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EU must correct China economic ties before it’s too late: Josep Borrell
- Borrell describes China as a new empire and says bloc must learn to speak the language of power
- Foreign policy chief accuses Beijing of undermining international norms
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The European Union’s top diplomat has labelled China as a “new empire” on a par with Russia, calling on the bloc’s members to “correct” economic imbalances with Beijing before it is “too late”.
Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, made the assessment in two opinion pieces in French and Spanish publications on the weekend, as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in France on his European tour.
The remarks also come just a fortnight before Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend a summit hosted by EU leaders and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
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“Russia, China and Turkey share three common characteristics: they are sovereignists on the outside and authoritarian on the inside,” Borrell said in an article in newspaper Le Journal de Dimanche. “After 30 years where the European vision seemed to gain ground, the sovereignist vision has regained the upper hand with these new empires.”
03:12
China’s foreign minister begins Europe tour to discuss US influence, Hong Kong issues and Huawei
China’s foreign minister begins Europe tour to discuss US influence, Hong Kong issues and Huawei
In recent weeks, the EU has criticised China for introducing the national security law in Hong Kong; Russia for offering military support to Belarus to curb protests; and Turkey for military activities against EU member states Greece and Cyprus.
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