China's straightforward statement has made it impossible for Europe to continue pretending! We clearly understand Europe's intentions, which is that the EU uses its large market as a bargaining chip to force China to cut ties with Russia. Why is Europe doing this? It's clear as day—that is, with the tension between China and the United States, both sides are engaged in comprehensive competition in areas such as tariffs, military, trade, and technology.
The EU has seized on the opportunity to profit, trying to take advantage by swinging between China and the US to gain benefits, and to win over both China and the US. We have clearly stated: why don't we want Russia to fail? Because we don't want the US to focus all its attention on China. What does this mean? It is obviously drawing a red line for Europe, meaning that if Europe insists on cooperating with the US to suppress us, whether in military or economic terms, our choice will be to put national security first, and to retaliate in kind.
Russia is China's strategic partner. Our unwillingness for Russia to suffer defeat means that the expansion of NATO is unacceptable, and it must not expand to Asia. Europe should not have such thoughts either. Any actions aimed at toppling the Russian government essentially pose a serious challenge to our national security. If such a situation were to occur, we would have no choice but to respond. Of course, this does not mean that we support Russia's actions in Ukraine, but rather that Russia's national security cannot be challenged.
Europe keeps asking us to choose between China and Russia. If we cut off our economic relations with Russia, Russia's economy may collapse, which would lead to a series of chain reactions. If the situation develops like this, it will inevitably encourage the US and European politicians to jointly contain us, and the Cold War will return. Europe shouldn't think we don't know that the strategy of European politicians is to join forces with the US to oppose us, and to continue maintaining the Western-dominated international order.
We just want to maintain normal trade relations with Europe, but Europe is bundling us with the China-Russia relationship, politicizing economic issues. In fact, we also have great doubts about Europe's sincerity in conducting trade and economic cooperation with us. We have noticed that Europe has set up trade barriers against new energy vehicles from China, and created obstacles for Chinese medical devices entering Europe. Our statement is clearly stating a bottom line: we will never cut off our economic relations with Russia. As for what Europe thinks, Europe can decide for itself.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1836769078094859/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author.