Amid the ongoing fallout from French President Emmanuel Macron's remarks on 'Taiwan distancing,' the European Union (EU) foreign affairs chief is set to visit China this week for a series of meetings with top diplomatic and security officials.
According to the EU on the 12th (local time), Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, will visit Beijing, China from the 13th to the 15th to discuss EU-China relations as well as regional and international diplomatic issues.
According to the political news outlet Politico, during his visit, Borrell plans to meet Wang Yi, a member of the Communist Party Central Political Bureau and the highest-ranking official in China's diplomatic line, and hold annual consultations with Qin Gang, the Foreign Minister.
He is also scheduled to meet Li Xiangfu, the newly appointed Minister of National Defense and State Councilor, who was appointed at last month's Chinese Two Sessions (National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference). Li Xiangfu was placed on the U.S. sanctions list during the Trump administration for leading the purchase of Russian weapons.
Borrell's trip to China follows that of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, who visited China last week alongside President Macron. The European Commission stated that this was a long-planned schedule.
However, attention is focused on what stance Borrell will take regarding the Taiwan issue, given that criticism has arisen since President Macron recently stated in an interview that the Taiwan issue is 'not Europe's business.'
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