EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell was present to show solidarity with the sanctioned entities and persons
The European Parliament held an anti-communist sanctions meeting on April 28 in response to counter-sanctions imposed by the Chinese government against European Union entities, European Parliament institutions and EU parliamentarians. Some members of Parliament spoke out against the sanctions and vowed to prevent the adoption of the EU-China Investment Agreement.
The European Parliament cancelled a meeting scheduled for March 23 to review the EU-China Investment Agreement after strong opposition to the Communist Party’s counter-sanctions in Europe. Most of the major political parties in the Parliament also formally announced that they would not support the EU-China Investment Agreement if the Chinese Communist Party’s sanctions remain in place.
The European Parliament held an anti-Communist sanctions meeting on the 28th, where more than 30 parliamentarians spoke out against China’s counter-sanctions as a killing of European democracy. Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who was present at the meeting, expressed solidarity with the sanctioned entities and individuals. He said, “Perhaps it is difficult for the Chinese to understand what it means for members of parliament to express their views freely. They can strongly criticize anything, even me.”
For his part, Reinhard Butikofer, head of the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with China, who is also on the Communist Party’s sanctions list, stressed that “the sanctions imposed by the Chinese Communist Party in this parliamentary session are not a coincidental event; they are an attack on the core of European democracy and mark a new peak in the Communist Party’s aggressive seizure of power.” He said Xi’s regime is increasingly behaving like a rogue and disregarding international law. Communist Emperor Xi Jinping and his minions have not only confronted Europe, but also made enemies of India, the United States, Australia, the Philippines, Japan, Canada, Britain, Taiwan and plunged African countries into debt. Beijing is doing this because the CCP believes it is now strong enough.
He argues that counter-threats are not a distant utopia, and that the inspiration of people like Sakharov Prize winner Ilham Tohti has set an example for the EU in this anti-democratic, anti-human rights struggle against the Chinese Communist Party.
Reinhard Butikofer, head of the European Parliament delegation on China relations, who is also on the China sanctions list (AFP photo)
European parliamentarians also criticized EU Executive Committee officials for prioritizing business relations with China at the expense of human rights, allowing the Chinese Communist Party to use economics to threaten politics. In particular, the parliamentarians stressed the threat of Chinese Communist Party sanctions to prevent the adoption of the EU-China Investment Agreement.
French MP Raphaël Glucksmann was also the target of Chinese sanctions. He spoke forcefully, saying, “We will never give in and back down, we will never give in to this regime that has put millions of people in concentration camps and wants us to shut up.” He criticized the Chinese Communist Party, a dictatorship, for trying to dictate the agenda of the European Parliament by means of sanctions. The Human Rights Committee was attacked because it does not want to answer questions of humanity, but it intends to continue discussions with the International Trade Committee because it is very fond of talking about money.
He stressed that under sanctions, the European Parliament should refuse to vote on the debate on the EU-China investment agreement and that the dignity of the European Parliament must be present, after all, the dignity of the European people represented by the MPs is at stake.
French MEP Raphaël Glucksmann is also the target of Chinese Communist sanctions
For her part, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson responded to the parliamentarians in her conclusion by saying that our economic interests will not prevent the European Union from continuing to defend human rights. If we want to make progress in all areas of interest, including human rights, we must remain open to dialogue and engagement with China.
Both Borrelli and Johnson insisted, however, that the EU must continue to engage with China to make progress on issues of common concern while also remaining firm on EU values. They are pleased to see U.S. allies using the exact same approach to dealing with China.
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