Advertisement
For China’s European charm offensive to succeed, its Ukraine war stance must change: analysts
- Beijing has rolled out the red carpet in recent months, wooing European leaders to embrace ‘strategic autonomy’ and be less dependent on the US
- Negative views of China in Germany have reached all-time highs as ‘defensive public diplomacy’ proves counterproductive
Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
91
Sylvie Zhuangin Beijing
When Foreign Minister Qin Gang hosted his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock in Beijing last month, he called for “calm and rationality” so that China and Germany could work together for a better world.
“Both the Chinese nation and the German nation are well-known for their calmness and rationality, and both have produced great sages and philosophers, like Lao Tzu and Confucius in China, and Immanuel Kant and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel in Germany,” Qin told a joint press conference with Baerbock.
“The two nations and the politicians and diplomats in both countries should show calmness and rationality … so as to inject more confidence and impetus into the uncertain world,” he had added.
Advertisement
About two weeks after Baerbock’s visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping held his first phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, raising hopes that Beijing would mediate dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv.
China’s potential peacemaking role drew scrutiny this week when Qin travelled to Europe for a five-day visit to Germany, France and Norway.
Advertisement
But analysts said substantive policy changes on the Ukraine war would be needed if Beijing wanted to win over European capitals, Berlin in particular.
China has rolled out the red carpet for Europe in recent months, wooing its leaders to embrace “strategic autonomy” – Beijing’s shorthand for less dependence on the US. And it has talked up its 12-point peace plan for the Ukraine war.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x