China Cancels Visit From EU Foreign Policy Chief

Facts

• The European Union announced on Tuesday that foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, had his forthcoming travels to China canceled by Beijing.¹
• Borrell was meant to arrive in China on July 10 for meetings with officials including Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang. EU ambassador to China Jorge Toledo had also said the officials were set to discuss human rights, trade, and the war in Ukraine, among other topics.²
• While no details were given as to the reason for the cancellation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that China "attache[d] great importance" to its relationship with the EU and that Borrell was welcome on another date.³
• Borrell was initially scheduled to travel to China in April but the trip was postponed after he tested positive for COVID. EU spokesperson Nabila Massrali said that while it was for China to explain its reasoning, the two would "adapt and find together a new date."⁴
• According to a speech prepared for his April visit, Borrell intended to say that that the EU could only trust China if it also sought peace in Ukraine. China has previously published a 12-point peace plan concerning the conflict.⁵
• As recently as last week, the EU reaffirmed its multifaceted position on China — viewing Beijing as "simultaneously a partner, a competitor and a systemic rival." Beijing and Brussels are expected to hold two summits in September on economic and digital collaboration.⁶

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²Associated Press, ³Bloomberg, ⁴ABC News, ⁵Al Jazeera, and ⁶NY1.

Narratives

• Pro-China narrative, as provided by Global Times. While the EU continues to hold its multifaceted policy stance towards China, it's difficult for Beijing to reciprocate and manage the bloc's conflicting stances of confrontation, cooperation, and competition. Although China highly values its relationship and future potential with the EU, Beijing will also not cater to Europe at the expense of its own sovereign interests.
• Anti-China narrative, as provided by FT. China's policy toward Europe has been based on dismissing the strength of European values and underestimating the unity seen in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In reality, Beijing only views Europe as diplomatically useful in its potential to be drawn away from the US. However, while China continues to believe in the pull of its economic power, it forgets the strength of principled European beliefs.