Poland Threatens to Block Chinese Rail Route Over Migration Crisis

Poland has issued a stern warning to China, threatening to shut down a vital Chinese railway export route to the European Union if Beijing does not help reduce the flow of illegal migrants from Belarus.

During his state visit to China in late June, Polish President Andrzej Duda linked the migration issue with cargo transit at the Belarusian border. Bloomberg reports that this intervention has led to a significant drop in illegal border crossings from Belarus to Poland. Duda reportedly pressed Chinese officials, saying, "Poland will not tolerate the manipulation of migration flows to destabilize our borders."

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenko has been accused of creating a migration crisis along the 400-kilometer border with Poland for the past three years. Tensions escalated in May when a migrant killed a Polish border guard, prompting Warsaw to pledge about USD 2.5 billion to strengthen the border. The situation is further complicated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has made Belarus a crucial rail link for Chinese goods heading to the EU. Container volumes through Belarus increased by 89 percent in the first quarter of 2024. Lukashenko has welcomed this boost as it reduces Belarus' reliance on Russia.

Following Duda's return from Beijing, Poland temporarily slowed rail transit through the Malaszewicze checkpoint on the Belarusian border for 33 hours. Lukashenko acknowledged that Duda had urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to pressure him and Russian President Vladimir Putin to curb the flow of migrants. China's Foreign Ministry responded by expressing hope for dialogue to resolve differences and ensure the safety of international logistics channels.

Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Semoniak announced that the number of illegal border crossings from Belarus has dropped by 70 percent since early June, highlighting the effectiveness of Poland's diplomatic and strategic measures.

Source: Bloomberg, ZN,UA