EU top diplomat postpones China trip after positive COVID test

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has postponed a planned trip to China, after testing positive for COVID-19.

The top diplomat was scheduled to travel to China from Thursday to Saturday, following last week’s visit by European Commission boss Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron.

“I have tested positive for COVID-19 and therefore unfortunately will need to postpone my visit to China,” Borrell tweeted. “I am feeling well and have no symptoms.”

Borrell was meant to conduct the annual EU-China strategic dialogue with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, and meet China’s foreign policy chief Wang Yi, as well as the new Defense Minister Li Shangfu.

Macron triggered a backlash from Western allies during his trip last week, telling POLITICO in an interview that Europe must reduce its dependency on the United States and avoid getting dragged into a confrontation between China and the U.S. over Taiwan.