The European Commission president has accused Beijing of helping Moscow’s “war economy”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned that ties between the EU and China could further deteriorate if Beijing refuses to condemn Russia over the conflict in Ukraine.
“We can say that China is de facto enabling Russia’s war economy. We cannot accept this,” von der Leyen said during a European Parliament session in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
“How China continues to interact with Putin’s war will be a determining factor for EU-China relations going forward,” she added.
Von der Leyen called on Beijing to “unequivocally condemn Russia’s gross violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and internationally recognized borders.”
In the same address, she accused China of engaging in unfair trade practices, such as “flooding global markets with cheap, subsidised goods” in an effort to “wipe out competitors.”
Beijing has consistently denied supplying weapons or otherwise supporting Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. “China is not a party to the Ukraine issue. China’s position on the Ukraine crisis is objective and consistent, that is, negotiation, ceasefire and peace,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said earlier this month.
“A prolonged Ukraine crisis serves no one’s interests. China supports a political settlement to the crisis as early as possible,” Mao added.
China has also opposed “unilateral” sanctions on Russia and has offered to help mediate a ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev. In May, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Moscow, pledging to deepen their “strategic partnership” and expand bilateral trade.
