July 2nd The Wang Yi’s Visit to Denmark
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Denmark on July 2nd at the invitation of his Danish counterpart. The two-day visit was the first stop on the Chinese politician’s tour of the Nordic countries. During talks with Danish Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Wang Yi expressed the hope that Denmark would play a constructive role in promoting the stable development of relations between China and the EU.
The minister also stated that China was ready to maintain high-level contacts and strengthen cooperation across various sectors. The Danish side also expressed its willingness to cooperate with China in many areas and reaffirmed its commitment to the One-China policy. In addition to the official meeting, the visit also included a stroll through Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens, one of the city’s most famous landmarks, thus combining culture with diplomacy.
Discussions on cooperation focused on sectors where both sides perceive the least friction, including green development, scientific innovation, cooperation in healthcare and educational exchanges. Given that Denmark has many years’ experiences in wind energy and climate policy, whilst China plays an important role in renewable technologies, clean production and the global energy transition, Wang proposed launching discussions on environmental issues.
The two countries are already cooperating on green energy and renewable projects, including clean technologies, energy efficiency and sustainable development. The topics of trade and investment were also raised, and both sides considered ways to foster stable economic ties and explore new opportunities. It is worth noting that recent Chinese regulations on foreign investment – which give Beijing new tools to investigate trade barriers and take retaliatory measures against countries blocking Chinese foreign investors – cast a shadow over the discussions, although they were not directly mentioned in the public statements of either side.
For China, Denmark is an important partner in Northern Europe, whilst for Denmark, China remains a key global player in trade, innovation and the green transition. Wang Yi noted that bilateral relations are currently enjoying solid and stable development. China is Denmark’s largest trading partner in Asia, and economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has yielded fruitful results over the years.
The politician also expressed the hope that Danish companies would continue to invest in China, and that Denmark would ensure an open, fair and predictable business environment for Chinese companies investing and operating in Denmark. The Chinese minister pointed out that the current international situation is fraught with turmoil. Both China and Denmark are members of the UN Security Council; they advocate multilateralism and the international rule of law, and support the UN playing a key role in international affairs.
In his view, both sides should step up multilateral communication and coordination, support the development of a fairer and more reasonable global governance system, oppose all unilateral and coercive practices, and ensure that the international community does not revert to the ‘law of the jungle’. China and Denmark are jointly contributing to maintaining world peace and stability and accelerating global development and prosperity; they are partners, not rivals, and cooperation should form the fundamental basis and the mainstay of China–EU relations.
The visit provided an opportunity for both sides to strengthen existing ties, explore ways to deepen cooperation, enhance dialogue and translate shared priorities into practical results. It is also worth mentioning the history of relations between the two sides. Denmark was the first Nordic country to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership with China and the first to set up a bilateral cooperation mechanism on green transition.
The two countries are also celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year. Wang recalled that Queen Margrethe II was the first Western head of state to visit China following the reforms and opening-up, which was intended to signal the durability of the relationship – a relationship that is, however, currently being put to the test.
Denmark, like the other Nordic countries, is a small, open economy heavily reliant on global supply chains, situated near Arctic waters where Chinese and Russian activity is on the rise, and is not well disposed towards Beijing. During the meeting, Wang called for the UN and the international rule of law to retain their central role. EU-China relations are under considerable pressure, and Wang’s tour of the Nordic countries can be interpreted as an attempt to gauge whether there is a new diplomatic opening in which Europe will be better able to act in unison than before.
However, trade disputes remain unresolved, and the investment barriers that led to China introducing new regulations on foreign investment still exist. No commitments were made during the meeting, and Denmark’s willingness to discuss cooperation on green maritime transport and healthcare appears insufficient to improve relations.
July 3rd The Wang Yi’s Visit to Sweden
At the invitation of the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Maria Malmer Stenergård, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yi, visited Sweden from July 3rd to 5th. It is worth noting that this was the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister to the country in 22 years, and was seen as a significant step towards rebuilding relations following years of tensions, linked, amongst other things, to the detention of Swedish citizen Gui Minhai in China, the decision regarding Huawei’s involvement in the 5G network, and Europe’s broader concerns about Chinese trade practices and security policy.
During his visit, Minister Wang Yi met with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and held talks with Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergård. He also met with Jacob Wallenberg, Chairman of the Board of Investor AB.
