic slap in the face.

EU spokeswoman Nabila Massrali told Reuters news agency in a written statement: "Unfortunately, we have been informed by our Chinese counterparts that the scheduled dates next week are no longer possible and we now have to look for alternatives." A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson declined to give the reasons for the cancellation of Borrell's visit.

The EU foreign envoy was due to visit Beijing on 10 July to meet the Chinese foreign minister and discuss "strategic issues" such as human rights and the Ukraine war. But apparently the People's Republic of China does not want to listen to Borrell's lectures on the alleged discrimination against the Muslim Uyghur minority. Nor does it want to hear any lectures on the Ukraine war.

Beijing has not joined the Western sanctions against Moscow and continues its close economic relations with Russia. And while the EU is supporting Ukraine militarily with arms deliveries, China is calling for a solution to the conflict on the negotiating table. The Chinese foreign minister apparently has better things to do than waste his time with the Europeans.