EU's Borrell: Russia-China Partnership Has Limits

European Commission vice-president in charge for High-Representative of the Union for Foreign Policy and Security Policy Josep Borrell speaks to journalists ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) at the EU headquarters in Brussels on March 20, 2023. (AFP)
European Commission vice-president in charge for High-Representative of the Union for Foreign Policy and Security Policy Josep Borrell speaks to journalists ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) at the EU headquarters in Brussels on March 20, 2023. (AFP)
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EU's Borrell: Russia-China Partnership Has Limits

European Commission vice-president in charge for High-Representative of the Union for Foreign Policy and Security Policy Josep Borrell speaks to journalists ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) at the EU headquarters in Brussels on March 20, 2023. (AFP)
European Commission vice-president in charge for High-Representative of the Union for Foreign Policy and Security Policy Josep Borrell speaks to journalists ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) at the EU headquarters in Brussels on March 20, 2023. (AFP)

China's partnership with Russia has limits, despite rhetoric to the contrary, and Europe should welcome any attempts by Beijing to distance itself from Moscow's war in Ukraine, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Friday.

Borrell's remarks followed a summit this week between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders declared a "no limits" partnership in February 2022, just days before Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

But Borrell said that while China had forged close economic and diplomatic ties with Russia, it had not formed a military alliance with Moscow and had not supplied arms to help Russia with its war in Ukraine.

"This unlimited friendship seems to have some limits," Borrell told reporters in Brussels.

"China has not crossed any red lines for us."

Borrell also said he would visit China soon, although the date of the trip is still to be finalized. The visit makes him one of a series of European Union leaders heading for China.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is planning to visit next week while French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the EU's chief executive, will travel there together the following week.

Borrell said Beijing's proposals to end the war showed it did not want to fully align with Russia and the EU should welcome this, even if Western officials have made clear they do not regard Beijing's initiative as a fully-fledged peace plan.

He said China wanted to play the role of a "facilitator", rather than a mediator.

As Russia has welcomed China's proposals, "China appears in a role that I think we should push," Borrell said.



Three Killed in Thai Police Helicopter Crash

This aerial view shows vehicles driving on a highway between Khlong Toei slum (L) and high-rise buildings (R) in Bangkok on May 20, 2025. (AFP)
This aerial view shows vehicles driving on a highway between Khlong Toei slum (L) and high-rise buildings (R) in Bangkok on May 20, 2025. (AFP)
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Three Killed in Thai Police Helicopter Crash

This aerial view shows vehicles driving on a highway between Khlong Toei slum (L) and high-rise buildings (R) in Bangkok on May 20, 2025. (AFP)
This aerial view shows vehicles driving on a highway between Khlong Toei slum (L) and high-rise buildings (R) in Bangkok on May 20, 2025. (AFP)

Three people died when a police helicopter crashed and burst into flames in south central Thailand on Saturday, according to officials.

The Bell 212 aircraft belonging to the Kanchanaburi Police Aviation Unit came down near a village in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

Two pilots and a mechanic on board died, according to a statement by the Royal Thai Police.

Rescue workers told AFP that firefighters had extinguished the fire, but the cause of the crash is unknown.

In the statement the police expressed condolences and said police chief Kitrat Panphet had ordered an immediate investigation and compensation to the families.