Former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis cautions against relying on China to mediate an end to the war in Ukraine, fearing their motives and potential influence on European security.
Former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis issued a stark warning to those who believe China can mediate an end to the war in Ukraine. Speaking to the French international affairs outlet Geopolitique.eu, Landsbergis dismissed the notion.
'China is waiting for a moment of weakness to step in and offer 'solutions' and I fear that some in Europe would accept this offer because it's a cheap alternative to us stepping up, in the same way that you buy a Chinese car because it's cheaper. The same goes for their peace proposals.' Landsbergis was reacting to a recent interview with outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and The New York Times, where Blinken suggested that one reason Moscow hadn't escalated into a nuclear war in Ukraine was because of China. 'If you follow that line of reasoning,' Landsbergis stated, 'it means that China has become a protector of Europe. That would be the beginning of a new paradigm.''If we accept that China, which in my view supports Russia and is therefore an adversary of the countries supporting Ukraine, is now the guarantor of nuclear deterrence on our continent, it would be a dangerous mistake and a failure.' Landsbergis's warning comes at a time of significant geopolitical shifts, with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump taking office and Europe facing an uncertain future. Trump's protectionist trade policies and less traditional approach to transatlantic relations have caused unease in European capitals, sparking discussions about cultivating a closer relationship with Beijing to counterbalance the Trump administration. On January 14, Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke with European Council President Antonio Costa, initiating what many analysts predict will be a charm offensive from Beijing towards the European continent.However, while Trump may have a more strained relationship with Brussels and various European capitals than his predecessor, Beijing also finds itself facing a different landscape compared to when U.S. President Joe Biden took office. China's support for Russia amidst the war in Ukraine has damaged its ties with Europe, and Brussels is taking aim at Chinese companies in certain sectors, a trend that appears likely to continue. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas has also expressed strong criticism of China, particularly regarding its stance on the war in Ukraine and its long-term consequences. Landsbergis echoed these sentiments, stating that 'Ukraine is central to what will happen in the future' between China and Taiwan. 'I mentioned earlier that Putin has managed to change the nuclear doctrine by getting us to accept, at least for now, that resisting an attack is a form of escalation and therefore a nuclear strike is justified.' 'One can imagine a situation where China imposes a blockade, even a partial one, on Taiwan and they resist and we try to lift it, then China could use the Russian playbook,' he said. 'I don't think we collectively understand how reckless it is.
Geopolitics War And Conflict CHINA UKRAINE RUSSIA EUROPE TAIWAN NUCLEAR DETERRENCE FOREIGN POLICY GABRIE LIUS LANDSBERGIS DONALD TRUMP JOE BIDEN
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