Another sensitive issue on top of the agenda of the European Union and China at the critical level is the ban on rare earth exports by China and support of Chinese firms to Russia in the Ukraine war. Kaja Kallas, the top diplomat of the EU, met with Chinese Foreign minister Wang Yi in Brussels on Wednesday to hash out these urgent issues that worry European security and world trade.
EU Confronts China Over Rare Earth Export Restrictions
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas pressed China forcefully during the high-level meeting to stop its restriction on rare earth exports that are affecting European businesses very negatively. Such measures on the export of rare earth cause European firms serious problems, and international supply chains become unreliable.
Kaja Kallas instructed China to halt such distortive practices that involve the restriction of rare earth exports. These are the materials needed to manufacture electronics, renewable energy devices, and a lot of other products required by European companies. EU has become seriously concerned with the rare earth export restrictions in that they pose a threat to the European economy.
The EU official was also keen on climate change and improved trade between China and Europe. She requested that there be concrete solutions to the trade to make it more balanced and more fair. These are made up of providing greater access to the market to European companies in China or creating parity, hence making both equal.
Chinese Support for Russia’s Ukraine War Raises Security Concerns
The other key issue of discussion in the EU-China was the support of the war of Russia in Ukraine by Chinese companies. Kaja Kallas cautioned that this indulgence is a great threat to European security and should be terminated immediately.
Even though China publicly denies assisting Russia in the Ukraine war with the military in any way, European authorities have found out that Chinese firms deliver critical components of the Russian drones and arms to Ukraine. These supplies assist Russia in extending its military offensive on Ukraine.
Kaja Kallas required China to stop immediately sending all material support to Russia, which is keeping their military-industrial complex alive. Kaja Kallas also urged China to contribute to the all-out ceasefire and permanent peace in Ukraine. The EU believes that the indirect contribution of Chinese companies toward the war efforts in Russia is a significant threat to the security of the whole of Europe.
EU Leaders Prepare for High-Level China Summit
The diplomatic meeting on Wednesday was aimed at setting the stage for a larger EU-China summit that will be held on July 24-25. The European Council President, Antonio Costa, and the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen will visit China to meet the Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese Premier, Li Qiang.
In his conversation with Costa, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged the two to adhere to main interests of each other and learn more. Wang Yi also denounced unilateralism and bullying behaviors that he claimed have hurt international order and regulations.
During the talks, the EU officials also wished to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. They wanted China who was the primary buyer of oil sold by Iran to persuade Iran to strike a deal concerning its nuclear manufacturing to ease the tension in the Middle East. The two parties acknowledged that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was still relevant to nuclear security in the world.
