Czech PM wants to do away with EU's "unhealthy dependence" on China

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said after Friday's EU leaders' summit that the European Union should rid itself of its dependence on China in areas which make the union vulnerable to blackmail, adding that such dependence is unhealthy and dangerous. However, he also said that the EU should not completely break off economic and diplomatic relations with the country.

At the summit, EU heads of state debated how to approach Beijing amid its increasing threats against Taiwan and the expected consolidation of President Xi Jinping's unchallenged position as the country's leader at the ongoing Chinese Communist Party Congress.

Some EU leaders want to take a firmer stance towards China, while others, notably Germany, are wary of being too confrontational. The importance of human rights and democracy was emphasised by many, but no concrete conclusions were reached.