European Parliamentarians have vowed to reject the EU-China investment agreement, which has been waiting for ratification of China’s human rights abuses and sanctions by the ruling Communist Party.
More than 30 MEPs said on April 28 that they would blame China for demanding that the EU stop criticizing human rights records and would not ratify China’s investment agreement unless human rights were first addressed. Some people have clearly stated that they want to close the deal.
Comments were made at the first meeting of the European Parliament on the Chinese Communist Party’s counter-sanctions against EU representatives and groups that sanctioned several Chinese Communist Party executives for human rights abuses against Uighurs and other minorities in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in late March. ..
However, counter-sanctions have jeopardized the possibility of ratification of investment agreements.
France’s MEP Emmanuel Morrell told Parliament about the sanctions of the Chinese Communist Party: You need to reject the investment agreement. “
Human Rights Subcommittee of the EU Parliament and Vice Chairman of Germany’s MEP Hanna Neumann Said, “This is a system for arbitrarily shooting shotguns aimed at freedom of expression, freedom of research, and rights as a member of parliament.”
She told Congress that human rights need to be addressed before proceeding with investment agreements, adding that “I don’t want foreign countries to instruct me how to work.”
German Green Party MEP Reinhard Butikofer, chairman of the Chinese delegation of the European Parliament, which was the subject of Beijing’s sanctions list, Said “As far as the European Parliament is concerned, the EU-China Investment Comprehensive Agreement (” CAI “) is frozen,” he said, if Beijing’s sanctions on the EU Parliament are not lifted.
He said the sanctions represent “a new height for China’s aggressive power claims.”
“Instead, pressure to use new means to better protect the economy from China’s unfair practices, such as access to procurement markets, fighting illegal subsidies, and products using forced labor. Call, “he added. statement..
Belgian MEP, Maria Arena Added, “If the right to democratization in Hong Kong or Taiwan cannot be discussed in this parliament, nothing can be discussed in this parliament.”
Sanctions include five major EUMEPs that need to be voted to ratify the EU-China investment agreement.
Focus on trade, not human rights: Beijing
Meanwhile, Chinese leaders continue to encourage the EU to focus on trade rather than human rights.
Xi Jinping April 16, prior to the world summit meeting on climate issues, and requested the EU to ratify the investment agreement in a video conference with Chancellor Angela Merkel and French Emmanuel macron president of Germany.
On April 20, China’s Prime Minister Li Keqiang met with business leaders from major EU countries at the China-EU Center in Chengdu to seek support for investment agreements.
Then, on April 28, at the 6th German-Chinese Government Talks Virtual Conference, Prime Minister Lee should focus on German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Germany should focus on trade rather than China’s “domestic affairs” including human rights issues. He said. report..
The EU-China investment agreement is endorsed in the EU by German Chancellor Angela Merkel with a promise to open more sectors of the Chinese economy to EU investment and benefit European automakers manufacturing from China. I am. French President Emmanuel Macron has supported Merkel’s efforts despite opposition from several EU member states.
The agreement was signed in December last year after seven years of negotiations, but must be ratified by the EU Parliament before it can enter into force.
Chancellor Angela Merkel resigned in September, her SPD fell in a recent election poll, and the opposition Green Party is in control of the poll.
Greens recently said in a statement: “Trade is a powerful way to defend and strengthen human rights and fundamental democratic values. Unfortunately, the EU-China investment agreement, which the German government rushed to sign at the end of last year, contradicts this very goal. I am. “
Macron also faces strong opposition to CAI in the country ahead of next year’s presidential election.
The EU on April 24 Take action He accused the Chinese government of invading the South China Sea and said it was endangering regional peace.
On April 21, EU President Ursula von der Leyen said in a “progress report” on China that “economic systems and globalization, democracy, human rights management, or how to deal with the third issue.” He also mentioned the “fundamental differences” between the EU and China. “Countries” are becoming a reality that “is set to remain for the foreseeable future and must not be brushed under the carpet.”