On Saturday July 4th, Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard met with Wang Yi. The discussion focused mainly on current issues of mutual interest, including, amongst other things, trade relations between the EU and China. Malmer Stenergard emphasized the importance of Sweden maintaining a dialogue with China, and noted that both sides had resumed reciprocal visits, which would enable them to address bilateral issues of importance to Sweden, such as trade and security policy.
At the same time, Sweden announced that it would continue to raise difficult issues, including trade disputes, security matters and individual cases of human rights violations. The discussion also touched upon the conflict in Ukraine. Wang Yi called for the rebuilding of mutual trust, arguing that decades of cooperation had benefited both countries, and that potential disputes should be resolved through dialogue rather than confrontation.
China also encouraged Sweden to support more stable EU–China relations. The topic of economic ties was also raised. Many Swedish companies operate in China, which means that, despite political differences, Sweden has a vested interest in trade and investment relations. The visit appears to be an attempt at a cautious thaw in Swedish-Chinese relations. Neither side signaled any significant change in policy, but both expressed a desire to maintain regular diplomatic dialogue, whilst standing by their positions on issues such as trade, security and human rights.
Another key highlight of the Chinese minister’s visit to Sweden was his meeting with the Swedish Prime Minister. Ulf Kristersson asked Wang Yi to convey his warmest regards to the Chinese leadership, noting that Sweden and China, as well as their peoples, share a long history of friendly exchanges. Sweden emphasized that it admires Chinese culture and its spirit of innovation, and appreciates China’s remarkable achievements in development; it also expressed its support for the One-China policy and its willingness to strengthen dialogue, broaden consensus and develop cooperation with China in various fields.
Sweden also supports Europe and China in strengthening dialogue and resolving disputes appropriately. Wang Yi conveyed greetings from the Chinese leadership to Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, noting that exchanges between China and Sweden date back to the ancient Silk Road. The Chinese minister also emphasized that Sweden was the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, demonstrating its independence and strategic vision, whilst setting an example for the international community.
However, he drew attention to the difficulties that Sino-Swedish relations have encountered in recent years, as well as the importance of strengthening dialogue and deepening mutual understanding and trust between the two sides. Wang Yi stated that the Communist Party of China had eradicated extreme poverty in China, and has paved the way for modernization, which represents a great achievement in the development and progress of all humanity, and ensures that the CPC enjoys the support of the Chinese people and maintains continuity and stability in its domestic and foreign policies, providing the world with much-needed certainty.
He also emphasized China’s commitment to peaceful development and security. China firmly advocates multilateralism and free trade, and supports all countries, including Sweden, in pursuing development paths suited to their own national conditions. China is willing to strengthen trade exchanges with Sweden at all levels, capitalizing on complementary strengths, promoting mutually beneficial cooperation and steering bilateral relations onto a sound, stable and sustainable track.
China also expects Sweden to play a constructive role in promoting China–Europe relations.
Beijing has identified green innovation as an area of particular interest in the context of Sino-Swedish cooperation. As the area with the greatest growth potential in Sino-Swedish cooperation, it is a key driver of development for both countries, as well as a defining feature of bilateral cooperation. In the face of a new wave of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, the PRC believes that both countries should strengthen cooperation in areas such as scientific and technological innovation, green transition and the circular economy.
Joint efforts are aimed at addressing global challenges and providing both nations with greater opportunities for development. Wang Yi also commented on China’s position regarding the conflict in Ukraine, emphasizing that China has always actively promoted peace talks, has not instigated the crisis nor is it a party to it, and that the narrative claiming China is providing military support to Russia is false.
Wang Yi’s visit was therefore an attempt at a cautious thaw in relations and a return to diplomatic dialogue after years of tension. Although the two sides maintained differing views on security, trade and human rights, they declared their willingness to cooperate economically, with a particular focus on green innovation.
July 5th The Wang Yi’s Visit to Finland
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Finland on July 5th as part of his tour of the Nordic countries. The previous visit by a Chinese foreign minister to the country took place in 2004. Wang’s meeting with Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen in Helsinki on Sunday afternoon preceded a meeting with the Finnish President. In the evening, Wang travelled to Naantali in south-west Finland to hold talks with Alexander Stubb at his official summer residence, Kultaranta. The discussion between the foreign ministers focused primarily on the war in Ukraine and EU-China relations.
