Amid shifting U.S. foreign policy on the Ukraine war, the European Parliament has lifted restrictions on lawmakers meeting Chinese officials, signaling a potential thaw in EU-China relations. The restrictions were originally introduced in April 2023 in response to a diplomatic standoff that began in 2021, when the EU and China imposed mutual sanctions over alleged […]
  • Hotznplotzn@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
    8·
    3 days ago

    Not an MEP, but a Swedish lawmaker already gave some advice to Asian countries during a recent travel, raising the issues in Europe and Asia are similar:

    Swedish legislators to Asian countries: Build security alliances, bolster defense vs. Chinese aggression

    China’s hostile actions in Asia are similar to that of Russia’s aggression in Europe, particularly against Ukraine, and countries like the Philippines should prepare by building alliances and strengthening their defense capabilities, visiting Swedish lawmakers said Friday.

    Asian countries should also try to “de-risk” and remain independent from potential aggressors, which could resort to economic coercion to gain advantage in a major conflict, said Joar Forsell (Liberal Party), a member of Swedish parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.

    “I think that something to learn is to build alliances, build very close alliances with like-minded partners, real defensive capabilities, not be naïve, buy new weapons, build the defense capabilities and also de-risk to ensure independence,” said Forsell, when asked what Europe has learned from Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which has brought the region in its worst security crisis since World War II […]

    [Edit typo.]