The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, signed a long platform on April 23 in the columns of the Sunday newspaperwhich he titled ” A cold look at China “. This column is not published by chance in a French newspaper: Josep Borrell seems determined to restore, in public opinion, the image of a united Europe in the face of China.
With our correspondent in Brussels, Pierre Benazet
Recent remarks by Emmanuel Macron on the need not to make ” followership “or not to” enter into a logic of blocks ” about Taiwan seemed to place the French president at odds with his partners in the European Union. The debates were heated in the European Parliament this week and Josep Borrell had mentioned in plenary the risk of a possible action against Taiwan and ” the need to reject it “.
The head of European diplomacy apparently considers that the debate has not been closed, and he has decided, with this platform in the Sunday newspaper, to set the record straight, on the eve of the meeting of the 27 EU Foreign Ministers, this Monday, April 24 in Brussels. He wants to put the question of China on the carpet and reaffirm the European position which, according to him, has never changed.
[TRIBUNE] – @JosepBorrellFVice-President of the European Commission, Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, delivers his analysis of the European strategy with Beijing.https://t.co/esBsELZCNq
— The JDD (@theJDD) April 23, 2023
There is only one China, yes, but not at the cost of the use of force. And after the naval maneuvers of the Chinese fleet, the European navies must ” patrol the Taiwan Strait to signal Europe’s commitment to freedom of navigation in this absolutely crucial area “. And the status quo is the most appropriate solution
Words that are likely to displease China, since the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Qin Gang, castigated Friday a “ definition ” of status quo by Westerners which amounts to ” trample Chinese sovereignty “.