Foreign Minister Wang Yi says Europe has a ‘cognitive split’ on China policy

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Europe had a “cognitive split” in its China policy by being both a partner and a rival, while Beijing had serious doubts over whether Washington wanted to improve bilateral ties.

In outlining China’s diplomatic agenda for the next year, Wang vowed on Thursday that Beijing would resist any attempt to challenge its sovereignty. He said China would not allow any outside nation to establish a power bloc, nor start an arms race in Asia.

Tensions between China and other major powers – from its neighbours in Southeast Asia to Europe and the US – have intensified in recent years. Tit-for-tat sanctions between the European Union and China have stalled the ratification of an investment pact, and a recent dispute with Lithuania over Taiwan has further damaged bilateral ties.

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“There seems to be some kind of ‘cognitive split’ in Europe’s China policy. It is hard to imagine that, on the one hand, it has established a comprehensive strategic partnership with China and on the other hand, it has positioned China as an institutional opponent,” Wang said in an interview with Chinese state media, according to a transcript posted on the foreign ministry website.

“Putting barriers to the China-EU investment agreement is the same as putting barriers to the development of Europe, and the long-term interest of European people will suffer.”

Wang called on Europe to form an “objective and independent” view towards China, despite the two sides having different governance and political systems.

China welcomes US competition but is not afraid of confrontation, Wang Yi says

Over past months the EU has expressed concerns over China’s human rights record, as well as its military actions in the East and South China seas and against Taiwan.

The top Chinese leadership has stepped up engagement with European leaders, including a phone call last week in which President Xi Jinping told Olaf Scholz, the new German chancellor, that China and Germany should continue to view each other as partners.

Nevertheless, EU and US officials say they are converging in their approaches towards China.

Washington has asked its European allies to work together to counter China. In a recent phone call with Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US would support Lithuania, which is facing retaliation, including trade blocks, from Beijing after it allowed Taiwan to set up a de facto embassy in Vilnius.

Washington has also reinforced support for Taiwan, which Beijing sees as part of its territory, to be taken under its control – by force if necessary. US President Joe Biden this week signed into law a bill that suggests Taiwan be invited to participate in US-led naval drills in the Pacific in 2022.

Wang said the US had not only put Taiwan in an “extremely dangerous situation” but would itself also pay an “unbearable price” for supporting Taiwanese independence forces.

“We have seen US leaders and officials making remarks that the US is not seeking a new Cold War nor to change China’s political system ... [and that it has] no intention to seek serious confrontation with China,” Wang said. “But the US is also making new provocations in issues related to China’s sovereignty and security, causing damage to bilateral ties.

“Such inconsistency makes people question the credibility of the US.”

He said China-US relations could only return to normal when the US no longer saw China as an enemy.

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On matters closer to home, Wang said there was a risk of division and the creation of power blocs in Southeast Asia.

“We must not allow any extraterritorial country to push Asia into a new Cold War,” Wang said. “No country outside the region should be allowed to provoke an arms race, or even the proliferation of nuclear weapons in this region, threatening the security and stability of Asia.”

More from South China Morning Post:

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• Japan’s Uniqlo CEO Tadashi Yanai says won’t get sucked into US-China rivalry
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