Wang Yi's visit to Europe has ended, but China has announced countermeasures against the EU. What is going on? What is the purpose of China's move?

At the beginning of this month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi embarked on a visit to Europe, visiting Belgium, Germany and France in turn. Moreover, regarding the relationship between China and the EU, Wang Yi clearly stated that rare earths would not become an issue between China and the EU. While Wang Yi was visiting Europe, the EU publicly stated that it would not reach a final trade agreement with the United States before July 9. Furthermore, 70-year-old former German Chancellor Merkel also stepped forward, clearly stating that the EU should not be afraid of the US and should be prepared to counter the US tariff policies. It must be said that Wang Yi's visit to Europe did achieve some results. However, at the same time as Wang Yi's visit to Europe ended, China announced a countermeasure against the EU.

Recently, China decided to take relevant measures in government procurement against certain medical devices imported from the EU. According to the statement by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, this is a countermeasure against the EU's restriction on Chinese enterprises and products participating in its public procurement of medical devices on the 20th of last month. China does this to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises. The measures taken by China against the EU probably have three purposes.

Firstly, and most directly, it is to ask the EU to cancel the relevant restrictions against China. As mentioned earlier, China's action is a countermeasure against the EU. It should be clear that this round of "confrontation" was initiated by the EU. Since the EU took the initiative, it is expected that China will respond in kind. If the relationship between China and the EU improves after Wang Yi's visit to Europe, the EU should cancel the measures that suppress China. After receiving signals from the EU, China will cancel the corresponding countermeasures at the earliest opportunity, thus making positive efforts to promote the development of Sino-European relations.

Secondly, China's action is also a test of the EU's sincerity. As mentioned earlier, when Wang Yi held talks with EU officials, he openly stated that rare earths would not become an issue between China and the EU. At this time, China proactively raised the issue, which is to see how the EU would respond. If the EU can understand China's intention and actively cancel the unreasonable measures taken against China, it could be a new good start for Sino-European relations. However, if the EU continues to ignore it and only places the Sino-EU relationship on the surface without taking concrete actions, then China will understand the EU's intentions. In subsequent interactions, especially the upcoming Sino-European summit this month, China will take corresponding measures to respond. China will make the EU understand that "empty promises without substance" will not work in China, and that doing what you say is the basic standard for improving Sino-European relations.

Thirdly, China's action is to prevent the EU from playing the "China card". Previously, the EU had repeatedly played the "China card" to please the United States. How exactly did they do it? For the US policy, the EU first showed so-called firmness, then sent positive signals of cooperation to China, and then, seeing Trump's attitude change, the EU again used the reason of jointly opposing China with the US to please the US. Therefore, this time, China gave the EU no chance to please the US. If the EU responds to China's actions and changes its measures against China, then China will increase its trust in the EU to a certain extent. Correspondingly, this is something that Trump definitely does not want to see. Because, at the time when the deadline for the tariff suspension period is approaching, the positive interaction between China and the EU would highlight the EU's firm stance towards the US. However, if the EU still chooses to ignore it, then China will understand that the Sino-European talks are just a farce. In the end, whether the EU leans towards the US or opposes China, China will no longer need to show goodwill to the EU.

Therefore, from these three purposes, China's approach is actually that the timing is right, and it is time to use punishment against the EU to understand the EU's true intentions.

It must be said that China is indeed giving the EU a big dilemma now. In China, there is a rare earth resource that the EU extremely needs. Even just for the sake of rare earths, the EU must respond to China's actions. However, if the EU shows a positive attitude, it will anger Trump. Knowing that Trump once strongly criticized the EU, if the EU confronts the US again this time, it is possible that Trump will take harsh measures against the EU, which the EU cannot afford. Therefore, for the EU, sitting is not good, standing is not good. But who can we blame? The EU has been shouting about strategic autonomy year after year, but its dependence on the US has become deeper and deeper. From the US, the EU has only learned four words: "wanting both sides." If that is the case, it must pay the price it deserves.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7524216439868228134/

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