On Wednesday, September 25th, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen condemned China’s support for Russia’s war on Ukraine during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, emphasizing that Beijing must bear the consequences.
Frederiksen made these remarks in an interview with Politico magazine. Serving as Denmark’s Prime Minister since 2019, Frederiksen stressed that China must be held accountable for its actions, stating, “We cannot allow China to assist Russia in European conflicts without repercussions. They must be held responsible for their actions.”
She added that the consequences for Beijing must be political, emphasizing that China cannot support Russia’s attack on another European country while pretending nothing has happened.
The United States was the first to label China as part of a new axis of evil along with Russia, North Korea, and Iran. Frederiksen pointed out the significant impact of close cooperation among these countries on a global scale.
Regarding the issue of China, Frederiksen believes the European Union can no longer afford to be naive. She emphasized that the international landscape has undergone significant changes, and relations with China cannot go back to the way they were before the Ukraine-Russia conflict erupted.
Ukraine’s Western allies are increasingly realizing that Beijing’s support for Moscow has prolonged the conflict. The Chinese authorities have not only provided military support directly to Russia but also transferred dual-use military-civilian technology.
Relations between Europe and China continue to deteriorate. EU leaders are intensifying efforts to shield the EU from unfair trade practices, aligning EU policies toward China more closely with the United States.
Frederiksen stated that Europe needs to reduce its dependence on China, noting that relying on a country when values and interests do not always align is a mistake.
She further mentioned that the European Commission, under the leadership of President Ursula von der Leyen, shares the same perspective, reflecting views heard from the European Commission.
Denmark and four other countries are set to become non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council starting January 1st next year, serving a two-year term. Amid multiple crises such as those in Ukraine and the Middle East, this country with a population of 6 million will play a pivotal role in the international diplomatic system. The other four countries include Greece, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia.
The UN Security Council is responsible for maintaining international peace and security, composed of 15 member states, with 5 permanent members including the UK, China, France, Russia, and the US, who possess veto power. Non-permanent members do not have veto power.
Due to China and Russia exercising their veto power, the institution has been increasingly paralyzed in making meaningful decisions.