EU to Pressure China to Stop Aiding Russia in Ukraine Conflict

On November 30, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that EU leaders will directly pressure Chinese President Xi Jinping at an upcoming summit in Beijing to stop 13 Chinese firms accused of aiding Russia to circumvent Western sanctions.

These leaders will ask Xi to end the practice of aiding Russia, and Xi’s response may determine whether the EU will single out these Chinese companies in the latest package of sanctions.

SCMP reported that at first, the EU omitted these Chinese companies from its 12th package of sanctions against Russia. Nonetheless, the names of these companies could be included in the sanctions list if China does not take action in accordance with EU demands.

This collective move signifies efforts by the EU to tackle concerns over the implementation of Russian sanctions.

EU Council President Charles Michel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and the bloc’s top diplomat Josep Borrell are gearing up for a visit to Beijing on December 7 and 8. Ambassadors from the 27 member states gathered in Brussels to discuss summit preparations and authorized an orientation note prepared by Michel’s team to set the agenda for the talks.

The upcoming EU-China summit is poised to be a crucial moment for diplomatic talks as the EU seeks to ensure the implementation of its sanctions against Russia and tackle the various challenges posed by entities aiding Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.