Chinese diplomats head to eastern Europe as suspicions grow over Russia ties

Beijing’s unwillingness to condemn Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine has added to long-held concerns about China among former soviet states, analyst says

Delegation will also be trying to revive the ‘17+1’ platform after Lithuania’s departure but ‘it won’t be an easy task’

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People gather in Prague, the Czech Republic, for a concert in solidarity with Ukraine on April 3. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 10:30pm, 19 Apr 2022

China is sending a delegation to eight countries in central and eastern Europe as it tries to stem growing suspicions in the region over its “no-limits” ties with Moscow.

It will be the first Chinese diplomatic delegation to the region since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a military operation in Ukraine on February 24.

Huo Yuzhen, China’s special representative to China-Central and Eastern Europe Cooperation, will head a delegation to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia and Poland, according to Wang Lutong, the director general of European affairs at China’s foreign ministry.

The trip also comes after China’s “17+1” platform, a decade-old effort to build ties with the 17 central and eastern European countries, was dealt a setback last year when Lithuania became the first country to withdraw from the group, citing a less-than-expected trade benefits.

Vilnius’ cordial ties with Taiwan have also angered Beijing, leading to trade and diplomatic rows between China and the European Union, of which Lithuania is a member.

Justyna Szczudlik, a China analyst with Polish Institute of International Affairs, said the trip would be “a damage control visit” because central and eastern European countries were “very disappointed” at Beijing’s position on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Szczudlik said China’s reluctance to condemn Russia’s invasion while also citing the sovereignty of nations, including Ukraine, was interpreted as “an endorsement of Russia”.

“China’s ‘scarified’ diplomatic principle is the respect for sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of other countries. And now, after Russia launched a full-scale war and committed atrocities, China neither condemns Russia, nor supports Ukraine that is defending its homeland,” she said, adding that the former-soviet states in the region had long been concerned about Moscow’s deepening ties with Beijing.