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Breaking news! Situation escalates, border crossings closed, China-Europe freight train routes obstructed
Release time:
2025-09-15 15:50
Source:
Due to the continuous deterioration of the drone incident, Poland has closed border crossings with Belarus, forcing the China-Europe freight trains to pause.
It is reported that about 300 trains are stranded, and the European supply chain faces risks of price increases and delays.
Cause of the incident
On the night of September 9 local time, a large number of drones entered Polish airspace. The Polish military urgently deployed national and NATO air defense systems, shooting down some drones and closing related airspace and several airports.
Polish Prime Minister Tusk stated that the drones came from Russia. On the 10th, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement denying plans to strike targets within Poland and expressed readiness to consult with the Polish Ministry of Defense.
On September 12, the Polish government announced that Poland would close all border crossings to Belarus starting immediately. The Polish Ministry of Interior stated in a declaration that from 0:00 on the 12th, for national security reasons, all road and rail border crossings to Belarus have been closed.
Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński said that the crossings will only reopen when the government is confident that "the safety of Polish citizens is fully guaranteed."
China-Europe freight train route obstructed
Poland is an important gateway for China-Europe freight trains entering the European Union, with about 90% of China-Europe freight trains transiting or arriving in Poland, playing an extremely important role in promoting economic and trade exchanges and international cooperation between Asia and Europe.
Currently, key nodes such as the Malaszewicze station in Poland have suspended train operations, with many trains and containers stranded. Poland has not announced when the border crossings will reopen, and the backlog of trains may continue to affect Asia-Europe trade.
The European Chamber of Commerce has warned that if the issue is not resolved soon, supply chain prices will definitely rise. The closure is expected to last until the end of September, causing not only delays in cargo transportation but also potential chain reactions in the supply chain.
Many European retailers will face risks of inventory shortages, and some companies are forced to switch to sea and air transport, leading to a certain increase in transportation costs.
On September 11, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference that the China-Europe freight train is a flagship project of China-Poland and China-Europe cooperation, aligning with the common interests of both sides. He hopes Poland will take effective measures to ensure the safe and smooth passage of the trains and maintain the stability of international industrial and supply chains.
Data shows that since the first China-Europe freight train passed through the middle route in 2013, the cumulative number of trains has exceeded 20,000, transporting over 50,000 types of goods covering 53 categories. The variety is extensive, evolving from initial metals, chemicals, clothing, and footwear products to high value-added products such as new energy vehicles, electronics, and household appliances.
From China to Europe, transporting the same batch of goods by China-Europe freight train costs about one-fifth of air freight and takes one-quarter of the time of sea freight.
Currently, the China-Europe freight train middle route operates 73 lines, reaching more than 70 hub stations in over 10 countries including Germany and Poland, covering more than 60 cities in 24 provinces (regions, municipalities) in China.