The British, French and German missions in Taipei warned on Wednesday that what they described as “novel Chinese activity” east of Taiwan threatens regional stability and risks a unilateral change to the status quo. In a joint statement, the three European missions said the manoeuvres “undermine peace and security in the Taiwan Strait” and called on Beijing to refrain from further destabilising actions. The warning came as Washington accused China of trying to deter states and businesses from engaging with Taiwan, intensifying a diplomatic confrontation that has simmered since Nancy Pelosi’s 2022 visit.

The US State Department said on Wednesday that Beijing is actively discouraging foreign governments and corporations from deepening ties with Taipei, a campaign it described as an attempt to isolate the island diplomatically and economically. “China is pressuring states and companies to avoid engagement with Taiwan, undermining the rules-based order,” a department spokesperson said. The warning follows reports that Chinese officials have privately lobbied European capitals and Asian partners to limit high-level exchanges with Taipei.

Against this backdrop, Chinese Premier Li Qiang used the Summer Davos forum in China to push back against what Beijing calls the “China shock 2.0” narrative in Brussels. Speaking in Tianjin, Li framed China’s technological rise as a global opportunity rather than a threat, arguing that decoupling would harm both sides. “China’s development is not a shock but a dividend for the world,” he told delegates. The remarks underscore Beijing’s effort to counter European concerns over industrial overcapacity and security risks in sensitive supply chains.

The latest warnings come after China recalibrated its strategy in late June amid deepening US-China-Russia tensions over Taiwan. Washington has adopted a more assertive posture, while Moscow’s war in Ukraine grinds on, further complicating diplomatic calculations. The European missions’ statement signals growing unease in Western capitals over Beijing’s maritime activity east of Taiwan, which they say risks miscalculation and escalation. “Any unilateral change to the status quo is a direct threat to regional stability,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao is scheduled to visit London this week as a legal battle looms over the future of British Steel, a case that has exposed sensitivities in UK-China economic relations. The visit, first reported by Politico, follows months of scrutiny over Chinese investment in critical British industries. The timing underscores the delicate balance European governments must strike between economic engagement and strategic caution as geopolitical tensions rise.

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UK, France, Germany say Chinese activity near Taiwan threatens region The British, French and German missions in Taipei on Wednesday expressed concern over what they described as "novel Chinese activity" in waters east of Taiwan, warning that such actions threaten regional stability and opposing any unilateral change to the status quo.

yenisafak · about 2 hours ago

Frente al plan europeo contra el "shock chino 2.0", Pekín vende la "oportunidad china 2.0" El primer ministro chino, Li Qiang, en el escaparate del Davos de Verano para rechazar el concepto de «shock chino 2.0» empleado en Bruselas y defender el auge tecnológico de su país como una oportunidad global Leer

elmundo · about 2 hours ago

Opinion: The future of the China-US-Russia triangle after Pelosis visit to Taiwan Since February 24, 2022, the international communitys focus was concentrated entirely on the war in Ukraine and the growing Russia – West confrontation. It seemed that nothing could change the situation until the end of hostilities in Ukraine. However, on August 2 and 3, almost everyones attention shifted from Ukraine to Taiwan. As the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, stated her intention to visit Taiwan, up to half a million people were watching the trajectory of her plane on air flight tracking sites. The negative reaction of China, including the warning of President Xi during his conversation with President Biden that those who played with fire would be perished by it, created hype around this visit. Many were discussing the possibility of Chinese military jets closing the airspace over Taiwan and preventing Pelosis plane from landing in Taiwan, while some enthusiasts were even contemplating the possibility of a US-China direct military clash. As Pelosi landed in Taiwan and met with the Taiwanese President, the global social media was full of amateur assessments about the strategic victory of the US and the confirmation of the US global hegemony. However, as the dust settles down, and information noise and manipulation eventually decreases, a more serious assessment is needed to understand the real consequences of this visit.

commonspace · about 3 hours ago

Comment Taïwan lutte depuis un demi-siècle pour son émancipation

lexpress · about 3 hours ago

Chinese commerce minister to visit UK as legal fight over British Steel looms

gdeltproject.org · about 3 hours ago

US says China trying to discourage states, businesses from engaging with Taiwan reut.rs/4gFUIrj

bluesky bot · about 3 hours ago

Taiwan cheered by Western allies alarm over Chinese Coast Guard activities reut.rs/4anvqum

bluesky bot · about 5 hours ago