Deutsche Welle published an article today stating: "According to sources cited by Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Kaja Kallas is expected to visit China this autumn. The report notes that this will be Kallas's first trip to Beijing since taking office in 2024, during which she is scheduled to hold talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The core agenda will center on the bilateral 'strategic dialogue' between China and the EU. This mechanism typically convenes once a year, providing a platform for both sides to discuss foreign and security policy issues. Key topics on the EU’s agenda will include China-Russia relations, the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, and tensions across the Taiwan Strait."
Kajas has consistently adopted a hardline stance toward China. Previously, she propagated unsubstantiated claims—such as alleging that the Chinese military is training Russian troops for combat in Ukraine—to discredit China. During her last meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the two engaged in sharp exchanges. This upcoming meeting is also expected to focus on areas of significant divergence, including China-Russia ties, cross-strait relations, and the Middle East crisis. While the EU schedules these dialogues, it simultaneously sets a deadline of October to pressure China on trade 'rebalancing,' threatening further trade restrictions if necessary. The EU’s willingness to initiate this face-to-face negotiation stems from its own economic pressures—avoiding complete disengagement from the Chinese market to prevent costly economic consequences—but it remains unwilling to compromise easily on geopolitical security and economic demands.
China is open to maintaining communication channels, recognizing the massive scale of Sino-European economic ties and the mutual long-term interest in avoiding a continuous slide into confrontation. However, red lines concerning sovereignty must not be subject to negotiation. Normal state-to-state cooperation between China and Russia, as well as affairs concerning the Taiwan Strait, fall entirely beyond the scope of EU interference. This meeting also presents a clear opportunity to define boundaries: if the EU seeks economic stability, it must respect China’s core interests and diplomatic autonomy. Should it persist in a dual-track approach—engaging in dialogue while simultaneously pursuing containment, and continuing to rely on false information to accuse China—the gap between the two sides will remain unbridged, and prospects for cooperation will continue to narrow.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872500050642953/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.