The People’s Republic of China has offered support to its long-standing strategic partner Hungary on public security issues, surpassing trade and investment relations, during a rare meeting with Prime Minister Viktor Orban, at a time when NATO is struggling to expand its network in Europe.
China hopes to deepen ties in law enforcement and security with Hungary as the two countries mark 75 years of diplomatic relations, Chinese Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong told Orban last week.
During his visit to Budapest, Wang expressed hope that such efforts would be a “new pinnacle” in bilateral relations in areas such as the fight against terrorism and transnational crime.
They would also include the building of security and police capacities under President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to connect China with the world through trade and infrastructure links.
The Chinese security guarantee comes at a time when Hungary, a Russian ally, is working to dilute its dependence on Western countries. It should also be mentioned that Hungary has recently resisted pressure to approve NATO expansion in Europe. Hungary is the only NATO member that has not ratified Sweden’s request to join the security bloc.
China has been critical of NATO, particularly after the bloc said last year that Beijing posed challenges to its interests, security, and values with its “ambitions and coercion policy.”
Chinese state media have called NATO a “serious” challenge to global peace and stability.
A security pact with Hungary represents a diplomatic victory for China in the European Union (EU), as the bloc weighs its ties with the world’s second-largest economy against differences in human rights, trade imbalances, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Hungary’s growing affinity towards Beijing has already driven a wedge into the EU’s collective front.
Hungary has on several occasions stood aside or opposed EU stances critical of China on issues such as human rights, and welcomed Chinese investments despite calls by EU members to align their relations with China in line with those in the bloc.
Hungary is home to Huawei Technologies’ largest logistics and production base outside China, despite warnings from the European Commission that the telecommunications giant poses a risk to EU security.
Hungary will soon host the Chinese automaker BYD, which plans to open its first European factory there, N1 writes.
E.Dz.
