Ursula von der Leyen nominated to lead European Commission – but will she be tougher on China?
- EU countries’ choice to replace Jean-Claude Juncker gave interview in January in which she said threat from China had been ‘overlooked’
- She also said Chinese people would not put up with Beijing’s social credit system in the long run
The newly announced nominee to lead the European Commission has previously sounded alarm bells about China’s impact on Europe, leaving Chinese diplomatic observers wondering whether China-EU relations face an uncertain next five years.
Von der Leyen, 60, is Germany’s defence minister and has served in various positions in Angela Merkel’s cabinet since Merkel became German chancellor in 2005.
The first woman nominated for the top job, Von der Leyen had the crucial backing of French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as the support of the Visegrad Four bloc of Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
But in Chinese diplomatic circles there was scepticism about her potential ascent, pointing to her interview with the German newspaper Die Zeit in January.