European Parliament clamors for tougher line on China
Some members of the European Parliament are continuously raising the demand for protection of Taiwan’s sovereignty and are urging the EU to reduce its reliance on China and to display a tougher and more united stance toward Beijing. For a change a few Europeans are taking the right kind of stand. Otherwise many Europeans members had started taking the path of least resistance and only supporting those trade activities which were mutually beneficial to China-EU ties.
Some experts in Europe warned that to deal with irresponsible acts of China against Taiwan, Tibet, Quighers and the people of Hong Kong, Europe should make efforts to let the Chinese know that trade and business is not everything. Europe was capable of looking after itself and so would look for markets elsewhere.
After the frictions over China’s Xinjiang-related affairs in March, caused by the EU’s accusations on the Xinjiang-related affairs and sanctions against Chinese officials and entities, Europe’s pro democracy forces, have recently raised a new topic – the Taiwan question – to further Check China regardless of its effect on the China-EU ties.
Even Lithuania a very small country among EU members defied China and questioned its reprehensible acts.
Reinhard Butikofer, a German member of the European Parliament has warned European leaders of the risk of China’s “divide and conquer” strategy. As a result, a peeved China has sanctioned him due to this China-EU frictions on Xinjiang,
Butikofer has argued that “Germany and France should restrain from ‘selfishly’ looking to guide EU-China relations.” He warned that EU member states should agree to a united position on the issue of China and said that the EU in recent times has moved forward collectively on a number of fronts to face down Beijing, Bütikofer’s remarks reflect some voices in the EU that there should be a united front against China’s influence.
Though the EU understands that a united front does not necessarily mean confrontation but this depends more on China than on Europe.
Whereas as per Chinese analysts all this has happened because it was China’s firm retaliation in fighting back on EU sanctions on the Xinjiang-related affairs, and then the escalating tensions between China and Lithuania on the Taiwan question. Lithuania is seeking support from the EU, therefore some anti-China politicians have taken the opportunity to further hype the ‘China threat’ theory.
The Chinese analyst has added that politicians like Bütikofer are trying to gain influence on the future direction of China policy after Germany’s September federal election, which adds uncertainties to China-Germany ties and the China-EU ties.
It is quite clear that future China-Europe relations will be more complex and turbulent, as more conflicts which had existed for a long time may surface, a result of the changing attitude from the EU that is becoming tougher towards Chinese anti democracy actions. The EU therefore may make a few high tech things inaccessible to China and also sanction similar high value-added strategic industries in the future.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis recently urged all European countries to cut their reliance on China and question China United on the Taiwan issue. All the 27 EU member states must do this as one voice. He said the Franco-German lead of EU-China relations should be replaced with a “united format” on China.
Other members of the European Parliament are also pushing for a closer ties between the bloc and the island of Taiwan. In fact in frustration China has threatened the use of trade as a weapon in diplomatic disputes.
In fact the EU has begun advocating a sharper edge on business and investments with China, as shown in a series of moves such as an investment review and supply chain security issues, so the EU is not going to take things lying down but ready to retaliate.
Now indications are that China is going to reevaluate bilateral economic relations by strengthening legislation to more strictly review the EU’s investments and business activities in China as the EU has done to China.
China-EU ties are always going to be affected by China-US relations.
