EU Commission President Von der Leyen Warns China Over Russia Support, Trade Practices Ahead of Summit

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has strongly criticized China for enabling Russia's war economy by supplying components used in Russian military drones and for engaging in unfair trade practices that harm European industries. She warned that China's continued support for Moscow, including its refusal to unequivocally condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, threatens to further deteriorate EU-China relations and increase instability in Europe. Von der Leyen called for a genuine rebalancing of the EU-China partnership, demanding fewer market distortions, reciprocal market access, and an end to China's flooding of global markets with cheap subsidized goods. These remarks came ahead of a high-stakes EU-China summit that was scaled back due to Beijing's cancellation of planned business meetings, reflecting growing tensions. Ukraine has imposed sanctions on Chinese companies found to be supplying drone components to Russia, highlighting China's role in sustaining Moscow's military capabilities. The evolving situation underscores the EU's firm stance that China must either take a clear position against Russia's aggression or face a policy reversal from the European Union.