Kubilius attacks China: “Not far behind the axis of Aggressive Authoritarians”

Brussels – One day, a potential partner and a subject for investment, and the next, a threat to avoid: regarding China, the European Commission seems unclear and does not come off well. Within 24 hours first, the von der Leyen team opened up to Beijing only to shut down. Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius drew a line and marked the distance with the People’s Republic. He attended the European Defense Agency annual conference, where he spoke about security in the face of Russian military maneuvers. “Russia is not alone. North Korea, Iran are part of the same Axis of Aggressive Authoritarians. China is not far behind,” he said.

The People’s Republic is publicly accused of authoritarian and aggressive policies. This statement by Kubilius comes a day after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her desire to do business specifically with the Chinese, ultimately portrayed as untrustworthy and dangerous. It is a contradiction within the EU executive, highlighting an existential crisis in the EU regarding a subject, the People’s Republic of China, which is a true puzzle.

However, the statement by Kubilius also demonstrates a certain levity that the EU executive cannot afford at a time when its longtime allies may no longer be a reference point. If the goal is to shield itself from possible US choices detrimental to European interests, insulting potential new clients, as Kubilius did, does not appear to be a strategic move.

Kubilius is from the European People’s Party (EPP), the same as von der Leyen. Considering they are part of the same political family — and the same college — the disconnect between the two stands out. In his speech, Kubilius no longer talked about China, mentioning it only once. It was enough to show European hesitation toward a country with which they will need to work, first and foremost, to mend relationships.