On May 14, 2017, then senior director of the National Security Council’s East Asia region, John Bomen, arrived in Beijing for a Belt and Road conference.
Deputy White House National Security Adviser Matthew Pottinger on Wednesday criticized the European Commission’s self-deception in seeking investment cooperation with China despite 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, the Communist Party’s general secretary, met via video link Wednesday with EU leaders and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron 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 long-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 also raises questions about its disregard for human rights in China. The European Commission reported on Monday on the progress of negotiations with Beijing, including the core issue of labor rights in China.
Under the agreement, China is required to commit to complying with International Labor Organisation (ILO) 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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