How is Ireland approaching relations with China?

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has used a major foreign policy speech at a Royal Irish Academy conference to set out Ireland’s approach to relations with China. So how is Ireland responding to China, a global superpower with 1.4 billion people, which presents many opportunities but also many risks?

Martin noted recent high-level visits of European Union leaders to China. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and French president Emmanuel Macron were both there last month. He also outlined how Ireland has had much interaction with China on global issues in recent years and, while not always agreeing, this was “open and constructive”.

Martin said: “We were more successful in finding solutions when we were frank in our views and clear with each other about where we were willing to compromise and where we were not.”

He said: “In many ways this is echoed in our bilateral relationship with China.”

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Martin stressed: “It is a relationship that we value” noting economic, education, culture and tourism links.

He also said “We must be clear-eyed about China’s strategic objectives” and how its world view is “different from ours”.

He noted how von der Leyen recently spoke about “the concept of de-risking but not de-coupling”.

Martin said this did not mean “turning our backs on an economic, diplomatic and cultural relationship with China” and there were “many mutually beneficial ties that we can nourish and grow”.

[ Analysis: Ireland strikes moderate tone on China as EU rethinks relationship ]

[ Tánaiste calls on China to use its ‘considerable influence’ to end Russia’s war on Ukraine ]

He said Ireland would continue to support businesses in their engagement with China and to work with the Chinese companies here but “alongside this, we will also work with European Union partners to shore up our economic security”.

The private sector, academia and others “need to reflect on how they can continue to build valuable relationships in China” while also assessing “their level of exposure and identify areas where it may be necessary to de-risk”.

Ireland “will continue to be clear about areas of particular importance to us in our engagement with China”. He went into specifics on the following four issues.

Ukraine

Martin welcomed aspects of a recent Chinese position paper on the war in Ukraine including a reiteration of China’s belief in respecting the sovereignty of all countries, its opposition to the use of nuclear weapons and the importance of international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians.

However, he also said the paper “failed to call out Russia’s aggression”.

He said Chinese president Xi Jinping’s recent state visit to Moscow showed the close ties with Russia.

Martin noted how China has assured Ukraine of its support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders at key moments since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

He called on China to “reflect on this commitment and to use its considerable influence to end Russia’s war”.

The multi-lateral system and Taiwan

Martin said Ireland will “continue to underline our expectations of China that they will honour the existing multi-lateral system.”

He welcomed China’s active participation at the United Nations and other global forums, saying it was “essential”.

But he said China had a responsibility to ensure that its policies – including proposals such as the Global Security Initiative – served to strengthen the existing global security architecture.

[ China says countries that intervene in Taiwan are playing with fire and will eventually get burned ]

He said: “We will also be clear, but the maintenance of stability and the status quo in relation to Taiwan is critical.

“Any attempt to change the status quo by force would not be acceptable.”

He said that Ireland adhered to the “One China policy” which means it did not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan and it recognised the People’s Republic of China as the legal representative of China. “That is not in question.

“But this does not preclude the development of economic, cultural and people-to-people connections with Taiwan”.

Partnership with China on global challenges

Martin said partnership with China on global challenges remained “a necessity” and it was a “key interlocutor” on health, climate change and the delivery of international Sustainable Development Goals.

He noted China was the world’s largest CO2 emitter, adding, “It is an economic powerhouse that can deliver and indeed is delivering innovative solutions to mitigate the climate crisis.”

Ireland will continue to ask China “to step up” to a leadership role.

Human rights

Martin said Ireland would “continue to prioritise the preservation and promotion of human rights”.

He highlighted how former UN commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet published an assessment of the human rights situation in the Chinese region of Xinjiang.

Martin said the findings were “stark” and it “reported that the scale of the arbitrary and discriminatory detention of members of the Uighur and other predominantly Muslim groups may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity”.

[ Tánaiste to signal need to ‘de-risk’ links between Ireland and China ]

“Such a serious finding demands action.” He said he had raised the report directly with his Chinese counterparts “urging compliance” with the report’s recommendations.

“Ireland’s message on human rights will remain consistent whether in relation to Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong or elsewhere – China has an obligation to act in a manner that ensures full respect for the rule of law.”

He added: “China like every other UN member state must comply with its human rights obligations.”