Taoiseach Rejects Claims That China Is an Enemy State Ahead of Trade Mission

Dublin: Taoiseach Micheál Martin has rejected remarks by the head of Irish Military Intelligence suggesting that China should be regarded as an enemy state and a threat to Ireland. His comments come ahead of an upcoming trade mission to China.

In an interview published last Sunday, a senior intelligence officer was reported to have made critical remarks about China, including concerns about Chinese nationals studying at Irish universities. The Taoiseach said he did not share that assessment.

Martin acknowledged that China is set to become a major global power and said he is aware of intelligence assessments emerging across Europe and the UK. However, he noted that China has not initiated a war in modern times and stressed the need for deeper understanding of China’s strategic thinking, political culture and long-term approach. He said he had discussed similar issues recently with the Prime Minister of Singapore.

China’s expanding global economic footprint, which has grown steadily over the past four decades, was also discussed at a recent European Council meeting. Martin suggested that Europe has been slow to respond strategically to these developments.

Describing China as the world’s manufacturing centre since the early 2000s, Martin said Ireland must engage constructively to access Asian markets for Irish-produced goods. While highlighting the scale of Ireland’s economic relationship with China, he said there was a need to rebalance it.

He called for a nuanced and complex policy to manage relations between Ireland, the European Union and China, drawing on both the Nordic emphasis on free trade and the French concept of a strategic economy. Martin argued that Europe and the United States should invest more in semiconductor and microprocessor manufacturing, warning that isolation from China would be a “completely wrong approach” given its status as a major power.

Addressing national security, Martin said Ireland’s intelligence services—An Garda Síochána and Defence Intelligence—operate effectively and independently. He noted that risks, including incidents such as drone activity during President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit, are assessed carefully.

The Taoiseach said the National Security Council has proven effective and confirmed that a new joint committee on defence and national security will operate under its remit. He also stated that drones do not pose a direct threat to civilian aircraft and that work is ongoing to equip Irish security services with counter-drone technology.

However, Martin cautioned that hybrid threats cannot be addressed simply through increased spending, stressing the importance of strategic thinking and coordination.

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