The European Parliament approved an 18-page resolution on “A New EU-China Policy” on Sept.16, calling China an “economic competitor” and a “strategic rival.” The resolution is filled with fake news, slanders and propaganda and prompted a strong response from the Chinese representative at the EU.
EU Parliament resolutions are not binding, however, they do have a political value.
In its introduction, the text says among other things, that “through its strong economic growth and assertive foreign policy agenda, notably its investment strategy, its ‘Going Global’ and ‘Made in China 2025’ policies, and its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China is asserting a stronger global role …which poses serious political, economic, security and technological challenges to the EU, which in turn has significant and long-lasting consequences for the world order, and poses serious threats to rules-based multilateralism and core democratic values.”
(https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0382_EN.html)
It claims that China is keeping more than 1 million Uyghurs in “detention camps, where they are suffering offenses that constitute “alleged genocide” (the “alleged” is just there to avoid a UNSC intervention).
It calls on the EU Special Representative on Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell to “develop a more assertive, comprehensive and consistent EU-China strategy that unites all Member States and shapes relations with China in the interest of the EU as a whole, with the defence of our values at its core and promoting a rules-based multilateral order; underlines that the strategy needs to take into account the multifaceted nature of the EU’s relationship with China; highlights that China is a cooperation and negotiating partner for the EU, but is also an economic competitor and a systemic rival in an increasing number of areas.”
It calls for a dialogue with China on human rights, environment, climate, nuclear disarmament (unilateral, as Europe is not a nuclear power!), reform of multilateral institutions and cooperation in science, technology and innovation provided that China respects the “rules-based international system.”
It emphasizes the need to ensure that China respect its commitments under the Paris Agreement and that the EU introduce a border “carbon adjustment mechanism” as China produces 27% of global emissions. It calls on China to stop exporting its coal capacity, “notably in the framework of the BRI.”
A long paragraph is dedicated to a list of actions on human rights in China, including the appointment of “a new EU Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief Outside the Union.”
It calls on the EU to engage in a dialogue with China on the ways to improve early recognition and control of infectious diseases (the pot calling the kettle black) and for an “independent” investigation on the origin and spread of SARS-CoV-2.
It “urges the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to launch independent legal investigations into alleged genocide, alleged crimes against humanity and human rights violations, including forced labour programmes taking place in several Cujhyhinese regions.” It calls for EU nations to sabotage the Beijing winter Olympics if the human rights situation in China worsens.
It calls for joining forces to build an alternative to the BRI and for monitoring BRI-related events to make sure that those participating are in line with the EU “policies and interests and respect fundamental EU values"; monitoring infrastructure projects to ensure that they are in line with the EU strategy.
It then has a disgusting attack on Italy, without naming it, because Italy signed an MOU to join the Belt and Road in March 2019: “Underlines that the bilateral and uncoordinated engagement of some Member States with China, and the failure to inform the Commission when signing Memoranda of Understanding with third countries, is counterproductive and damaging to the EU’s global position and the advantage its Member States have in the negotiations when acting as a Union rather than independent state actors; asks Member States to refrain from signing any such memoranda without consulting the Council and the Commission; calls for the establishment of a coordination mechanism at EU level to deal with such issues.” Etcetera.
