Strategically speaking, the President of European Commission,
Ursula von der Leyen has messed up EU-China relationship during the recent meet
up with Chinese bigwigs including Xi Jinping President, Prime Minister Li Qiang
and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Here is my rationale:
The President of the European Commission, Ursula
von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, António Costa, took part
in EU-China Summit in 25th July that incidentally marked the 50th
anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the Union and China.
Moreover, it is the 25th consecutive annual parley between China and EU. What
kind of diplomacy emerged during their travel? Obviously the commission members expected diplomatic protocol of lavish
travel arrangements. What they got was the entire team being herded into
a bus, something the EU would have never imagined.
Secondly, when the EU raised concerns of Chinese
support for Russia they were expecting a submissive and perhaps apologetic
reply from China. What came out, shocked them. Chinese gave it back in their characteristic
style, In so many words of politeness that is none of EU’s business.
Next point that was hugely contentious is the balancing
of trade volume which at present stands deficit to the tune of € 309 Billion towards
the Commission. When the EU team took up for discussion the ever chanting
complaint of Chinese overcapacity not only it failed to budge the Chinese negotiators
but highlighted the stark truth of European incompetence in manufacturing where the finished cost is
almost twice the amount of Chinese products.
Two more criticism levelled at China by the EU team
met with once again nonchalance from the Chinese side. These two related to
supply chain domineering by China and restrictions imposed on the export of
Rare Earth Elements.
Earlier the EU imposed 45% tariff on the import of Chinese
Electric cars into 27 member countries of the EU. Chinese side was not even bothered
to discuss this matter as they were right to point out that China commands less
than 10% of the EV demand in EU.
Finally when Ursula was speaking about democracy
and minority rights Foreign Minister Wang Yi was visibly angry and irritated
shot back stating China does not interfere in the domestic affairs of EU
countries and expect the Commission to reciprocate that stance. The culmination that demolished
RU was the decision made by President Xi Jinping to cut short the meet between
EU and China, a diplomatic slap on the face of EU as a whole.
Confronting hard truths is not in the psyche of the EU Commission and their stirrings just fell on the way side. The bottom line was very clear. China is now a superpower militarily, economically, diplomatically and also as a moral bastion of the global south.
What is needed now is that EU has to over-haul her business strategy navigating prevailing geoeconomics situation. That demands this arrogant lady Ursula von der Leyen be axed from the Presidency of EU Commission ASAP.
Cheers!
Muthu Ashraff Rajulu
Business Strategist
Mobile: + 94 777 265677
E-mail: cosmicgems@gmail.com
Blog: Business Strategist
No comments:
Post a Comment