On July 2nd, the China-EU High-Level Strategic Dialogue was held in Brussels. Facing Europe, our foreign minister earnestly urged that China and Europe deepen cooperation and move towards each other. However, Europe used this opportunity to put pressure on us.

Foreign media reported that on the same day, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kallas, held the 13th round of China-EU High-Level Strategic Dialogue with the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, in Brussels.

The 13th round of dialogue between China and Europe shows how much we value our relationship with Europe. During the meeting, our Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that there are no fundamental conflicting interests between China and Europe, and both sides have extensive common interests. As two major powers and two major economies, China and Europe should strengthen communication, deepen understanding, enhance mutual trust, and promote cooperation, jointly maintaining the post-war international order and providing rare certainty for the world.

Moreover, our Foreign Minister also stated that China and Europe should not regard each other as rivals just because of differences, nor should they seek confrontation due to disagreements. Currently, Europe is facing various challenges, but these challenges have never come from China, past, present, or future.

Our attitude toward Europe is very sincere. The message from Foreign Minister Wang Yi was clear: China and Europe should have more dialogue, exchanges, and cooperation. Although Europe is facing various challenges, these challenges are not caused by China.

Evidently, our words to Europe were very straightforward, a sincere appeal for China-Europe relations to properly handle differences and deepen cooperation.

However, despite our sincere words, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kallas stated that the EU intends to engage in constructive cooperation with China on global issues. But Kallas, during the dialogue, raised four questions to us in succession.

First, Kallas claimed that "continued support" by Chinese companies for Russia's illegal war poses a threat to European security, urging China to immediately stop all "material assistance" to Russia's military industry and fully and unconditionally support a ceasefire, allowing Ukraine to achieve a fair and lasting peace.

Second, Kallas said that he called on China to end its "distorting measures," such as restrictions on rare earth exports, which pose significant risks to European companies and "threaten" the reliability of global supply chains.

Third, Kallas said he urged China to use its influence as a major buyer of Iranian oil to pressure Tehran to reach an agreement on its nuclear program and ease tensions in the Middle East.

Fourth, Kallas said he urged China to reshape China-EU economic and trade relations through concrete solutions, provide a fair competitive environment, and optimize equal market access.

Evidently, the EU believes we are "supporting" Russia and demands we cut ties with Russia's normal trade. However, such demands are clearly unreasonable. The US and Israel have recklessly attacked and bombed Iran, yet Europe still maintains normal trade relations with both the US and Israel. Why can't China maintain normal trade with Russia as a neutral party?

We have always supported a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and resolving the issue through negotiations. We certainly have no reason to sacrifice our legitimate trade interests.

Asking us to end our rare earth control is also clearly unfounded. Rare earth is a strategically designated resource of the country, with dual civilian and military use. Export controls on rare earths are a common practice in the international community. Our Ministry of Commerce has repeatedly stated that compliant export applications are still being approved legally, and some European companies' needs have been met. There is no case of deliberately "choking" European companies.

In fact, our rare earth control is a defensive strategy to protect our interests. If other countries do not harm our interests, we will supply rare earths normally. Compared to the US's offensive strategies of technological blockades and sanctions, we have been much more restrained.

We also want to remind Europe that Europe sets numerous obstacles for Chinese tech companies like Huawei under the excuse of "national security." Does only Europe have national security? Don't forget that European countries' lithography machines are also imposing technological restrictions on us.

About the Iranian nuclear issue, the facts are clear. The US first unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear agreement, then attacked Iran. The US and Israel should bear full responsibility for the current situation.

Now that the US and Israel have created a mess and don't know how to deal with it, Europe wants us to sacrifice our legitimate trade interests and pressure our strategic partners. This is obviously impossible. We certainly do not support nuclear proliferation, but the one who tied the knot must untie it.

China-EU economic and trade cooperation is very important, and Europe clearly values the Chinese market. However, Europe sets trade barriers for our new energy vehicles and medical equipment entering Europe, while at the same time expecting us to unilaterally make concessions to Europe. Is this a fair trade relationship?

The sunny road of China-EU relations is cooperation and mutual benefit. However, Europe has put the China-EU Investment Agreement on hold and ignores our restrictive policies. Obviously, although we value China-EU relations, we cannot help but question Europe's practicality.

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7522735292831515146/

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