At a press conference following the meeting, Valtonen described the talks as successful. She said she had conveyed to Wang Finland’s view on the current situation regarding Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, pointing out that China’s support for Russia does not contribute to ending the war. She also emphasized that, in her view, the message regarding China’s support for the Russian invasion is being received in China and is of great significance.
Although the Chinese authorities are officially trying to maintain a neutral stance on the war, in practice they are a key ally of Russia. The Finnish minister nevertheless thanked China for its statements that the war must not escalate. According to the Finnish government, the discussions also covered Finnish-Chinese relations, EU-China relations and international security issues.
The meeting’s agenda also included economic cooperation, reflecting the importance both countries attach to stable dialogue and regular diplomatic contacts. China is one of Finland’s largest trading partners outside Europe, and Finnish companies continue to operate in various sectors, such as forestry technology, clean energy, telecommunications, education and advanced manufacturing.
The emphasis placed during this visit on the green transition and artificial intelligence points to sectors in which cooperation is set to develop in the coming years. Valtonen also added that Finland highly values President Xi Jinping’s vision, according to which “crystal-clear waters and lush mountains are an invaluable treasure”, and is ready to further harness the potential for cooperation with China in the areas of green and low-carbon development, trade and investment, healthcare, the digital economy and climate change.
The next stage of the minister’s visit to Finland was a meeting with the country’s president. Alexander Stubb asked Wang Yi to convey his best wishes to Xi Jinping, adding that he had visited China over a year ago and held successful talks with the Chinese leader, which had left a positive impression. He also emphasized that since Finland and China established diplomatic relations in 1950, China has achieved remarkable successes and brought about a miracle of development in many fields, including politics, the economy, social stability and technological innovation, and has made a valuable contribution to today’s world in the face of an unstable international situation.
He further stated that Finland looks forward to strengthening high-level contacts with China, expanding cooperation in emerging areas such as the green economy and artificial intelligence, and working together to address global challenges.
Wang Yi also conveyed greetings from Xi Jinping to President Alexander Stubb, referring in the process to the state visit by the President of the People’s Republic of China to Finland in 2017 to mark the centenary of Finland’s independence. He emphasized that over the past century the Finnish people had achieved a renaissance and development, and compared this to the situation in the PRC, where the Communist Party of China, leading the Chinese people, had contributed to rapid economic growth and long-term social stability, and was now supporting China’s modernization in every respect through high-quality development.
He added that the world is currently facing change and turmoil, in which China will be a force for peace, stability and development. Beijing also expressed its willingness to maintain its partnership with Finland.
Although differences on certain international issues remain between the two sides, the talks indicate a greater emphasis on maintaining dialogue, sustaining economic ties and identifying areas where cooperation serves mutual interests. For Beijing, Finland is an important partner in Northern Europe, with extensive expertise in the fields of technology, education, sustainable development and innovation.
For Finland, continued cooperation with China offers opportunities for collaboration in growing industries and access to one of the world’s largest markets. The visit concluded with both sides expressing their support for further exchanges and deeper cooperation between governments, businesses and the research sector. Wang Yi’s visit to Finland confirms that, despite differences of opinion on many issues, both countries are committed to maintaining stable diplomatic relations and pragmatic economic cooperation, particularly in the field of green technology.
The talks demonstrated that dialogue is prioritized over political disputes.
July 8th Lithuania’s New Prime Minister Announces the Normalisation of Relations with China
On July 8th this year, Mindaugas Sinkevičius, who had been elected Prime Minister of Lithuania on June 30th (and officially took office on July 14th), delivered his policy address before the Lithuanian parliament, outlining his programme for both domestic and foreign policy. From the perspective of the “Review”, the most important elements concern the People’s Republic of China, and these were also included in the new prime minister’s agenda.
There was one specific reference, concerning the normalisation of diplomatic relations between Vilnius and Beijing. The exact wording on this issue can be found in the Resolution of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania concerning the programme of the Twenty-First Government of the Republic of Lithuania. Chapter VI, entitled “We will protect the population from external threats”, states in point 380: “We will normalise diplomatic relations with China, ensuring the same level of diplomatic representation as that maintained by other EU Member States.”
