The European Parliament on Thursday (May 20) voted by a large margin to reject any consideration of the EU-China investment agreement as long as Chinese sanctions against MEPs and academics exist. According to the resolution, the parliament that approved the agreement “demands that China lift the sanctions before the Parliament takes up the China-EU Comprehensive Investment Agreement (CAI).
The resolution was adopted by 599 votes in favor, 30 against and 58 abstentions.
Reinhard Butikofer, a German member of the European Parliament, has been critical of the agreement on human rights grounds. He tweeted that the adoption of the resolution by the European Parliament was “very important. He added: “The China-EU Comprehensive Investment Agreement is definitely frozen. China has miscalculated and lifted a stone and smashed its own feet.”
MEPs asked China to lift the sanctions before considering the agreement ‘without prejudice to the final outcome of the ratification process’, the European Parliament said in a statement.
MEPs also reminded the European Commission that they will take into account the human rights situation in China, including Hong Kong, when deciding whether to ratify the agreement.
The statement added that the resolution also mentioned that other trade and investment agreements with regional partners, including Taiwan, should not be affected by the suspension of the ratification of the China-EU Comprehensive Investment Agreement (CEI).
The China-EU Comprehensive Investment Agreement (CEI) is a bilateral investment agreement between China and the European Union. Last December, China suddenly made significant concessions to the EU in a number of key areas that had long been unresolved, leading to the conclusion in principle of the China-EU Comprehensive Investment Agreement with the EU.
Reuters reported that the aborted investment agreement would be a setback for both China and the EU. The two sides have been working for seven years to reach this agreement. Under the agreement, European investments and intellectual property rights in China are given greater protection. China hopes to use this agreement to improve its international standing and become a fair and respected trading partner.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said a day ago: “The China-EU investment agreement is a balanced and mutually beneficial agreement, not a “gift” from one party to the other, but a mutually beneficial one. Early ratification is in the interest of both China and Europe and both sides should make positive efforts to this end.”
In the resolution adopted on Thursday, the European Parliament also strongly condemned the “unfounded” sanctions recently imposed by the Chinese authorities on European individuals and entities, including five members of the European Parliament. The parliamentarians said Beijing’s move was an attack on fundamental freedoms and they urged the Chinese authorities to lift these totally unjustified restrictive measures.
In March, the European Union joined the United States, Britain and Canada in imposing sanctions on a number of Chinese officials over human rights abuses against the Uighur minority in Xinjiang.
The Chinese authorities quickly responded by announcing sanctions against 10 individuals and four entities in Europe, including several members of the European Parliament, leading European think tanks and academics. They have all been active voices on human rights issues in China.
MEPs argue that China’s sanctions are not based on international law, while the EU’s sanctions are aimed at human rights violations, which are protected by UN conventions.
Millions of Uighurs and other Muslim minorities are believed to be held in internment camps in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. They are allegedly subjected to human rights violations in the camps, including torture, forced sterilization, forced abortions, rape and sexual abuse, and political indoctrination. China has consistently denied abusing Uighurs or the existence of detention camps.
MEPs also called for a rebalancing of relations between Europe and China. They support a series of autonomous measures, such as a ban on imports of products produced by forced labor and a strengthening of the EU Foreign Investment Screening Regulation (FISR).
MEPs added that the EU also needs to adequately address China’s cybersecurity threats and hybrid attacks.
Recent Comments