White House Deputy National Security Adviser Matthew Pottinger on Wednesday criticized the European Commission’s self-defeating pursuit of investment cooperation with China in spite of the Chinese Communist Party’s human rights violations.
Speaking Wednesday (Dec. 30) at an exchange on transatlantic parliamentary cooperation with China hosted by German Green Party member Reinhard Bütikofer, head of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with China, Pottinger expressed alarm at the EU’s disregard for human rights and focus on interests.
“The leaders of the U.S. political parties and the entire U.S. government are confused and shocked that the EU is moving forward with a new investment agreement (with the Chinese Communist Party) on the eve of the new U.S. administration,” he said. He said. “The European Commission’s rush to work with Beijing in spite of its serious human rights abuses is ripping off a shroud of shame.”
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China, met with EU leaders and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron via video link Wednesday to announce the completion of negotiations on the China-EU investment agreement.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been the main driver of the agreement, pushing EU countries to finalize the much-delayed China-EU investment agreement despite criticism from many quarters. Germany currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Council.
The agreement is expected to give European companies better access to the Chinese market and improve competitive conditions; companies such as large German car companies will benefit even more.
The agreement has also raised questions about the disregard for human rights in China. The European Commission reported Monday on the progress of negotiations with Beijing, including the core issue of labor rights in China.
Under the agreement, the Chinese side is required to commit to complying with International Labor Organisation rules on forced labor.
But the Chinese Communist Party has been forcing labor on detained Uighur Muslims in areas such as Xinjiang, without ever acknowledging it.
Booming was very outspoken in his criticism of the EU leaders’ handling of the human rights issue.
We can no longer fool ourselves into thinking that Beijing will respect labor rights while it continues to build millions of square feet of factories in Xinjiang to force (prisoners) to work,” he said.
“By rushing to cooperate with Beijing despite its serious human rights violations, the European Commission is pulling down a shroud (the fig leave).
“Some European officials and commentators like to say that the Trump (Trump) administration is an obstacle to further and deeper transatlantic cooperation. Now it’s clear to everyone that it’s not a problem for President Trump, it’s a problem for core European officials. Look at yourself in the mirror. There is nothing to hide from the bureaucrats in Brussels or Europe.”
The Sino-European investment agreement still needs to be approved by the European Parliament before it can take effect.
Jake Sullivan, Biden’s nominee for national security adviser, retweeted news of the China-EU investment agreement last week and wrote publicly that the Biden administration “would welcome early consultations with our European partners to discuss our shared concerns about China’s economic behavior.”
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