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Chinese leader Xi Jinping:
Photo: TINGSHU WANG / REUTERS
Just a few days after Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visit to Beijing, the People's Republic of China under President Xi Jinping has come under increasing criticism for several points.
It goes among other things
to attempt to influence the elections in Canada,
a never-before-seen opening speech by EU Council President Charles Michel in Shanghai
and Beijing's anger over Taiwanese investments in Lithuania.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry in particular has now made sharp statements on the issues.
Has China tried to influence elections in Canada?
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has warned that China is trying to undermine Canada's democratic institutions.
The People's Republic plays "aggressive games," said Trudeau on Monday, according to a report in the British newspaper "Guardian".
According to a report published on Monday by the Canadian broadcaster Global News, China is said to have financed a “secret network” of candidates in the 2019 Canadian general election.
That's why the Canadian security intelligence service (CSIS) warned the prime minister of Beijing's "extensive campaign" to influence Canada's democracy, the report goes on to say.
The ultimate goal was to undermine the democratic process in the country.
"We have taken significant steps to strengthen the integrity of our electoral processes and systems, and we will continue to invest in the fight against electoral interference and foreign interference in our democracy and our institutions," Trudeau said on Monday.
"Unfortunately, we see that countries, state actors from all over the world, be it China or others, continue to play aggressive games with our institutions, with our democracies."
According to the Global News report, China has attempted to pass payments through middlemen to candidates close to the Chinese Communist Party.
There have also been attempts to plant agents in MPs' offices, to corrupt former officials and aggressive campaigns against politicians who see China as a threat.
It is currently unclear whether the CSIS or the Canadian government believe the influence attempts were successful.
Beijing has now clearly denied the allegations.
Canada should stop making comments that damage relations with China, a State Department spokesman said on Tuesday about Trudeau's statements.
China has also faced criticism in recent weeks for operating illegal police stations abroad, including in Canada.
Criticism of Taiwan's investments in Lithuania
In addition, the Chinese Foreign Ministry is angry because Taiwan has announced that it will make multi-million dollar investments in Lithuania.
On Monday the island democracy announced that it would invest more than ten million euros in the production of semiconductors in Lithuania.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing said that China opposes "any effort" by Taiwan to "allie with external forces and strive for independence".
The efforts will meet with resolute resistance, it said.
China claims power over Taiwan and regards the island's democratic republic as part of the People's Republic.
It firmly rejects official contacts from other countries to Taiwan.
Relations between China and the Baltic country have been strained since Lithuania last year allowed a Taiwanese representative office to be opened under the island's name.
China cancels Charles Michel's speech at trade fair opening
The conflict with Lithuania is not the only issue currently causing tension with the EU.
Organizers of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai canceled a planned opening speech by European Council President Charles Michel because he criticized Russia's "illegal war" in Ukraine and called for less trade dependence on China, the news agency reports Reuters.
The case also had diplomatic implications: "President Michel was invited to speak at the 5th Hongqiao Forum/CIIE in Shanghai," Barend Leyts, a spokesman for Michel, told Reuters.
“As requested by the Chinese authorities, we had indeed provided a recorded message that was ultimately not shown.
We addressed this through the normal diplomatic channel.” The Foreign Ministry in Beijing did not respond to a Reuters request.
Tensions in the Indo-Pacific
What Foreign Minister Wang Yi commented on was the growing geopolitical tensions with Australia.
Speaking over the phone with his Australian counterpart, Penny Wong, Wang said both China and Australia should gradually address each other's "legitimate concerns" and make positive contributions to addressing the current global challenges.
Both countries should work to restore mutual trust and get their ties back on track, a statement from China's Foreign Ministry quoted Wang as saying.
Among other things, the Indo-Pacific security pact Aukus between Australia, Great Britain and the USA leads to tensions between China and the oceanic country.
Approach to Saudi Arabia
As conflict with the West deepens, China is trying to woo a long-time Western ally.
On Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported on an upcoming visit by Xi Jinping to Saudi Arabia.
According to the US newspaper, China wants to expand its influence in the Middle East.
That is why a meeting between Xi and the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been in the works for months, which is now scheduled to take place in the second week of December.
A spokesman for China's foreign ministry said Tuesday he was unaware of the reports of Xi's planned visit to Saudi Arabia.
col/Reuters