Attempts by Lithuania to normalise relations with China have already been underway since last year. So far, however, no improvement in relations with Beijing has been achieved, while the Lithuanian government has already been changed for the third time. Nevertheless, the trend remains the same: the governing coalition, led by the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, has made a “return to normality” in relations with Beijing one of its objectives, a position that has drawn criticism from the opposition.
During the presentation of the new government’s programme, Žygimantas Pavilionis, a representative of the conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, asked Sinkevičius why he “no longer sees China as a threat” and why he “loves China so much”. Lithuania’s new prime minister replied: “I feel neither love nor dislike towards China”, before adding a more substantive point concerning two foreign-policy priorities: “The first is security; the second, without overshadowing the first, is economic cooperation – issues related to bilateral relations and trade.”
Attempts to improve relations with mainland China will primarily be linked to a deterioration in Lithuania’s relations with Taiwan. China will demand at every stage that Lithuania loosen its ties with Taiwan, particularly with regard to the name of Taiwan’s representative office in the Lithuanian capital, which effectively became the flashpoint of the dispute between the two sides. In this context, Sinkevičius stated that he believed relations with China could be restored without changing the so-called “Taiwanese representation”. According to him, the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs “has several options for resolving this situation”.
There have also been expressions of scepticism from the People’s Republic of China regarding the new Lithuanian prime minister’s announcements. Jian Junbo, Director of the Centre for China-Europe Relations at the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University, commented on the issue in the Global Times. In his view, “if Lithuania insists on keeping its wrongful moves related to China's Taiwan region yet expects to patch up ties with China, it shows the country has failed to grasp how gravely its moves undermine China's core interests.
It still lacks a full understanding of the nature of this dispute and cannot recognize its own mistakes.” Put simply, in the Chinese expert’s view, Lithuania should make fewer declarations and take more concrete steps towards normalisation – steps that would be acceptable to Beijing.
July 15th Former Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó Joins BYD
In mid-July, former Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced via his Facebook profile that he was resigning his parliamentary mandate and moving to the private sector – more specifically, to the Chinese automotive giant BYD. In his statement, he said that he would serve as the “head of a group responsible for external relations and the development of new business lines”, without providing further details.
Both Szijjártó and former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán were strong supporters of closer relations with Beijing, particularly in the areas of trade and investment. This was reflected, among other things, in Hungary’s decision to allow the Chinese company to build BYD’s first European plant on Hungarian soil (the plant is expected to become operational in the fourth quarter of this year).
Since 2023, when the decision was made to build the Chinese automotive plant in Szeged, the former Hungarian foreign minister had played a key role in negotiations between the Hungarian government and BYD’s management. Moreover, he described the project as “one of the largest investments in the history of the Hungarian economy”, adding that the government at the time was expected to provide financial support to the Chinese company.
Therefore, the “honourable offer” – as Szijjártó described the job offer from BYD in his statement – should ultimately come as no surprise.
On the same day, Szijjártó’s statement was commented on by the current Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar via the X platform. He wrote that “with the benefit of hindsight, it may now be obvious even to Fidesz voters whose interests the former foreign minister of Orbán’s ousted government served in connection with multi-trillion-forint investments in batteries and the automotive industry”, thereby suggesting that the former Hungarian foreign minister had acted more in the interests of Beijing than those of Budapest.
July 20th Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar Announces Investigation into Szijjártó and BYD
The decision by former Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó either contributed to the Hungarian government’s decision to launch an investigation into the investment arrangements between Hungary and Chinese company BYD or merely accelerated the process. What is certain, however, is that on July 20th the Hungarian prime minister announced that “all state decisions, negotiations and commitments made by Péter Szijjártó that were related to the BYD Hungary investment” would be investigated.
This means that all subsidies, grants and tax incentives granted during Viktor Orbán’s governments will be reviewed. Magyar stressed that the investigation would not concern Szijjártó personally, but rather “the role he played under the previous governments, where he was responsible for attracting foreign investment”. He subsequently added: “We will investigate who made these decisions, who prepared them, what professional warnings were ignored, and how large a burden they left on Hungarian taxpayers, workers, local communities and the environment.”
