China’s self-deception on full display during Xi’s European tour

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China's self-deception on full display during Xi's European tour

The goal of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s May 2024 European visit was to erode transatlantic ties while strengthening relationships with the European Union. However, it fell short of its goals, as seen by the European Union’s subsequent announcement of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and the G7 communique’s anti-Chinese sentiment. Although Xi was received with great affection in Serbia and Hungary, China does not appear to have realized how much Europe’s foreign policy has changed as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Xi’s reality distortion tour

It was a failure if the goal of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s May 2024 visit to Europe was to thaw transatlantic ties and thaw increasingly chilly relations with the European Union. This was made evident by the European Union’s decision of tariffs on Chinese electric cars (EVs) and the G7 Leaders’ Communique’s anti-Chinese sentiment less than a month later. China has carefully selected three nations for Xi’s European visit. Xi commemorated 60 years of diplomatic ties with France. Utilizing the opportunity, the two parties signed letters of intent and cooperation agreements pertaining to environmental, aviation, agricultural, cultural exchange, and other fields. China viewed France as a crucial ally in the fight against possible import tariffs as France was a fervent backer of the European Commission’s anti-subsidy probe into Chinese electric vehicles. Since 2012, Serbia has been a candidate for the EU. Because of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s pro-Russian and anti-EU views, ties between the EU and Serbia have become more difficult, and Belgrade would not benefit much from cozying up to China. But more than anything, Xi saw the visit as a chance for China to mark the 25th anniversary of NATO’s bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade and criticize the United States in international affairs.

China’s disconnected diplomacy

A standout in EU foreign policy is Hungary. Hungary was the first nation in Europe to sign a deal with China on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and Prime Minister Viktor Orban maintains cordial relations with both Beijing and Moscow. With 75% of all foreign investments made in Budapest, China is now the country with the greatest share of foreign investors, particularly in industries like EVs and lithium-ion batteries. Following a trilateral meeting with President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission, Xi met bilaterally with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the economic and commercial connections between the EU and China were two hotly debated topics that were discussed throughout both sessions. Macron and von der Leyen expressed their reliance on China’s promise to refrain from providing Russia with military or dual-use equipment, and they urged China to utilize its influence on Russia to assist in putting an end to the conflict in Ukraine. However, Xi remained unyielding in her refusal to respond to the requests, insisting that China had played and would play the role of mediator. Rather, in mid-May 2024, Russia and China reaffirmed their strategic alliance.

China’s delusional global ambitions

China supports Macron’s proposal for a more strategically independent Europe. Beijing, however, has fooled itself into believing that Macron’s independence is a continuation of the policy of former French President Charles de Gaulle, who cultivated diplomatic ties with Beijing and left the NATO command structure sixty years ago. Actually, NATO and France have a revitalized mission as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The transatlantic alliance is currently thought to be strengthened by a more competent and independent Europe. Fairness and reciprocity, public subsidies, overcapacity and de-risking, as well as economic security, were all included in the discussion of trade and economic relations. China opposes “decoupling,” Xi said, rejecting the notion that there is a Chinese over-capacity problem. Xi used a very different strategy in Serbia and Hungary than he did in Paris. Xi emphasized China’s “ironclad friendship” with Serbia in Belgrade. From a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” the two parties elevated their bilateral ties to “building a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era.”

The illusion of Chinese influence

Xi emphasized that ongoing collaboration on the BRI and the 14+1 cooperation mechanism was necessary in response to the European Union’s efforts, via its Global Gateway policy, to counter China’s divide and rule policies. As a message to the US and the EU on foreign policy, Xi also  hegemonism and power politics. The bilateral relationship between China and Hungary was upgraded to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era in Budapest. In addition to discussing collaboration on the Belt and Road Initiative and the 14+1 mechanism, the statement after the Xi-Orban meeting had two key points.

Research Staff

Research Staff

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