The European Parliament is scheduled to vote on May 20 on a motion to formally freeze the EU’s investment agreement with China. In a move that once again touched a nerve with the Chinese Communist Party, the Foreign Ministry urged the European Parliament on Wednesday to approve the investment agreement as soon as possible.
According to a draft of the motion seen by U.S. media outlet Politico, the motion urges the EU to strengthen coordination with the United States to deal with the Chinese Communist Party, while stressing that any trade deals with Taiwan “should not be held hostage to deals with Beijing.
The draft motion was supported by Europe’s largest political group. The European Parliament has argued that in light of the sanctions imposed by the Chinese Communist Party on European individuals and entities, the EU is justified in freezing any EU consideration of the EU-China Comprehensive Investment Agreement (CIA), as well as any discussion in the European Parliament on ratification of the agreement.
The motion further calls on the European Commission to “use the debate on the EU-China Investment Agreement as leverage to improve human rights protection and support for civil society in China.
Regarding concerns about forced labor in Xinjiang, the motion would reiterate the call for the (European) Commission and the European Ministry of External Commerce to rapidly complete a supply chain business consultation to provide companies with a guide on the potential risks associated with the use of Uyghur forced labor products, and to provide support in urgently identifying alternative sources of supply.
Reuters said the European Parliament vote is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. GMT on Thursday.
In response to the European Parliament’s vote on Thursday on a motion to freeze the EU-China Investment Agreement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Wednesday urged the European Parliament to “ratify it as soon as possible,” saying it is in “the interests of both China and Europe. He also denied that there are any human rights violations in Xinjiang.
Recent Comments