Europe’s risky indecision

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The international community is at a “historic turning point”, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, 62, said three days ago at the two-day G7 meeting of foreign ministers in Hiroshima, Japan. He called for “strong determination” to be shown to the world to defend the “international order based on the rule of law”.

A reminder that couldn’t be more urgent. In the face of the growing threat from China, the Western – and especially the European – facade of unity is crumbling.

European politicians squabble over the China issue

While Annalena Baerbock (42), Germany’s top diplomat, warns that European states “should not hide in their shells”, French President Emmanuel Macron (45) strikes a very different tone. Europe should not get involved in crises “that are not ours,” he said after a visit to China. These sharply contrasting statements are representative of the European cacophony on the China issue.

This was also apparent from the staccato visits of the many European heads of state, who were courted by the Chinese head of state Xi Jinping (69) in recent weeks. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (64) and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (51) are just a few of the many who have touched the doorknob in China. His European visitors offered Xi a demonstration of European and transatlantic division. It shouldn’t be like that.

European unity is absolutely necessary

Because European unity is the only way to take a clear stand on the Indo-Pacific question. Fabian Zuleeg (50), chief economist at the European Policy Center in Brussels, sees it this way, he recently explained to Blick. “Europe has not prepared for this crisis,” said Zuleeg. “And now we don’t know which way to go.”

Some European nations prefer a closer relationship with the US because of its crucial role in security and defense. Other countries are afraid of angering China and endangering close economic ties. But Europe will soon have to decide.

Between the increasingly tense mood between China and the US and the shift in economic and political focus to the Indo-Pacific, Europe needs to reposition itself. Without a clear and common position, Europe will be on the side of the world – or even left behind altogether.

Source: Blick