Politics

Borrell: China, Russia alliance challenges multilateral order

Paris, Feb 22 (EFE).- The alliance between China and Russia challenges the multilateral order and the European Union should counter it by boosting its presence in the Indo-Pacific region, the EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell warned Tuesday.

“It is obvious that the convergences between China and Russia have an importance in the Indo-Pacific (…) this alliance challenges the multilateral order and is another reason to be more present in the Indo-Pacific area,” Borrell told a joint press conference with French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, in Paris.

Borrell and Le Drian spoke after a meeting with EU and Indo-Pacific nations including India, Australia and Indonesia, in which they discussed maritime security, climate change, biodiversity and new technologies.

Despite being a major player in the region, China was not invited to the meeting.

“The EU’s strategy is not against China or anyone else, it is in favor of the development of the Indo-Pacific, in which the sovereignty of each one is respected, (…) with China we have other channels of discussion,” Le Drian said.

“There are concrete geopolitical challenges between the US and China. That is why the history of the 21st century is played out in the Indo-Pacific. We have a vital interest in cooperating in its development because the future is being built there,” Borrell added.

Borrell and Le Drian are expected to give a press conference later in the day in which they will outline the EU’s package of sanctions against Russia after Moscow recognized the pro-Russian separatist territories in eastern Ukraine. EFE

atc/mp/jt

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