China has nominated its Ambassador to Israel to be its next envoy to the European Union, aiming to fill a vacancy that has been open since March. Cai Run, in Tel Aviv since 2021, is filling a post vacant since Ambassador Fu Cong left Brussels four months ago to become Beijing’s Representative at the United Nations. Cai Run, a career diplomat, is expected to take up his position in September, the South China Morning Post has learned. Between 2015 and 2020, Ambassador Cai was China’s envoy to Portugal and, between various stints in Beijing, spent several years as a Minister Counsellor at China's embassy in the United States.
He returns to Europe at a crunch time in the EU’s relationship with China, which has nosedived due to China’s alleged support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. China proclaims to be neutral in the war, but according to the U.S. and the EU it is on Russia's side by exporting dual-use products that have military applications. Cai will also need to deal with an escalating series of trade disputes. The European Commission imposed tariffs of up to 38.1% on the import of Chinese-made electric vehicles to counter perceived state subsidies in its supply chain. Cai’s nomination is still to be approved by the European External Action Service. Cai will arrive in Brussels at a time of flux. While European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to win a second term in office after a vote in the European Parliament and other top roles will change hands. Former Portuguese President Antonio Costa, whose time in office coincided with Cai’s tenure in Lisbon, is to succeed Charles Michel as President of the European Council.
