China zeroing in on Hungary, the weak link

In China’s standard, its relations with Hungary are the third most important foreign relations after Russia and Pakistan.

AN PYEONG-EOKThe author is a professor of international relations at Daegu University. “I support the independent foreign policy of Hungary,” said Chinese President Xi Jinping on his visit to Europe from May 5 to 10. The official visit to Hungary on May 8 and 9 was the last leg of the trip. Xi praised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for his pro-China, pro-Russian foreign policy.

In a joint press conference, Orban responded that he supports China’s peace agreement initiative on the Ukraine war. The two leaders agreed to elevate bilateral relations to an “all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era.”

Since 2017, the two countries have been developing a “comprehensive strategic partnership.” Here, “all-weather” and “the new era” have been added. In China’s standard, its relations with Hungary are the third most important foreign relations after Russia and Pakistan.

In his first Europe tour in five years, Xi visited Hungary instead of major EU members like Italy and Spain. Hungary is the “weakest link” in Europe. Hungary — a member of both the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) — did not denounce Russia’s Ukraine invasion and continues to import oil from Russia. In February, the EU agreed to provide Ukraine with 50 billion euros ($54 million) in assistance over the next four years. Hungary had opposed the aid for nearly half a year and supported it at the last minute.

For the EU, which cherishes common values, its core principle is member states’ compliance with the rule of law. Orban, who openly supported former U.S. President Donald Trump, has been at odds with the EU over some of his domestic policies that undermine the rule of law. Since his election as prime minister in 2010, Orban has placed the appointments of judges under his administration and sponsored pro-government companies’ acquisition of media companies to help control critical media. The EU froze a part of its budget for Hungary, citing its violation of the rule of law. But after the EU’s assistance to Ukraine was blocked by Hungary for a long time, the EU gave Hungary one third of its 30 billion euro budget that had been put on hold.

With a population of 9.7 million, Hungary has been interfering with the EU’s unity by using its opposition as a weapon, as the EU’s foreign and security policy is determined by its unanimity principle. Coincidentally, Hungary will take over the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of this year. The presidency officially represents the EU together with the European Commission president.

It is noteworthy that Hungry will serve the presidency at a time when Russia’s offensive in the Ukraine war is escalating. A year ago, the European Parliament called Hungary unfit for the rotating presidency and even passed a resolution to present a reasonable solution. As it is a non-binding resolution and there is no alternative, Hungary will be the rotating president for a half year from July. That will help the EU’s Russia policy become loose when it should be stronger and faster.