Furthermore, according to a report by the South China Morning Post, Hungarian inspectors appeared at the Szeged plant on Tuesday, July 21st, one day after Magyar announced the investigation into BYD. The purpose of the inspection was reportedly to verify the documents of people working there, including their residence permits, social security cards, employment contracts and other legal documents. The newspaper added that the prime minister’s office had not responded to a request for comment on whether Tuesday’s inspection was in fact part of the announced investigation.
On the other hand, the company itself denied that any inspection had taken place at its Hungarian facility. The Hungarian news portal Világgazdaság received a comment from BYD on the matter. According to information provided by the Chinese giant, “there was no official raid on the construction site of the BYD plant in Szeged, nor were the workers inspected. Based on the information available to us, the claim contained in the cited report [the South China Morning Post article] does not correspond to reality.”
July 21st-23rd European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs in Beijing and Shanghai
From July 21st to 23rd, a delegation from the Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, led by David McAllister, visited China, where it held high-level meetings with the Chinese authorities. The visit included meetings in both Shanghai and Beijing. Discussions focused on EU-China relations, with particular emphasis on issues of strategic importance to the EU, including growing economic imbalances, Russian aggression in Ukraine, the human rights situation in China, and peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The delegation also discussed areas of mutual interest, such as multilateralism, international public health and climate diplomacy.
On the first day of the visit, the delegation met with Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, who during the talks emphasized the role of the Communist Party of China in leading the Chinese people towards economic development that brings about social stability. He also said that China is currently accelerating green, low-carbon and sustainable development and is modernizing across all sectors, and that China’s experience has been recognized and supported by an increasing number of countries, thereby strengthening stability and peace and ensuring prosperity and development, bringing benefits to the people of all countries around the world.
The Chinese minister pointed out that the European Parliament exerts a significant influence on the EU’s foreign policy and expressed the hope that the delegation would strengthen exchanges with representatives from various sectors in China, foster a better understanding of the real, multi-faceted and ever-evolving China, encourage the European side to view China rationally and objectively, adopt positive and appropriate policies, and contribute to the stable and sustainable development of China-Europe relations.
Wang Yi emphasized that both history and reality demonstrate that China and Europe are partners, not rivals. Both sides share similar positions on many important issues, such as upholding multilateralism, supporting free trade and the United Nations, and they also have common interests. Both sides should remain committed to the spirit of partnership, work together to resolve issues, avoid politicizing economic and trade matters, promote a long-term and dynamic balance in Sino-European trade, and work towards the long-term, stable development of Sino-European relations.
China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Europe on global issues, to promote an equitable and orderly multipolar world and mutually beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and to make a positive contribution to world peace, stability and prosperity. Wang Yi also outlined China’s position on issues such as trade imbalances, the crisis in Ukraine, human rights and artificial intelligence.
The European side stated that the EU highly values its relations with China, admires its tremendous developmental achievements and opposes the idea of decoupling. Europe welcomes the resumption of exchanges between the legislative bodies of both sides and is ready to strengthen contacts and dialogue with China in order to deepen cooperation, thereby supporting the sustainable and stable development of EU-China relations.
China plays a key role in many important issues facing the modern world, particularly in areas such as promoting green development and tackling climate change. The EU delegation’s visit was an attempt to maintain dialogue and ease tensions with Beijing. Whilst China sought to portray the relationship as a partnership and called for the depoliticization of trade, the European side emphasized difficult issues such as the war in Ukraine, the trade deficit and human rights.
Despite declarations of cooperation on climate issues, the visit confirmed that EU–China relations remain pragmatic but distant.
July 23rd EU Adds Further Chinese Entities Supporting Russia’s War Against Ukraine to Its Sanctions List
On July 23rd, the European Commission published its decision introducing the 21st package of sanctions against the Russian Federation in response to its aggression against Ukraine. According to the Commission’s official statement, “the package sanctions the largest number of individuals and entities in four years. In total, it contains 218 listings, of which 48 concern individuals and 170 concern entities.” The sanctions also target entities registered in third countries that “support the Russian military-industrial complex in its war of aggression against Ukraine” by trading in dual-use goods and technology.
The following third countries were identified in this context: China, including Hong Kong, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates.
