Category: Europe-China Relations

Lithuania’s Exports Hit 10-Year High Despite China’s Economic Retaliation

The latest figure shows Lithuania’s exports hit a ten-year high in 2021, despite the diplomatic and economic retaliation the country has suffered from China for maintaining friendly relations with Taiwan. On Feb. 13, Lithuanian state broadcaster LRT (Lietuvos radijas ir televizija) cited statistical data analysis by Enterprise Lithuania, the government’s business promotion agency, as saying…


EU Launches WTO Dispute Against China Over Telecom Patents

BRUSSELS—The European Union launched a legal challenge against China at the World Trade Organization on Friday, arguing that Chinese courts were preventing European companies from protecting their telecom technology patents. The European Commission, which filed the challenge on behalf of the EU’s 27 members, said EU companies were being deterred from going to a foreign…


Australia-UK Deepen Security Ties, Welcome AUKUS Progress

The United Kingdom has pledged 25 million pounds to “strengthen regional resilience” to combat ongoing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson made the announcement during a virtual meeting with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Feb. 17, where both leaders pledged to support the rules-based international order and respect the “sovereign…


Beijing Tacitly Welcomes Media Spotlight on Russian Olympic Doping Case

News Analysis Reporting of a positive drug test by Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva is welcome news to Chinese state media. The latter have been working hard to deflect from any reporting on human rights abuses taking place in the country. Dodging any questions that pertain to issues such as the treatment of Uyghurs, tennis player…


China’s ‘Tacit Support’ for Russia in Ukraine Crisis ‘Deeply Alarming’: Pentagon

Beijing gave Moscow “tacit support” in the Ukraine standoff, the Pentagon said on Feb. 14, calling the Chinese action “deeply alarming.” Pentagon press secretary John Kirby sounded the alarm during a press briefing on Monday, as Russia has positioned about 130,000 troops, as well as tanks and artillery, near Ukraine’s border. “Their tacit support, if…


Australian PM Calls out Beijing for Lack of Action on ‘Real Risk’ of Russian Invasion

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned of “very real risks” of conflict involving Russian forces along the Ukrainian border, at the same time, he called out Beijing for not denouncing Moscow for inciting tensions in the region. Morrison revealed that on the evening of Feb. 14, he met with the National Security Committee of…


Breaking Dependency on Russia, China Will Cost Us, but It’s Worth It: Lithuanian Foreign Minister

The cost of goods such as iPhones, shoes, and electricity could go up if countries break from their dependency on Russia and China, but it’s the price the world must pay to safeguard the rules-based order, Lithuania’s foreign minister has stated. Lithuania’s Gabrielius Landsbergis made the comments in an address to the National Press Club…


Argentina’s Pro-Beijing Deal With the Devil

News Analysis Argentina President Alberto Fernández signed a deal with the devil at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Feb. 6. Argentina will join China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), recognize China’s claims over democratic Taiwan, take another $23.7 billion in loans for Chinese infrastructure development, and again publicly threaten the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, along…


Lithuania Calls on Allies to ‘Counter-Disrupt’ Beijing, Moscow

Lithuania’s foreign minister has called on democratic allies to band together against the “disruptors” of the global rules-based order—Russia and China. Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis is currently on a three-day visit to Australia to strengthen trade ties and help establish the Baltic nation’s embassy in the country. Australia and Lithuania have both been on the…


Xi-Putin Olympics Summit Is Explicitly—and Primarily—Anti-US

News Analysis The Feb. 4 meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin proceeded with the expected proclamations of “mutual trust” and “the spirit of friendship.” According to the Kremlin, there were a total of 16 agreements across various spheres of cooperation reached during the meeting. These included economic trade, technology, and…