In call with Macron, Xi again tells Europeans to take security ‘in their own hands’

Xi’s insistence that Europe take responsibility for its security – in what will be seen as a veiled swipe at the US – followed similar remarks to the German chancellor

The Chinese and French leaders also agreed on the need for a speedy ceasefire in Ukraine during talks, according to readouts from both sides

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Emmanuel Macron and Xi Jinping addressed some of the testier issues in EU-China relations during talks on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:03pm, 10 May 2022Updated: 5:05pm, 11 May 2022

For the second time in two days, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Europeans to take their own security issues “in their own hands”, during talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.

In a call that addressed some of the testier issues in EU-China relations, the pair agreed on the need to reach a speedy ceasefire in Ukraine, according to readouts from both governments.

A Chinese government account of the call said that Xi and Macron agreed that “all parties concerned should support Russia and Ukraine to restore peace through negotiations”.

The French readout, meanwhile, said they had both “reiterated their commitment to respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, and agreed on the urgency of reaching a ceasefire”.

Chinese President Xi Jinping made similar remarks about European security when he spoke to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Photo: Xinhua

But there were no clues in either version as to how such a ceasefire would be achieved in reality, as the war grinds through its third month, as diplomatic efforts flounder, and as China refuses to condemn the Russian aggression.

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