China will never take sides in European affairs

Editor's Note: Adam Garrie is director of the UK-based global policy and analysis think tank Eurasia Future and co-host of a talk show "The History Boys." The article reflects the author's opinion and not necessarily views of APD.

Europe is facing many challenges to both its economic and political status quo. France and Italy are currently engaged in a number of open disputes while the European Union has been vocalizing criticisms of internal developments in both Poland and Hungary.

With the UK's Brexit process becoming ever more entangled by the day and with European economies struggling to attain desired levels of growth, Europe clearly has many issues that require sustainable solutions.

Against this backdrop, some commentators have had a knee-jerk reaction in attempting to falsely assign to China, political positions in each one of these crises.

However, the truth is, China remains fully committed to a policy of total non-interference in the internal disputes of other nations and regions. China is keen to study and provide analysis of global events but without taking a specific side unless it relates to issues concerning China's ability to form trading relationships or to otherwise secure China from external threats.

As such, China has long welcomed multiple European countries into the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a mean of enhancing win-win prosperity creating mechanisms. A Europe that embraces BRI will find that European exports will be highly sought after in China's large and increasingly affluent domestic market, while likewise, Chinese goods will help to give European consumers more options at a time when many household budgets have failed to increase. With this in mind, Italy is now the largest EU member state to openly express interest in joining the BRI. This itself sets a positive precedent for greater Pacific-to-Mediterranean connectivity.

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini (R) and Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi hold a joint press conference as part of the EU-China strategic dialogue in Brussels, Belgium, March 18, 2019. /VCG Photo

Of course, one of the biggest issues facing Europe is Britain's scheduled withdrawal from the European Union. There is still a great deal of confusion both in London and in Brussels as to the way forward. Although Barack Obama made his views on Brexit very clear and while Donald Trump has likewise frequently done the same, China has never expressed an opinion one way or another.

For China, European unity is helpful insofar as it makes trade negotiations simpler because it reduces the number of bilateral agreements necessary to promote trans-continental trade. On the other hand, China fully respects Britain's right to leave the EU and as such, China is fully aware that many in Britain will be looking to sign new free trading agreements (FTAs) with non-EU member states.

Therefore, China offers both the EU as a whole and a post-Brexit Britain unique opportunities to form trading agreements that serve the interests of all parties involved. China at times has to clarify that unlike some powers, China accepts the decisions of other nations without internalizing these decisions, and welcomes a wider global movement towards freer and more open trade within a rules-based framework. Beyond this, however, China has no interest and certainly no desire to enforce any internal model on the nations that comprise the wider network of global trading partners.

This model has served China well and it also helps to assure countries throughout the world that China's doors are open to all in the name of peace through prosperity with no strings attached.

(CGTN)