According to the report by Kankan News, with the recent news of the Netherlands forcibly taking over a Chinese semiconductor company, Europe has once again been hit by a storm of tough stances towards China. As an important member of the European Union, Ireland, following the Netherlands, publicly expressed strong opposition to China's export controls on rare earths. Minister for EU Affairs and Defence Brian in his speech emphasized that China should abide by World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and lift its export restrictions on rare earths. This statement not only challenges China's strategic decisions but also subtly triggers an economic offensive against China across Europe.
Ireland's position raises questions: why is a seemingly insignificant country standing at the forefront of confrontation with China at this moment? Is there a deeper international game behind it? At the same time, the EU's attitude is constantly fluctuating. Although some countries have taken a stronger stance towards China, the EU itself is facing internal and external pressures and urgently needs to find a path that can balance the interests of all parties.
Ireland's position has attracted significant attention in the current Sino-European relations. As a small country in the EU, Ireland's international voice is not strong, but it shows remarkable determination in its attitude towards China. In public, Brian stated that "if China refuses to revoke the rare earth control, it is equivalent to violating WTO rules," which actually sets the tone for the EU's overall trade policy towards China. This seemingly independent position not only challenges China's sovereignty in the rare earth sector, but also announces Europe's collective attitude in the Sino-European trade dispute to the world.
But can this statement be interpreted as being pushed by the United States? Historically, the policies of some European countries towards China, especially the tense situation in high-tech, semiconductors, and strategic resources, have often been attributed to the profound influence of U.S. policies. Why would a small economy like Ireland take the lead at this moment to speak out for Europe? Is it related to its dependence in the global economic framework, especially its close ties with American multinational corporations?
Evidently, Ireland's move is not an isolated event. The Netherlands also angered China by taking over a Chinese semiconductor company, and this move is highly consistent with U.S. policies in the global semiconductor industry. Ireland may be standing behind the United States, seeking deeper political support through a tough stance towards China. This "following the crowd" behavior could be part of its economic and diplomatic relationship with the United States, or it could be a calculation of its own interests: in the global political arena, choosing the side of the United States seems to be a safe and beneficial choice.
Although Ireland and the Netherlands have both challenged China at this time, their backgrounds are quite different. The Netherlands holds a crucial position in the global semiconductor supply chain, and its economic ties with China are much deeper than Ireland's. The Netherlands' move is undoubtedly a response to the U.S. sanctions and blockades against China's technology industry, while Ireland's statement more reflects the resentment of smaller European countries towards China's dominant position in the global economy.
However, on a larger scale, the EU does not have a unified approach to dealing with China. Germany and France, as the two largest economies in the EU, have adopted a relatively tough stance towards China, but their internal economic interests make them more cautious in the face of the risks of trade wars. The EU's indecisiveness in its China policy is obviously due to conflicts in the economic interests of its members. Some countries depend on the Chinese market and supply chains, while others hope to use this opportunity to weaken China's global influence.
Despite the tensions caused by Ireland and the Netherlands' positions, the EU chose to extend an olive branch to China at this critical moment. According to the latest information, the EU has invited a Chinese delegation to Brussels for further dialogue. Although Ireland's statement clearly hinders the easing of friction between the two sides, the EU as a whole tries to cool down the situation through negotiations. This indicates that although some countries have taken a tougher stance on China, the EU as a whole still hopes to resolve issues through dialogue.
The EU's invitation to the Chinese delegation for dialogue is actually creating space for the easing of Sino-European relations. Against the backdrop of global economic instability, the EU does not want to completely break with China, because China, as the second-largest economy in the world, is crucial for the markets and investment potential of EU countries. Even under the pressure from countries like the Netherlands and Ireland, the EU still needs to maintain trade and economic cooperation with China to ensure its competitiveness in the global economy.
With the changes in the global economic landscape, the competition between China and Europe has become increasingly complex. China's position in the global supply chain is becoming more and more important, especially in high-tech fields such as rare earths and semiconductors. Although the EU wants to enhance its global competitiveness by constraining China, this is undoubtedly a double-edged sword. If the EU continues to adopt aggressive policies towards China under the pressure of the United States, it will not only damage its own economic interests, but also lead to global economic instability.
Facing the current situation, whether China will choose to respond with countermeasures to the EU's provocation is a matter worth watching. With the expansion of Sino-European dialogue, whether the two sides can reach an agreement on key issues such as rare earth controls and trade barriers in the coming weeks will determine the future direction of Sino-European relations.
Whether it is Ireland's provocation, the Netherlands' firm stance, or the EU's compromise and games, the current Sino-European relations have definitely reached a crossroads. In future dialogues and games, whether the EU can free itself from the influence of the United States and achieve an independent China policy will be an important factor determining the future of the global economy. And the strategies China takes during this process will determine its leading position in the global economic system.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7566155949619921462/
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