“The presence of Nastase and Dăncilă in Beijing, a sign of the local request for an alternative to the Western Liberal Order.” Expert explanation in foreign policy
The visit to Beijing of the former premiers shows that part of the Romanian political elite sees in relations with China (or Russia) a source of validation and a potential way of counterbalancing European pressures on the rule of law, reforms and reducing corruption, says Marius Ghincea, a researcher at the Swiss University ETH Zurich, specialized in the foreign policy.
The presence in China of the former Romanian prime ministers Adrian Năstase and Viorica Dăncilă triggered a series of criticisms in Bucharest, including a harsh one from the foreign minister Oana Țoiu, who said that “Romania is not and cannot be represented by politicians who are honored in the picture.”
In an analysis posted on the Facebook page, Marius Ghincea, a researcher at the Swiss University Eth Zurich, offered an explanation for the presence of the two at the Beijing events, where they appeared in a picture with Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong one and other authoritarian leaders.
The controversy related to the presence of the Nastase couple and Viorica Dăncilă in Beijing, at the 80th anniversary of Victoria in the Second Chino-Japanese war and in World War II, brings to the public age of China to Central and Eastern Europe, including Romania, says Ghincea.
In his explanation, the researcher refers to a written report for Globalfocus Cente, along with Clara Volintiru and Ivan Nikolovski, arguing that the level of Chinese influence in the region does not depend so much on China, as the availability of local elites to hug it.
“If we analyze the last 15 years, the success of the Chinese influence in the region has varied enormously, both between countries and within the same country (think, for example, about the difference between Ponta and Orban/Cîțu government). This variation cannot be explained only by Beijing's actions, because China has used a similar set.”
“But we can explain these differences quite well if we look at the national elites. Where the political leaders wanted to gather the relationships with China, its influence increased properly. Where this opening did not exist, the influence remained reduced. In short, everything is about the will of our elites, not necessarily by the Chinese strategies,” he said.
But why would some Eastern European leaders want to court Beijing?
“For these elites, proximity to China is a way to counterbalance the influence of the EU and the US.”
“Our hypothesis is that the main motivation is related to the illiberal tendencies of these leaders. For these elites, the proximity to China is a way to counterbalance the influence of the EU and the US. Thus, it creates what we call” wiggle room “, a space of maneuver that allows them to erode democratic institutions, to extract the economic retention and to reduce the state of economic rections. of law and the fight against corruption, ”explains the researcher.
“So what does our report on the visit of Nastase and Dăncilă tell us at Beijing tells us that this visit represents the manifestation of local” demand “for an alternative to the Western Liberal order we belong to,” he says.
The Chinese press tells who Adrian Nastase met in Beijing, before posing with XI, Putin and Kim Jong a / appreciation for China and Xi Jinping's policy
“Their presence there shows that part of the Romanian political elite sees in relations with China (or Russia) a source of validation and a potential way of counterbalancing European pressures on the rule of law, reforms and reduction of corruption,” says Ghincea.
MAE criticized the presence of the two former premiers
Former Prime Minister Adrian Nastase announced on Tuesday that he is in Beijing “as a former dignitary”, at the invitation of the Chinese authorities, to participate in the events organized by the President of China XI Jinping on the occasion of the mark of the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Japan in the Second World War.
On Wednesday, Nastase, accompanied by his wife, and Viorica Dăncilă attended the parade organized on the occasion of 80 years since the end of World War II. They have last been at the official picture at the end of the event, while first were Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un. In the picture are, among others, the leaders of Iran, Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan. The only European official present in Beijing was Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
“They are natural persons.” What Nicușor Dan and Ilie Bolojan say about the presence of Adrian Nastase and Viorica Dăncilă in Beijing, along with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping
Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu said on Wednesday that the two former premiers went to Beijing as private persons and represent themselves only. “Romania is not and cannot be represented by politicians who are honored in the picture next to Putin today,” said the foreign minister.
“They talk about patriotism at home, but a patriot would not guddle next to the aggressor, certainly not a few days after a Russian drone attacked a ship hundreds of meters from our border on the Danube, for weeks since Russia was bombarded and communities in Ukraine where the Romanian language is spoken,” she accused of Romania.
Who did Nastase meet in Beijing
Sun Haiyan, Deputy Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, is the one who received in Beijing on the former Romanian prime minister, presented by the official communiqué and with the title of president of the European Foundation Titulescu.
The meeting wanted a place on Tuesday, before the military parade to which Nastase was present.
According to the statement, Sun Hayan welcomed Nastase in China on the occasion of commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people's resistance against Japanese aggression and the World Antiphascist War and appreciated the significant and long -term contributions of Nastase to promoting China and Romania.
“China is willing to collaborate with friends from all sectors in Romania to carry on the traditional friendship between the two countries, to promote the stable and large development of the friendly cooperation partnership between China and Romania in the new era, to defend together the victory of the Second World War and to promote a more reasonable Government,” diplomata.
On the other side, according to the statement, “Nastase appreciated the historical achievements of China in the field of economic and social development from the beginning of the new era.”
He also stated that “the war of resistance of the Chinese people against Japanese aggression has made a major contribution to the world struggle against fascism.”
“The concept of building a community with a common future for humanity and the four global initiatives proposed by Secretary General XI Jinping have a great practical importance. China has become an irreplaceable force in defending equity and justice in the world. The Romanian Foundation for European Studies is willing to play an active role in this regard,” said Năstase.
In a brief note on his blog, Nastase had announced that he had met in Beijing with Sun Hayan, with whom he discussed “sensitive topics of international politics, including the Ukraine and the relationship between China, Russia and India.”
