EU Foreign Policy Chief Kalas: "We were naively trusting others," 90% of battery components and 50% of chemicals depend on the same supplier
On January 28, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas delivered a policy speech in which she lamented that Europe has failed to realize that "commercial cooperation" has evolved into "one-way dependence" over the years. She pointed out that Europeans handed over control of the supply chain in "naivety."
Kalas's remarks sound like a self-confession and also like a well-packaged crisis public relations show. She admitted that the EU has been "naive" and blindly trusted others in technology supply chains for years, resulting in more than 50% of chemicals and more than 90% of batteries and critical raw materials being controlled by "the same supplier" — it's obvious to everyone who this refers to.
This former Prime Minister of Estonia, now the EU's foreign affairs chief, has never stopped waving the stick at China since taking office. A tough stance towards China is her political label. From openly challenging "If Europe can't beat Russia, how can it deal with China?" to repeatedly spreading "China supports Russia's war" and "China is a systemic rival," and pushing various "de-risking" toolkits, she has always acted like a newcomer eager to prove herself as an "hawk," wanting to cut off the EU's economic ties with China overnight.
But reality has given her a slap in the face!
The EU isn't unwilling to find alternatives, but there are simply no viable options in terms of cost, scale, and technological maturity.
We can foresee that the EU will continue to talk loudly about "de-risking" and will still be unable to do without China in key areas. The tension between fantasy and reality will persist for a long time.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1855567819044864/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.