Czechs Warn China Its Endorsement of Russia Will Erode EU Ties
Czechs Warn China Its Endorsement of Russia Will Erode EU Ties
(Bloomberg) -- The Czech Republic warned China that its closer cooperation with Russia risks undercut ties with the European Union because of Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine.
Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Martin Tlapa met with a delegation led by China’s special representative to central and Eastern Europe, Huo Yuzhen, this week in Prague to debate the so-called 16 plus 1 format that Beijing has used to foster closer ties in the former Eastern Bloc.
Following a pledge this week by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng to intensify ties with Putin’s government, the Czechs, who will assume the EU’s rotating presidency in the second half of this year, warned doing so would hurt relations with the bloc.
“We used the meeting to express again our reservations to current Chinese cooperation with Russia,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Lenka Do wrote in an emailed statement. The Czechs have already warned that “any kind of Chinese support of Russia will hurt its relation with the EU,” she wrote.
The Chinese delegation is touring central and eastern Europe, a region once under Moscow’s influence where, in the wake of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, EU and NATO member states are calling for more action to stand against Russia’s expansionist policies.
China has also tried to increase its clout via investment and diplomacy, including via the 16 plus 1 format. But diplomatic ties have significantly soured with countries including the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Estonia over issues including the recognition of Taiwan, the use of 5G technology and accusations of human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang region.
The Czech government, which took power in December, has advocated for deepening ties with Taipei. Beijing objects to countries conducting bilateral relations with Taiwan, which it considers part of C part of China and objects to countries conducting bilateral relations .
©2022 Bloomberg L.P.