Remarks from Jobbik MEP Márton Gyöngyösi:
Hungary-China relations have traditionally been good for decades, and it is a well-known fact that Hungary has long been considered as a key partner for China in Central Europe. None of that has ever posed a threat to Budapest’s Euro-Atlantic relations. Until now.
Today the situation is quite different due to a combination of China’s rise and Orbán’s efforts to build of an authoritarian regime.
Perhaps the latest and quite probably the most profitable era of Hungary-China relations began around the time of the communist collapse in Eastern Europe. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Hungary has seen the influx of the Chinese traders who laid the foundations of the populous Chinese community in Budapest. Due to their local knowledge and relations to their motherland, they played a major role in Hungary becoming a key partner for China in the region. By the 2000s, this connection resulted in such significant and widely publicized acts as the opening of the bilingual Hungarian-Chinese school in Budapest.
On the other hand, the genuinely important and favourable Chinese trade and cultural relations were never expected to override Hungary’s political commitment to the West. Neither the former Hungarian governments, nor the Chinese side has ever forced it, but the trend appears to have been changing recently.
The process is driven, at least partly, by China’s changing foreign policy.
Having realized its economic and political power, China has become an increasingly active factor in shaping world politics and wants to assume a growing role in the international arena.
No matter how often we disapprove of China’s methods, we cannot deny Beijing’s right to follow its own interest, just like every other country does. The onus is on China’s partners who should, knowing and understanding all that, conduct such a foreign policy that is in line with their own interests and benefits both parties.
That is why we are increasingly concerned about the process unfolding around the Orbán government. What we see is the formation of a highly unilateral dependence on China, and it has gone beyond the business and cultural sphere. Uniquely among all EU Member States, this dependence has already appeared in the political field, which poses an enormous risk to Hungary as well as the EU.
The first high-profile case was the planned Budapest-Belgrade railway. Funded through Chinese loans, implemented with Chinese technology and mostly carried out by Chinese enterprises, the contracting terms of the supposed project are classified for many years. Every study shows that the Hungarian side would not benefit from this project at all. But China would, and very much, too. The next sign was the Orbán government’s increasingly frequent and friendly statements to side with China in political issues as well. Interestingly enough, the Orbán regime, after having driven the US-founded Central European University out of Hungary by way of administrative measures combined with political accusations against the internationally renowned institution, is now offering hugely preferential treatment to China’s Fudan University, so it could establish a campus in Budapest.
Of course, we must also mention how Orbán has been rejecting the EU’s financial help due to the potentially attached rule of law requirements, while he has no problem taking eastern (likely Chinese) loans to fund the recovery from the pandemic depression.
The list of tell-tale signs goes on with the acquisition of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccines amidst the government’s intensive communication campaign, despite the fact that the Chinese vaccine has not been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). It is common knowledge in Europe that Orbán’s diplomacy regularly blocks the EU from issuing a common statement if it is inconvenient for Beijing. According to the latest reports received the other day, Orbán actually called Chinese president Xi Jinping during the break between two EU meetings to “consult” him before the Hungarian government, as the only Member State to do so, vetoed the EU’s statement to condemn China for cracking down on democracy in Hong Kong.
You might ask how Orbán benefits from a China connection in which he can never become an equal partner. Well, the answer is simple: power. Albeit slowly, the European Union began to give an increasingly firm response to Orbán’s blatantly corrupt and anti-democratic regime. China, on the other hand, sets no requirements in terms of democracy and the rule of law.
Having lost all his European allies for good, Orbán is now looking at the seemingly realistic scenario of shifting his loyalty from Europe to China so he could continue governing Hungary under Beijing’s protection.
When it comes to the European Union however, such a move is far more than just a mistaken foreign policy idea of a medium-sized country. It is an increasingly visible and palpable threat to Europe, too. Beijing is not interested in the EU becoming a united and strong community. As far as sabotaging the EU is concerned, such politicians as Orbán are an excellent fit for the job. Their modus operandi has already been demonstrated when they sabotaged the EU’s foreign policy, but I’m afraid that’s just the beginning. Orbán no longer has any moral reservations in terms of keeping his power at all costs, especially now when he is more likely to lose than ever, since his opposition has united its forces for the 2022 national elections.
The people of Hungary still trust Europe.
The question is: what is Europe going to do about the growing Chinese influence and politicians acting as Beijing’s agents, like Orbán?
Source: Gyöngyösimárton.com
8 comments
And who do the lap dog Jobbik members belong too? Why that would be Gyorgy Soro’s the International criminal. No Thanks! Hungary does not need Jobbik or the Chinese meddling in Hungary.
Yes, Hungary has become China’s puppet. Nobody trusts the motives of China. Anything they do is for their own self interest. For such a closed country they do like to meddle in others.
Small correction: has become, not has became.
Thank you. It is corrected now.
Is it possible that Mario is Anonymous as well?
Does it give you a high to keep on correcting the way others use English.
Perhaps it is because English is the ONLY language you can master.
I have always read Mr. Gyöngyösi’s article with interest.
Most of the time he has shown himself being able to see the situation in an analytical manner.
This time the POLITICIAN is quite overwhelming -as a result- we can see the BIAS.
Most politicians loose connection with the PUBLIC.
The majority of Hungarians DO NOT WISH TO BE INTEGRATED IN ANY WAY with the EU or any other country or ideology.
Hungary just wants trading partners from any part of the globe if it is reciprocal.
China has become a major power today in every manner.
Why, because of the COMBINED GREED OF THE WEST.
Mr Gyöngyösi, ORBAN IS DOING BRILLIANTLY, GIVEN THE SITUATION HUNGARY IS IN.
HE HAS HIS FINGER ON THE PULSE OF HIS PEOPLE.
HENCE HIS APPROVAL-RATING.
Political attacks by China on Hungary zero!
Political attacks by
EU Everyday
Germany Every week
Sweden Every Week
Holland Every Week
Even USA now is attacking Hungary on political grounds on a regular basis.
So, which one is your friend?
Hungary is not important enough in the eyes of China.
Hungary – most definitely – does NOT want to, nor has any intention to become China’s puppet.
For goodness sake, we trade with a lot of countries big and small.
The EU wants to “forbid” any of the member states to trade with any country without prior approval.
Hungary dared to trade without “big brothers’s” approval ??!!
THAT IS THE REAL RESON BEHIND THE REMARKS.
Buying LIFESAVING VACCINES from ANY country doesn’t make Hungary China’s PUPPET.
There is no doubt that China IS powerful and is secretive and could create a “problem” in the future.
Therefore yes, we have to tread with caution.