Focusing on the Chinese aspect, Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/1849 of 23 July 2026 amending Decision 2014/512/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine lists 10 entities from the People’s Republic of China and 4 from Hong Kong, for a total of 14 entries. They are the following companies, listed in the numerical order in which they appear in the annex to the decision:
Pixel Devices Limited (pt 925; Hong Kong);
Xiefeng (HK) Int’l Electronics Ltd. (pt 931; Hong Kong);
Corp-Link International Forwarding Ltd. (pt 932; Hong Kong);
KCONE International Trade Ltd. (pt 936; Hong Kong);
Dalian Unimatic Trading Co. Ltd. (pt 933; PRC);
Shenzhen Yilian Technology Development Co. Ltd (pt 935; PRC);
Guangzhou Feiren Logistics Co. Ltd. (pt 938; PRC);
Chongqing Giaero Electrical Co. Ltd (pt 946; PRC);
AAA China Limited (pt 950; PRC);
Shenzhen Wanma International Freight Forwarding Co., Ltd. (pt 951; PRC);
Luoyang Shennai Import & Export Trading Co., Ltd. (pt 954; PRC);
Suzhou Goodwill Machinery Equipment Co. Ltd. (pt 955; PRC);
Dalian Unitech Trading Co. Ltd. (pt 957; PRC);
Yiwu Weishuo Import and Export Co., Ltd. (pt 961; PRC).
The annex does not specify in detail the activities carried out by the above-mentioned entities. However, according to the statement published by the European Commission, the entities listed above – as already mentioned – assist Russia in circumventing the restrictions imposed by the EU on exports, particularly those concerning microelectronics, computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools and semiconductor-processing equipment.
July 24th China Adds 14 European Companies to Its Export Control List
In response to the European Union imposing sanctions on additional Chinese companies, the People’s Republic of China decided to retaliate with a measure of a similar nature. One day after the announcement of the 21st sanctions package, on July 24th, the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC announced the addition of 14 entities from European Union countries to its export control list.
According to point 1 of Announcement No. 30 of 2026, “exporters are prohibited from exporting dual-use items to the above-mentioned 14 entities, and foreign organisations and individuals are prohibited from transferring or providing the above-mentioned 14 entities with dual-use items originating from the People’s Republic of China; all ongoing activities in this regard must be immediately discontinued.” An annex to the announcement lists all European companies subject to the above restrictions. They are as follows:
Lafert SpA (Italy);
Garnet S.r.l. (Italy);
Sindlhauser Materials GmbH (Germany);
Rheinmetall AG (Germany);
Antraco Chemie-Handelsgesellschaft mbH (Germany);
InPACT (France);
III-V Lab (France);
UAS Cavok (France);
Vigo Photonics SA (Poland);
Wrocław University of Science and Technology (Poland);
IHC Merwede Holding BV (the Netherlands);
Tatra Trucks (Czech Republic);
Opticoelectron Group JSC (Bulgaria);
Ekspla UAB (Lithuania).
Thus, according to the above information, entities from EU Member States including Italy, Germany, France, Poland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Lithuania have been placed on China’s so-called “export control blacklist”. The restrictions are likely to be felt most strongly by Germany and France, with three entities each, followed by Italy and Poland, with two entities each.
Paradoxically, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Lithuania – each with one entity on the list – which have had considerably more disputes with mainland China, have been treated more leniently than the countries mentioned above. This may indicate that the retaliation is driven more by industrial considerations than by political ones.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce justified the decision to expand the “blacklist” as follows: “In order to safeguard national security and national interests and fulfil international obligations such as non-proliferation, in response to the EU’s egregious actions, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Export Control Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Export Control of Dual-Use Items, China has decided to add 14 EU entities [...] prohibiting exporters from exporting dual-use items to these entities and prohibiting foreign organizations and individuals from transferring or providing these entities with dual-use items originating from the People’s Republic of China.” In fact, the spokesperson reiterated the wording of Announcement No. 30.
Interesting conclusions were drawn by analyst Paulina Uznańska of the Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW) in her analysis of the case. In her view, firstly, this may constitute as a “part of a broader set of Chinese measures that could hamper the modernization of NATO members’ armed forces”, and secondly, “Beijing’s move is intended to weaken political support within the EU for new measures to protect the single market”. In short, these statements suggest that the PRC’s objective is to weaken the EU’s technological base and undermine the sense of unity among EU Member States.
