“The rising tensions between the US and China are worrying.”
(Photo: AP)
Berlin In view of the conflict over a suspected Chinese spy balloon, leading politicians from the traffic light parties have expressed concern. China’s espionage policy will “increase significantly” in the next few years, FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai told the Handelsblatt. However, he assesses the damage to the intelligence service as low.
Chinese balloons have been spotted on five continents in recent years, including Europe, according to the US Department of Defense. Green leader Omid Nouripour warned of a further hardening of US-Chinese relations. “The rising tensions between the US and China are worrying,” Nouripour told the Funke media group.
He added that there is no question that the Europeans and the Americans are close partners. “At the same time, as Europeans, we are very interested in easing this situation. The last thing the world needs is another Sino-American escalation.”
The US military shot down a Chinese observation balloon that had been flying over the US for days on Saturday. The United States accused China of spying on the aircraft. Beijing protested against the “obvious overreaction” on Sunday and again rejected the allegations. The Chinese Foreign Ministry stressed that it was a “civilian” aircraft that accidentally went off course.
Increasing tensions
The incident further strained the already tense diplomatic relations between the two countries. After the discovery of the balloon, the United States canceled a trip to Beijing planned for Sunday by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. According to consistent media reports, Blinken should have met China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping in Beijing.
CSU politician Manfred Weber, head of the European People’s Party (EPP) in the European Parliament, called on the EU to close ranks with the USA in view of the tensions. “The new obvious espionage actions by China against the USA give cause for concern,” Weber told the Funke media group. The behavior of the Chinese leadership towards Western countries is becoming “significantly more aggressive”. In the “system competition with China”, “the free world” must now join forces, he demanded.
“Close solidarity between the US and the EU and other allies is essential. This is the only way to contain the increasingly aggressive giants in Asia,” Weber continued. The European Union must recognize that it also has responsibilities in Asia. Above all, the EU states would have to agree on a common China strategy. “We must not leave our American friends alone with their partners there.”
With agency material.
More: USA shoots down suspected spy balloon – China criticizes “use of force”