On Monday, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said ties with China are “absolutely incomparable” with Italy’s alliances with the United States (US), the European Union (EU), and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The Minister made these comments at a press conference in Rome that was also attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Offering clarification regarding Italy’s position, the Minister said: “Italy’s alliances with the US, NATO and the EU are not just strategic alliances, but alliances of values which allow our democracy to confront issues such as violations of human rights.” On the other hand, while commenting on relations with China, he said: “Italy is a strong commercial partner with China. We have had historical relations, but they do not compare with and do not interfere with our alliances of values with the US, NATO and the EU.”
Blinken, while welcoming Italy’s approach, said: “I think we all recognise the complexity of relationship, with China...adversarial, competitive and at times cooperative. The common denominator is approaching [these complexities] together, and increasingly, that’s what we are seeing.”
The remarks come after the US expressed concern over Italy’s commercial relationship with China. Di Maio signed up for China’s Belt and Roads Initiative (BRI) as Italy’s Minister for Economic Development in 2019. However, since Mario Draghi became the Prime Minister (PM) of Italy in February, the country has been focusing on transatlantic partnerships.
While defending the previous government’s actions, Di Maio said Italy signed up for Beijing’s BRI in the hope of secure new investments for its stagnating domestic economy.
Moreover, looking at Italy’s efforts to align with China’s initiative, the EU slammed the country for engaging with the Union’s “systemic rival.” However, the EU now believes that the country would need fewer Chinese investments since it sanctioned the post-pandemic recovery fund worth €209 billion for Italy. In addition, the US provided a Chinese alternative by inviting Rome as a participant to its “Build Back Better World” initiative earlier this month. Politico reported that it is “a constructive initiative to meet the enormous infrastructure needs of low- and middle-income countries."
As one of the G7 countries, Italy attended the summit hosted by the United Kingdom in Cornwall from June 11-13, where the member nations talked about their relations with China. The leaders also accused China of genocide, human rights abuses, illegal occupation of Taiwan Strait, increasing aggressions against Hong Kong and Taiwan, and launching arbitrary trade disputes with Australia. Additionally, the G7 asked China to allow an independent probe into the origins of the coronavirus.
On the contrary, a press release by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Di Maio had a phone conversation with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on June 21. It stated that a request for the talk was put forth by Italy. During the interaction, the two sides agreed to bolster economic ties by promoting trade and investments and bilateral relations in scientific and technological innovation, aerospace, clean energy, and the digital economy. China’s also affirmed its support to Italy in hosting the G20 presidency and strengthening international cooperation to fight the pandemic.
News reports suggested that Di Maio conveyed his gratitude to China for supporting Italy’s G20 presidency and hoped to pursue the Belt and Road Initiative alongside cooperation in energy and industry.
Therefore, while Italy has sought to bolster trade and economic ties with China, it has equally gone out of its way to reaffirm its enduring and time-tested friendships with the West. The Italian PM recently joined the G7 in condemning China’s human rights abuse of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang and said that the Asian giant doesn’t play by multilateral rules or share the vision of a democratic world. Nonetheless, Draghi also urged the “nations to be frank and to cooperate.” China has not yet reacted to the Italian PM’s remarks.
Italian FM Di Maio Says Ties With China “Incomparable” With Alliance With US and NATO
Italy’s Foreign Minister in a conference in Rome reaffirmed the country’s ties with the US, EU and NATO over its commercial ties with China.
June 30, 2021
SOURCE: POLITICO