Micheál Martin's China visit leaves Tánaiste with plenty of food for thought
Before leaving for his visit to China, Tánaiste Micheál Martin had ruffled a few feathers on home soil with the Chinese embassy. But after a four-day visit to the country, it seems he has some reflecting to do.
In a speech earlier this year, Mr Martin said the private sector and the government needed to be “clear-eyed” and “realistic” about China's strategic objectives and their implications for Ireland.
He said the process of “de-risking” is not confined to government and the private sector, academic and other stakeholders, while building relationships with China should increase their awareness of their level of exposure and de-risk where necessary. He added this does not mean turning our backs on the economic, diplomatic, and cultural relationship with China.
Nonetheless, his comments left a bad taste in the mouths of those inside the Chinese embassy on Ailesbury Road in Dublin. The embassy also said Mr Martin had made damaging comments, potentially risking a bright future for the Emerald Isle and the superpower. The Chinese ambassador, in an interview with the in recent weeks, was at pains to point out the annoyance at Mr Martin’s comments about de-risking and suggested Ireland was being influenced by America, which he describes as “American fever”—something the Tánaiste rejected this week.
It was apparent at the beginning of this visit that Ireland is at odds with China on many hot topics, particularly human rights issues. While meeting the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi—one of the more significant events during his four-day visit to China—Mr Martin and his officials were left surprised by the length of time the two ministers spent with one another, covering a wide depth of issues.
The meeting was described as “constructive” and speaking to the media later that evening in Beijing, Mr Martin said there was a lot of back and forth on human rights issues.
Mr Wang was very much open to listen to Mr Martin’s perspective but he rejected the findings of a report by UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet regarding members of the Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minority communities in Xinjiang. Mr Martin made the point that the report should have been discussed at the UN Human Rights Council. China, of course totally refutes the findings within the report which have been described as “stark”.
Mr Martin also wanted to explain to Mr Wang what exactly he meant by de-risking. He told media he was conscious that language can be misconstrued and wanted to be clear that Europe was not decoupling from China. Against a global backdrop of conflict, energy crisis, and supply chain disruption, all states have an obligation to understand and address their vulnerabilities and to build economic resilience—that’s what the EU’s de-risking agenda is about, explained Mr Martin.
His comments and repeated explanation of de-risking in his speech while on the trip appeared to mark a softening in his approach to China.
And as the four days rolled on, Mr Martin’s view towards the country definitely shifted. Chinese government representatives stating gloablisation is irreversible was a key message that stood out to him, something he described as significant.
Throughout the political and diplomatic engagements, Mr Martin and his team also noticed a definitive shift in tone from Chinese officials towards the US. It too has softened. A post-pandemic reckoning, one Irish official commented.
Many would say China really couldn’t care what Ireland’s view is on political and global issues but that didn’t stop the Tánaiste outlining his country’s position on matters such as the war in Ukraine and in the Middle East.
Mr Martin raised with Mr Wang whether China could put pressure on Russia to withdraw from Ukraine. There were numerous speeches by the Tánaiste throughout his visit to Beijing and Shanghai and almost all referenced the conflict between Israel-Gaza and Ukraine.
He hoped Chinese students at the Irish Studies Centre at Beijing Foreign Studies University would listen to Ireland’s message on such events. He told the 200 students how China and the EU don’t always agree and take different approaches to matters, mention of such issues appeared to have left Chinese staff working on the visit with the Irish embassy a little nervous.
Prior to the visit there, reporters were told not to speak to students or teachers—a message, it appeared, that came from the university authorities. However, once on-site that rule didn’t follow through and staff and teachers were particularly interested in explaining how up to 30 Chinese citizens choose to learn how to speak Gaeilge at the campus every year.
Mr Martin, who was visiting the country in his capacity as foreign affairs minister, also raised climate change and although said he was impressed by the rapid development of clean technologies in China, Ireland will continue to ask China to step up to a leadership role on other aspects of climate action, including reducing fossil fuel use and phasing out coal.
One thing both countries are on the same page about is the importance of trade co-operation.
Trade between both countries has increased significantly, hitting about €40bn in goods and services in two-way trade. The Chinese market is wide open for Ireland at this time, in particular for whiskey, as well as specialised nutrition for adults due to China’s aging population.
Ireland House in the heart of Shanghai, which Mr Martin officially opened on Thursday, is home to Bord Bia. Mr Martin heard about the success of Irish businesses driving Irish products to the Chinese market. Extremely important for a tiny nation.
Just hours before hopping on a plane, Mr Martin was asked had his views changed on China at all over the four days.
“I think there's certainly food for thought and I have to process it because it's been so fast,” he told reporters.
“What I'm gathering really in my days here is from the political discussions… people were speculating as to whether China was going to withdraw into itself. I certainly don't get any sense of that this week.
“It was very definitively said to us China is open. Words like 'globalisation is irreversible' have been said to me more times this week, which I think is significant in itself."
The Chinese will certainly hail Mr Martin’s visit as a success following those remarks.
