EU foreign policy chief’s upcoming comments characterize China as a security threat and create challenges for future relations: experts

China EU relations

The new European Union (EU) foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said on Tuesday that countries such as Russia and “partly China” are exploiting the openness of European societies. Experts said such comments create challenges for the relationship between China and the EU, and said Kallas does not represent all of Europe.

Kallas told lawmakers that strengthening security must be a priority, warning that countries like Russia and “partly China” are exploiting the continent’s open societies, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

Kallas was nominated by European leaders in June to serve as the EU’s new High Representative for Foreign Affairs, and will succeed incumbent Josep Borrell, the Reuters report said.

Kallas made the statement even though she is not yet in office, indicating that the trend of following the US in terms of narratives and even policies could be strengthened, said Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance in Beijing Foreign Affairs. Studies University, told the Global Times.

Cui said her comments characterize China as a security threat by combining it into a bloc with other countries that the EU sees as increasingly hostile.

If the EU continues to jump on the American bandwagon, the relationship between China and the EU, which has already experienced some unwanted turbulence, especially in public opinion, is likely to face more problems in the future, Cui noted.

But Kallas does not fully represent all EU institutions, not to mention all European countries, Cui said. “Europe’s perception of China should not be based solely on the rhetoric of some politicians.”