Wang Yi heads to Munich talks as Europe reels from Donald Trump’s threat, Ukraine and the Middle East

On Friday, when Mr. Wang arrives in Munich to speak at the same forum, observers expect Mr. Washington to once again be the elephant in the room.

Mr. Wang is widely expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the meeting.

Immediately after the speech, a panel including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and German Foreign Minister Annalena Verbock will take the stage.

However, it has not been confirmed whether Mr. Wang will meet with his counterpart.

China defends ‘equal, orderly and multipolar world’ at Munich Security Forum

His claims have dominated political debate in Europe this week and are likely to influence diplomatic proceedings in Munich this weekend.

A memo from German think tank Mercator Institute for China Studies (Melix) said, “A key issue in all future meetings will be whether Mr. Wang, in response to Europe’s alarm over President Trump, “The question is not whether or not to actively promote the government’s claims, but to what extent.” .

China’s Foreign Ministry said Wang’s speech on Saturday would focus on “China’s proposal to build a community with a shared future for mankind and advocate for an equal and orderly multipolar world.”

Analysts believe the Chinese envoy will try to capitalize on China’s interests amid panic in Europe over a possible second term for Trump.

“The Munich Security Conference is a venue for China not only to hold bilateral talks with European and US leaders, but also to deliver a coordinated message about its global ambitions,” said Abigael Vasselier of Merix. said.

“This year’s conference will definitely be a highlight to learn about China’s current views on European security and the future of the transatlantic partnership.”

Regardless of President Trump, Mr. Wang will land in Europe, which is becoming increasingly weary of war, as the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine approaches.

In Brussels on Wednesday, Hungary once again became the only country among the 27 member states to oppose a new sanctions package aimed at hampering Russia’s war machine.

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Hungary has put three mainland Chinese companies and a Hong Kong company on the EU’s blacklist for helping Russian companies evade EU sanctions and gain access to European-made dual-use products, according to reports. I was particularly against doing so.

Last year, there were still hopes in Europe that Beijing would help broker a ceasefire in Ukraine. But recently, the EU’s expectations have become more cautious.

Compared to last year, there is little chatter about talks between Ukrainian and Chinese officials. The Munich Security Index survey, released ahead of the summit, showed that a majority of Ukrainians view China as a “threat” rather than an “ally.”

“No one expects China to actively intervene, but with President Trump on the horizon, we are trying to improve our personal relationship with China so that our leaders don’t start actively supporting Russia.” “We’ll see more and more of them managing the EU,” said a senior EU diplomat, who spoke conditionally. of anonymity.

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Meanwhile, the region is deeply divided when it comes to the other dominant geopolitical issue of the time, the Middle East.

Tensions within the bloc are rising as other member states support Israel’s right to defend itself.

Insiders say the Middle East will also be at the heart of the EU talks in Munich, but they expect there to be little room for Beijing to gain on these geopolitical issues.

“It may seem like there are a lot of divisions in Europe on foreign affairs, but they are not so big that China can exploit them,” said Miguel Otero of the Madrid-based think tank Elcano Royal Institute. Ta.

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“They enjoy recent Chinese initiatives such as visa-free business travel, and are natural supporters of the ‘strategic autonomy’ that China has promoted with the aim of preventing collaboration between the US and the EU.”

“At a time when attitudes towards China are changing within the EU, especially in the east and north, China sees Spain as a rational actor in Europe,” Otero said. “In Spain, China is still seen as a partner with which we must cooperate.”

EU stresses need to ‘play by the rules’ as China considers further trade investigation

Meanwhile, observers see France playing a two-sided game. Even as it teeters on the brink of trade tensions with China, it remains open to Chinese investment in high-tech industries such as electric cars and batteries.

It was Paris that called on the European Commission to investigate subsidies in China’s electric vehicle sector, spurring a retaliatory investigation into subsidies in the brandy sector.

“It’s very easy to make an enemy of China, but it’s mostly counterproductive,” said Marc Julienne of the French Institute of International Relations in Paris.

“I understand that France wants to maintain good relations with China, the world’s second-largest economy,” he added. “But it is also legitimate to try to protect French and European interests.”