Page 5 - GLNG Week 42 2022

GLNG COMMENTARY GLNG

China in the crosshairs has become abruptly more confrontational with
The EU leaders also did an about face on a China. On October 7 the US National Security
long-standing foreign policy stance to China. advisor Jake Sullivan outlined harsh export
Previously China has been regarded as a “stra- controls on high-end technology that one com-
tegic partner” and many countries in the EU, mentator said will “destroy the Chinese sem-
especially those in Central Europe, have actively iconductor business overnight.” US nationals
sought Chinese investment into their industries. and companies working in China were told to
Von der Leyen struck a different tone in her leave the country immediately or have their citi-
speech on October 21, highlighting Europe’s zenship revoked and face arrest if they returned
dependencies on Chinese technologies and raw to the US.
materials such as rare earth metals. US National Security advisor Jake Sullivan
She said in light of the confrontation with said in remarks rolling out the new rules on
Russia those dependencies were a risk and September 16 that the US will protect its techno-
that the EU would have to engage in “painful” logical lead and ensure that its rivals are cut off
reforms to “diversify” and find suppliers from from its best technology in a marked escalation
“reliable” countries. of tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Von der Leyen pointed out that Chinese Many other EU leaders are on board with the
President Xi Jinping and Russian President new confrontational stance as China and Russia
Vladimir Putin announced a “no limits” friend- are increasingly seen as working together to defy
ship between their two countries on the very eve the West in its opposition to the war in Ukraine.
of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. China has sup- “I think with China it’s the same as with Rus-
ported Russia since then, but has kept its sup- sia. It is in their interest that we are divided. It’s in
port passive, afraid of bringing down sanctions our interest that we are united,” Estonian Prime
on itself as the US and EU combined remains its Minister Kaja Kallas told Reuters.™
largest trade partner worth over $1 trillion a year.
The EU message echoes the US stance which

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