The EU cannot expect China to meet its obligations in a new bilateral investment agreement, the open letter said. Photo: European Commission President von der Leyen and EU Council President Michel
As China voted to reform Hong Kong‘s electoral system, 24 Hong Kong activists sent a letter to the European Commission President von der Leyen and other top EU officials calling on the EU not to ratify the investment agreement with China. Some analysts believe that the open letter could be a powerful weapon for MEPs who are determined to resist the EU-China investment agreement.
The open letter from 24 Hong Kong people was published by Hong Kong Watch, a British NGO, on March 11. The letter was initiated by the NGO and signed by 24 Hong Kong activists, including 13 overseas exiles such as Johnnie Hui, Law Kwun Chung, Kwong Chung Ching, Siu Lan and Wong Tai Yeung.
The letter said that Beijing has violated its international obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, “Given that Beijing is rewriting Hong Kong’s electoral system, …… mass arrests of pro-democracy legislators and activists under the draconian Hong Kong national security laws, violating the fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Hong Kong Basic Law and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights freedoms, we cannot understand how the EU can move forward with the ratification of this investment agreement.”
China’s National People’s Congress voted on March 11 to adopt the Decision on Improving the Electoral System of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, further reducing democratic representation in Hong Kong’s legislature and introducing a mechanism to vet candidates’ loyalty to the Chinese government.
In the open letter, the Hong Kong activists also wrote that Beijing has openly disregarded its international obligations on Hong Kong and that “it is absurd that the EU still expects China to fulfill its obligations in the new bilateral investment agreement.” We therefore urge you not to sign the CEIBS until the Hong Kong national security law is repealed and until all pro-democracy activists are released.”
The open letter also concludes by noting that if the EU ratifies the agreement, it will encourage China to become more aggressive on issues such as Taiwan and human rights. “…… The EU must draw clear red lines and conditions, otherwise the CCP will feel it can continue to abuse its power with impunity,” the letter said.
“A Passive EU”
The British newspaper The Guardian was the first to report on the open letter and noted that it comes at a Time when the EU is preparing to tout the investment agreement, which must be approved by MEPs before it can take effect. There are many doubts within the European Parliament about the agreement.
“The letter could be a powerful weapon for the large number of MEPs determined to resist the investment agreement,” the report analyzed.
The Guardian report also noted that many MEPs said the EU was in a very passive position by issuing a statement condemning China’s changes to the Hong Kong electoral system while also advocating closer economic ties with China. For its part, the European Commission said that this agreement with China could improve market access for EU companies in China, protect intellectual property rights and provide leverage on human rights issues. The EU side also pointed out that it would be unrealistic to ask the EU to economically decouple itself from China, and that “when participation is the only option, it is best to compete with China on more level terms.”
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