Under pressure from the United States, the European Union is preparing to offer new punitive measures over Beijing’s changes to Hong Kong’s electoral system, including the possible suspension of EU member states’ extradition agreements with China. However, the measure is still under discussion as some member states fear Beijing will retaliate.
According to four sources quoted by the South China Morning Post, the EU Foreign Affairs Committee will meet next Monday (19) to announce more modest measures that have been agreed upon by the countries, such as increased interaction with civil society in Hong Kong and visits by high-level officials to Hong Kong “when circumstances permit” to facilitate “communication with key stakeholders. But the suspension of the extradition agreement is still under discussion within the EU, as some member states fear reprisals.
A proposal to “welcome potentially oppressed Hong Kong citizens” is also under discussion, including “support for the entry of highly skilled people, students and young people” into the EU.
However, since the EU applies the principle of unanimity when voting on important issues, the vote on the proposal also requires the support of Beijing’s ally Hungary, which usually creates obstacles to China-related resolutions and actions.
Diplomats have said that there is a “fair chance” that the more difficult measures, including the extradition agreement, will be watered down or replaced by something “more vague” and “less confrontational. A senior Western diplomat argued that the measures would be watered down or replaced by “more vague” and “less confrontational” measures.
A senior Western diplomat argued that if all member states except the Czech Republic and Portugal suspend their extradition agreements with Hong Kong, it would be “absurd” for the EU to maintain its extradition agreement with China.
It is reported that 10 member states of the EU have signed extradition treaties with China, including Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania and Spain, but not all of the countries that have signed have implemented them.
In his first visit to Europe since taking office, Secretary of State John Blinken said in March that he would not ask European allies to “choose sides” between the United States and China. According to Taiwan’s Free Times, a senior diplomat said, “Europe and Japan want to remain neutral, but the more the Chinese Communist Party continues its coercive practices, the more we will have to make a choice to pursue our values-based foreign policy. China (CCP) will push Europe into the arms of Biden”.
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