Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Ukraine:

China is not a party directly involved. We do not have the final say.

What we are doing is promoting talks for peace.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Ukraine:

Europe should not watch this from the sidelines. Right here in Munich last year, when engagement with Russia began, Europe seemed to be left watching from the sidelines.

And I said then that since the conflict broke out here in Europe, Europe has every right to participate in the negotiations in due course.

I said that Europe should not be on the menu, but at the table.

Now we see that Europe has found the courage to talk with Russia. This is good, and we support it.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi:

We believe that history moves forward despite twists and turns.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi:

China and the EU are partners, not systemic rivals or strategic competitors.

Today, the trade volume of a single day exceeds the total trade volume of the first year after we established diplomatic relations. So why should China suddenly be labeled a rival of the EU?

I believe this is a very negative way of thinking, and it does no good.

We do not want to see the amplification of the so-called “systemic rival” narrative, because it would be toxic for the future development of China–EU relations.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi:

I do not believe that the situation in the Asia-Pacific is becoming increasingly tense.

In fact, Asia is probably the only region that maintains overall peace.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi:

The Japanese Prime Minister publicly stated that a Taiwan contingency could constitute a survival-threatening situation that might trigger the use of collective self-defense.

This is the first time in 80 years that a Japanese Prime Minister has made such remarks. It directly violates China’s territorial sovereignty and directly challenges the fact that Taiwan has been returned to China.

It completely violates Japan’s commitments to China.

Could China possibly accept such a provocation? No—no Chinese person could accept it.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi:

After WW2, Germany conducted a thorough reckoning with Nazi crimes and passed laws banning speech and actions that promote Nazi ideology.

But Japan still pays homage to Class A war criminals, who are enshrined as so-called “heroic spirits.”

This suggests that Japan still harbors lingering ambitions regarding Taiwan, and that the ghost of militarism continues to haunt the country.

The lessons of history are not far behind us.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Japan:

If you go back down that old road, it will be a dead end.

If you try gambling again, the loss will be faster and more devastating.

EU's von der Leyen:

Some may say that the word “independence” runs counter to our transatlantic bond.

The opposite is true, and we have just heard it from Secretary of State Rubio.

EU's von der Leyen:

The time has come to bring Europe’s mutual defense clause to life.

Mutual defense is not an optional task for the European Union; it is an obligation under our own treaty—Article 42.7—and for good reason.

It is our collective commitment to stand by each other in the event of aggression—simply put, one for all and all for one.

EU's von der Leyen to Starmer:

Ten years from Brexit, our futures are as bound as ever.

EU's von der Leyen:

Each and every one of our policies needs a clear security dimension in this “new world order.”

EU's von der Leyen:

As they say in Ukraine: you change or you die.

We must adopt this mantra as well.

EU’s von der Leyen:

We have all agreed to spend more. Now we need to get the money out the door and turn it into real defense capabilities.

Some ask whether we can afford this. I say we cannot afford not to.

Keir Starmer:

It is true that Russia has made a huge strategic blunder in Ukraine, and that Russian casualties number well over a million.

But even as the war continues, Russia is rearming and reconstituting its armed forces and industrial base.

Even in the event of a peace deal in Ukraine—which we are all working hard to achieve—Russia’s rearmament would likely only accelerate. The wider danger to Europe would not end there; it would increase.

So we must respond to this threat in full.

Keir Starmer:

We must build our hard power, because that is the currency of our age.

We must be able to deter aggression—and, yes, if necessary, we must be ready to fight, to do whatever it takes to protect our people, our values, and our way of life.

Keir Starmer:

We are no longer the Britain of the Brexit years...

Keir Starmer:

There is no British security without Europe, and no European security without Britain.

That is the lesson of history—and it remains today’s reality.

Keir Starmer:

The U.S. remains an indispensable ally. Its contribution to European security over the past 80 years is unparalleled—and so is our gratitude.

At the same time, we recognize that things are changing.

The U.S. national security strategy makes clear that Europe must take primary responsibility for its own defense. That is the new normal.

Keir Starmer:

Rather than pretending that we can simply replace all U.S. capabilities, we should focus on diversifying and reducing certain dependencies.

We should deliver generational investments—moving from overdependence to interdependence.

Keir Starmer:

I say to all NATO members: our commitment to Article 5 is as profound now as ever.

And be in no doubt—if called upon, the UK would come to your aid today.