Quality of EU-China relations to be determined by Beijing's support for Russia, Borrell says
COMMENTS
China's support to Russia over its war in Ukraine "will determine the quality" of its relations with the European Union, Josep Borrell said on Tuesday ahead of a visit to Beijing by Emmanuel Macron and Ursula von der Leyen.
"We have been clear with China that its position on Russia's atrocities and war crimes will determine the quality of our relations with Beijing," the EU's top diplomat said.
"There is a clear expectation from a permanent member of the Security Council to stand up in defence of (the) international rules-based order and China has a moral duty to contribute to a fair peace. They cannot be siding with the aggressor. They cannot be militarily supporting the aggression. This is our message to China from today's meeting and from all the European Union visits going to Beijing," he added.
A flurry of European diplomatic overtures has taken place since China started easing its COVID-19-related travel restrictions late last year.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was the first to make the trip in November, followed by European Council President Charles Michel a month later. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Beijing last week with French President Emmanuel Macron starting a three-day state visit to China on Wednesday, where he will be joined by the European Commission President. Borrell himself will travel to the country next week.
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