Finnish President Stubb Meets Xi Jinping in Beijing

During a diplomatic visit to Beijing, Finnish President Alexander Stubb expressed serious concerns to Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding North Korea's military activities in coordination with Russia, specifically mentioning the deployment of 10,000 North Korean troops in eastern Russia. Stubb emphasized that these actions represent a significant escalation and warned that China's support for Russia could jeopardize its relations with the European Union. He reiterated the need for Ukraine's involvement in any peace deal concerning the ongoing war, stating that Russian aggression has violated international law. Xi Jinping, while acknowledging the need for peaceful resolutions, has attempted to maintain China's image as a neutral party in the conflict. Tensions between the EU and China are further exacerbated by impending tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and ongoing investigations related to damage to the Balticconnector pipeline. This visit marks Stubb's first state trip to China since 2019, highlighting the evolving diplomatic landscape following Finland's NATO accession due to Russia's aggression.