Italy's support for China's ‘vanity project' provided ‘Beijing with bridge to EU'
Kate Nicholson
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Italy was the first European country to be plunged into crisis when the virus travelled across the world - but the EU was caught short and failed to offer sufficient help. Beijing readily offered its assistance in Brussels' absence, especially as the number of Covid-related deaths in Italy surpassed those in China. The Chinese government and private donors flew 31 tons of essential supplies and equipment, including respirators, masks and medication, in March last year.
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