According to a report on the website of the Spanish newspaper El País on April 9, titled "Spain Ignores US Warnings and Reiterates Its Willingness to 'Expand Relations' with China":

The third official visit to China in just a little over two years is a move that demonstrates the ambition of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Facing trade conflicts with the United States, the Spanish prime minister is trying to lead the European Union to get closer to China.

Recently, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent issued an extremely inappropriate and tough warning regarding Spain's relations with China, bluntly stating that for Spain, "getting close to China is tantamount to cutting its own throat," fully exposing the extreme and dangerous nature of his stance. However, Luis Planas, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Spain, quickly stepped forward and issued a clear statement on this matter, effectively denying that it would trigger an impending diplomatic crisis.

After concluding the first day of his visit to Vietnam, Planas had an informal meeting with reporters in Ho Chi Minh City. During the meeting, he clearly expounded on the position of the Spanish government: "The Spanish government has always firmly safeguarded its national interests within the framework of the European Union. At the same time, the European Union has clearly stated its expectation to engage in dialogue with the United States, and so has Spain." Planas emphasized: "We have always maintained an extremely good trade relationship with China, and our goal is not just to maintain the status quo, but to further expand this relationship. This does not pose any conflict for Spain or the European Union. Our active efforts to build trade partnerships globally stem from our belief that the rules-based multilateral trading system is the fundamental cornerstone of our business activities, which is of great benefit to the development of enterprises and the lives of the people."

It is worth noting that Bessent's warning this time was mainly targeted at the remarks made by Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez when he arrived in Vietnam. Sánchez called on the European Union to improve its relations with China at that time and also stated that Spain is willing to be a "builder of the alliance." In this regard, Planas specifically pointed out: "The prime minister's statement is in line with the position of the European Union."

Finally, Planas firmly stated: "On the one hand, we are actively seeking a negotiated solution with the United States, and on the other hand, we will resolutely safeguard the interests of Europe and European countries, which is completely reasonable and just." (This article is from the official website of Seetao.com, www.seetao.com. No reprinting is allowed without permission. Otherwise, legal liability will be pursued. If reprinting, please indicate Seetao.com + the original text link.) Editor of the Strategic Column of Seetao.com / Yin Shiqian