Europe

China’s close ties with Russia should be a “disqualifying factor” in Beijing’s bid to launch talks on a free-trade agreement with the European Union, Finland’s foreign minister has said.

China's response:

China hopes that Finland will view China's normal development of relations with other countries rationally and objectively, maintain an open mind, and refrain from politicizing or over-securitizing economic and trade issues, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular press conference on Friday.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202604/1359713.shtml

Finland's Foreign Minister is trying to break ties between China and Russia. Something even the United States has failed to do.

A nation of five million people. Grappling in the super heavyweight division. The EU and NATO have fostered a dangerous sense of megalomania in Helsinki.

Finland's foreign relations are being handled as poorly as its economy. Both are in crisis. And they are tightly intertwined.

When Finland seeks confrontation instead of cooperation, trade suffers. The economy suffers. The people suffer.

China is now telling Finland to stop politicizing trade. That is not a threat. That is a reality check.

Megalomania is not foreign policy. It is a suicide note.

Reminder:

Finland was neutral. Had close ties with Russia for years. Then Ukraine and the EU happened. They threw it all away.

Finland traded with Russia. Bought cheap energy. Prospered. Respected by East and West.

Then NATO called. Finland abandoned neutrality. Joined NATO. Sanctioned Russia. Threatened China. Cut off energy. Lost trade. Lost tourism. Lost influence.

What did Finland gain? NATO membership. A protection racket. Article 5. The world's biggest bluff.

What did Finland lose? Cheap energy. Russian tourists. Trade. Influence. Economic stability. Social welfare. Sovereignty.

Finland is now the worst performing EU state. Fastest-worsening finances. Highest unemployment. Cutting social welfare. Cities shrinking.

The EU and NATO created megalomania in Helsinki. Five million people acting like a superpower. Threatening China. Sanctioning Russia. Lecturing the world.

China and Russia are not threatened. They are adapting. Finland is isolating itself.

Finland was neutral. Prosperous. Respected.

Then Ukraine and the EU happened.

Now Finland is broke. Broken. And alone.

Neutrality was not cowardice. It was wisdom. Finland forgot that.