5G unease and concerns over human rights issues mar China’s charm offensive through Europe

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi tries to counter US lobbying and a ‘new cold war’ while pushing belt and road projects to pandemic-ravaged EU nations

China’s actions in Hong Kong and Xinjiang emerge as issues for politicians in Italy and the Netherlands

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Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio (right) and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during a joint press conference after their meeting in Rome on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 6:00am, 27 Aug 2020Updated: 8:43am, 27 Aug 2020

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is lobbying his European counterparts for support amid a geopolitical spat with the United States, but he has been met with concerns over human rights and 5G technology security.

Wang arrived in the Netherlands on Wednesday after beginning his first European tour of the pandemic era in Italy on Tuesday, when he met Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio. His week-long trip will continue with stops in Norway, France and Germany.

On his visit to Italy, Wang warned the country to stay away from the “new cold war” that he said the US was trying to promote, and to instead to focus on economic cooperation with China. Wang also applauded Italy for showing “understanding and support” towards Beijing’s “core interests and major issues”.

While Di Maio said Italy and China needed to forge closer ties, he also gave Wang a stern warning that China ought to respect Hong Kong citizens’ freedom of speech – signalling the European Union’s continued disapproval of the national security law Beijing imposed on the city.

Wang’s visit follows criticism of Beijing in Europe over its handling of the coronavirus as well as China’s hardline policy in Hong Kong. More European countries are also rejecting Chinese 5G technology.

Beijing has rejected claims that it covered up the pandemic after the first outbreak was recorded in China and denied security concerns related to its technology development. It has also deemed international concerns about the erosion of autonomy in Hong Kong an intervention in its internal affairs.

Wang’s visit follows three recent European trips during the pandemic by high-level US officials – two by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and one by national security adviser Robert O’Brien – who tried to build a transatlantic alliance against China.

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