Xi lost Europe

 

China loses Europe as Xi's wolf warriors diplomacy backfires

 

 China's soft-power strategy suffered major setbacks this month. The European Parliament has frozen the ratification process for an investment pact with China -- a deal that Beijing just months ago hailed as a big strategic victory.
 
Lithuania, one of the three Baltic countries, has said it is leaving the 17+1 cooperation framework between China and 17 central and eastern European nations. "There is no such thing as the 17+1 anymore," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said. "It's high time other EU countries leave the Beijing-led initiative."
 
The moves have sent shock waves throughout China, with only one month and change before arguably the most important event of President Xi Jinping's era, the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party's establishment, on July 1.
 
Some party members are worried that the centenary's festive mood will be dampened by the harsh diplomatic reality. Not only are China's relations with the U.S. bad, but now European Union relations are stuck in a ditch. At this rate, few Western leaders are likely to phone or telegraph congratulatory messages to Beijing for the party's 100th birthday.
 
China's only response seems to involve doubling down on "wolf warrior diplomacy." With Xi playing his cards to remain as China's top leader beyond the party's next quinquennial national congress in fall 2022, he is in no mood to admit to policy failure.