Wang Yi Makes Roving Visits to Various Countries; China and Russia Fully Launch “Hybrid Warfare” in Europe

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks at a press conference for domestic and foreign journalists during the National People's Congress and Two Sessions held in Beijing, China, on March 7, 2024. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

[People News] The Europe Subcommittee of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee recently held a hearing titled “Hybrid Warfare Against U.S. Interests in Europe: The Strategies of Moscow and Beijing.” In his opening remarks, Subcommittee Chairman Keith Self warned that the “hybrid warfare” launched by Russia and China (the Chinese Communist Party, CCP) in Europe against the interests of the United States and its allies has already fully unfolded. Experts pointed out that the purpose of Sino-Russian “hybrid warfare” is to split Western unity and create strategic paralysis across the free world, and that the CCP is the maker of global trouble and the chief culprit.

According to NATO’s (North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO) definition, “hybrid warfare” refers to a combination of military and non-military means, covert and overt methods, including the dissemination of false information, cyberattacks, economic pressure, deployment of irregular armed forces, and the use of regular troops. The “hybrid warfare” model aims to blur the boundary between war and peace, attempting to sow doubt among target populations, with the ultimate goal of undermining and destabilizing society as a whole.

The CCP Continues to Wage Hybrid Warfare in Europe

From the 12th to the 16th of this month, CCP Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan in the Middle East. Throughout his visits to the three countries, Wang Yi lashed out at Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi while on the move, conveying the CCP’s set narrative that “Japan seeks to change the status quo of Taiwan,” claiming that “indulging ‘Taiwan independence’ will allow various separatist forces internationally to throw the world into chaos.” A few days earlier, Wang Yi had been rushing nonstop among European political leaders in France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and other countries, using both pressure and inducements to force these countries to align with the CCP in statements involving Japan and Taiwan, expanding the scope of support. Analysts point out that this is very likely intended to confuse public opinion ahead of a potential CCP attack on Taiwan in 2027 and to wage cognitive warfare.

In terms of economic pressure, the CCP uses rare earths as a weapon, issuing threats across Europe and the United States—on the one hand seeking to unite with the European Union to counter U.S. tariff hikes, and on the other attempting to play vertical and horizontal alliances within the EU, breaking countries one by one. Tightening at times and loosening at others—for example, previously claiming it would not export rare earths, but today (the 18th), at a routine press conference of the CCP Ministry of Commerce, spokesperson He Yadong said that some applications by Chinese exporters for general licenses to export rare earths have already been approved. Carrying large sacks of “the people’s currency” and “brandishing swords” everywhere—sanctioning one company one moment, raising taxes on another product the next… At the same time, CCP enterprises embed themselves in ports, logistics hubs, telecommunications networks, data centers, and renewable energy supply chains for advance deployment, aiming to artificially create strategic dependence. When European countries touch Beijing’s political red lines, the CCP applies pressure, implements informal trade blockades and counter-sanctions, and threatens to restrict market access. For example, on December 16, the CCP Ministry of Commerce announced that starting December 17, tariffs ranging from 4.9% to 19.8% would be imposed on EU pork imports.

In terms of cyberattacks, France, Germany, and the Netherlands have all accused Beijing of launching cyberattacks against them. Last week, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Sichuan Anxun Information Technology Co., Ltd. and Integrity Technology Group on the grounds of cyberattacks. The CCP cried thief while shouting thief, angrily denouncing the UK and the US, claiming that it itself is the largest victim of Anglo-American cyberattacks and that the UK and US are colluding in disgrace. Subsequently, Norway also stated that it is seriously concerned about malicious cyber activities carried out by certain Chinese information security companies. Many European countries suspect that the CCP’s cyberattacks aim to steal technology and information, conduct espionage activities, and paralyze the operation of other societies. For example, the construction of an extremely large embassy in the UK has been suspected of being intended to facilitate CCP espionage activities.

In addition, CCP vessels have been accused of involvement in cable-cutting incidents in the Baltic Sea, and have also been accused by EU government officials and NATO member states of being part of the CCP’s hybrid warfare and sabotage operations. A CCP bulk carrier named “Yipeng 3,” belonging to “Ningbo Yipeng Shipping Co., Ltd.,” deliberately dragged its anchor while sailing for 100 miles in waters near Öland Island, Sweden, cutting two Baltic data cables, causing the “BCS East–West Interlink” subsea cable connecting Lithuania and Sweden to be “severed.” At the same time, the C-Lion1 subsea data communications cable connecting Finland and Germany broke in the same area of the Baltic Sea, disrupting telecommunications services in both countries.

The Awakening of European and American Experts

William R. Keating, the ranking Democratic member of the Europe Subcommittee, said, “We are in a state of war. As the world enters a new era of fifth-generation warfare, malicious actors—including the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China—are using every means possible to undermine the interests of the United States and its allies. China and Russia are using diplomatic, informational, military, and economic means to intimidate, harass, and undermine NATO member states, other countries, institutions, and societies. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the ‘complexity and persistence’ of these new strategies by China and Russia have only increased.”

William R. Keating said: “Russia and China (the CCP state) have rapidly formed an alliance, continuously refining their respective operational playbooks to exploit vulnerabilities, manipulate political opinion, and weaken our shared transatlantic values.”

“Beijing is attempting to weaken the EU through bilateral economic cooperation with countries such as Hungary and Serbia, coerce allies and partners to recognize Taiwan, weaken Europe’s ability to resist cyberattacks, and sow doubt within our democratic institutions,” Keating said.

Experts pointed out that the CCP’s hybrid warfare against Europe far exceeds that of Russia. In terms of disinformation propaganda, the two have an increasingly close symbiotic relationship; however, the CCP has more tools, greater scope and intensity, and more severe consequences.

Craig Singleton, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), said that China (the CCP) is attempting to create a “more divided and distracted” Europe through a “divide and rule” approach, thereby creating strategic advantages for the future, undermining the resolve of countries on both sides of the Atlantic, and thus evading U.S.-led countermeasures. He explained that through united front work and inter-party relations, as well as norm-shaping tools such as Confucius Institutes and loosely regulated research cooperation, the CCP infiltrates Europe’s networks, political systems, and information space—for example, by providing microelectronics and other dual-use civilian–military materials to Russia during its war against Ukraine. “The two countries are implementing a set of complementary hybrid strategies.”

Christopher Walker, vice president of the Center for European Policy Analysis, pointed out at the same hearing that Beijing plays a key role in Russia’s non-traditional military “shadow war” against Europe.

“China (the CCP) is a key enabler of Russia’s and Moscow’s ‘shadow war.’ These two authoritarian states share common interests: to split Western unity and create strategic paralysis across the free world—so long as they are able to do so,” he said.

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