Opinion | The heroic US in World War II is gone for good: Europe needs great inspiring leaders to save it from ruins

By Augustus K. Yeung

Introduction

Europe has been dependent on the U.S. for too long. It has become habitually dependent. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine has exposed this weakness.

A waning U.S. is afraid of China as a perceived threat, and it is trying feverishly to discredit its "rival" China so that it can cease to be inspiring. Hence, there is the fake news spreading around that China is sending military supplies to Russia in Ukraine.

China and Europe need to develop a trusting relationship that can enable the region to get back on its own feet, without having to depend on and listen to the U.S., a great conductor of human tragedy--which has been quietly leading an eastward expansion at Russia's national security expanse. Russia is now biting back.

Secretly sending millions of American dollars for strengthening the Ukrainian military is the latest evidence.

It is time that European countries wake up. Cooperate with China and try honestly to develop the European economy together to bring hope to the Eastern European new Nato member countries that are still economically far too backward.

Unlike in World War II, the wayward U.S. is now on the wrong side of history. Europe needs an awakening, and an honest friend, China.

POMPEO SET A BAD EXAMPLE FOR THE WESTERN WORLD

"A year ago today, Clint Flores thought a colleague was joking when he told him via text message that he had been sanctioned by Beijing," reports Finbarr Bermingham for the Post. ("Invasion puts strained E.U.-China ties to test". South China Morning Post. Tuesday, March 22, 2022)

Flores was Malta's ambassador to the European Union's Political and Security Committee, a powerful group of diplomats who help mold Europe's foreign defence and security policy.

"My press officer texted me and my immediate response was: 'LOL, you cannot be serious.' But he was, and when I had time to think about it, I guess it was not a big surprise, because the Chinese wanted to send a message and they had already gone after Mike Pompeo and other American figures," said Flores.

The entire committee, along with members of the European and national parliaments, and multiple researchers and think tanks, were slapped with travel and business bans by Beijing.

They came after the EU placed human rights sanctions on four Chinese officials and one entity in relation to alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang…

The United States, Britain and Canada later joined the sanctioning blitz, in what marked a new phase of joined-up Western policymaking on China.

But arguably, the most lasting impact was on EU-China relations, which had been in a relatively stable place – at least compared with US-China ties…

Small and Easily Led Lithuania Can Foil EU-China Ties?

This was amplified by a spat between China and Lithuania, in which Beijing blocked the tiny Baltic nation's export after it bolstered ties with Taiwan.

New Chinese customs data showed that in January and February combined, Lithuania's exports to China fell by 88.4 per cent from a year earlier.

But EU-China ties will be put through an even sterner test amid growing suspicion over Beijing's positioning on Russia's war with Ukraine.

The EU's foreign and defence ministers met in Brussels yesterday, where they discussed new measures to respond to the ongoing invasion, a potential ban on Russian oil, but were also expected to discuss China's perceived backing for Russia.

This will be followed by a European Council meeting and Nato summit on Thursday, where European leaders will be joined by US President Joe Biden…

Having collaborated on sanctions a year earlier, Biden is set to whip up the Western alliance again to deal with the broad threat of authoritarians, China included.

The U.S. is Sabotaging EU-China Relations Again!

The United States is expected to again flag accusations that China has signaled willingness to provide military support for Russia, which Beijing has strenuously denied…

"We don't have any evidence of that," said a senior EU official. "But if we do [get it], we will deal with that evidence and respond in the right way…

In the case that such evidence appears, the knives are already being sharpened in some quarters. "If you have military assistance to Russia from China, we can reasonably say talk of using China as an honest broker is finished – China effectively becomes an accomplice," said one senior diplomat.

In Brussel on Friday, diplomats discussed the agenda for the EU-China Summit on April 1, the first since the sanctions.

The main discussion item was Russia's attack on Ukraine, with debate on how far the bloc should push China on the issue, lest it thrust Beijing closer to Moscow.

It's About Time a Strong EU Nation Like Germany Leads the Bloc

Some see China as already on Russia's side and want to focus on the consequences Beijing should face.

Others, including Germany, say the EU needs to "find the right tone and not use threats", in the manner of the US, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

But even Germany was adamant that Beijing must be made aware that this was "a defining moment" in EU-China relations for decades to come.

For Bjorn Jerden, director of the Swedish National China Centre, Russia's invasion of Ukraine added unforeseen complications to an EU-China relationship that was already in decline when he checked Twitter on March 22 last year, only to find his Chinese name among those sanctioned by China's foreign ministry.

"I was quite surprised initially because it wasn't really on the cards that China would use these kinds of sanctions against Europe, it hadn't done so before. And the decision to sanction non-officials like researchers, that was also a first," said Jerden, who thought he was targeted due to poor Swedish-China relations…

"I think it was more a result of a general worsening relationship and changing perceptions on both sides…" reports Finbarr Bermingham. ("Invasion puts strained E.U.-China Ties to Test". South China Morning Post. Tuesday, March 22, 2022)

Conclusion

The trouble with the European bloc is that it has been easily led by the U.S.: Easily led Lithuania is a good case in point, causing a no-nonsense China to suspend trade to register its anger.

Some European countries are now suggesting that the EU should impose "sanctions" on China on "suspicion" of sending military supplies to Russia in its current conflict with Ukraine, a nation which is also on friendly terms with Beijing. How absurd!

Fortunately, it is Germany--a mature and relationship-based European power--that cautions other European nations to approach China from a position of respect and trust, saying, "EU needs to 'find the right tone and not use threats'" in its summit meeting with China on April 1, and to formulate a legal response on the logical basis of "evidence".

 

The author is a freelance writer; formerly Adjunct Lecturer, taught MBA Philosophy of Management, and International Strategy, and online columnist of 3-D Corner (HKU SPACE), University of Hong Kong.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.

Read more articles by Augustus K. Yeung:

Opinion | Ukraine has fallen into the trap of US-led interventions: What should Beijing do?

Opinion | Did US President Joe Biden play a role in Russo-Ukraine conflict?