David McAllister MEP: On EU-China relations (12 December 2023)

As a significant global player, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is simultaneously a partner and also increasingly a competitor and systemic rival to the European Union. While the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) does not share the same values as European democracies, the European Parliament still outlines some room for cooperation with the PRC in a new report.

1. Engaging China to tackle global challenges: Parliament recommends the Council and the Commission to continue engaging pragmatically with China on issues such as climate change, the protection of biodiversity, food security, challenges to human health and pandemic preparedness. Taking into account China’s increasingly assertive role, Parliament emphasises the importance of demanding China to uphold the rule-based international order.

2. Opposing China’s human rights violations: The European Parliament addresses various human rights offenses by China in Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong. Parliament also recommends the Council and the Commission to ensure a unified European response when China uses its economic leverage to silence opposition against its human rights abuses, and coordinate its responses with international like-minded partners.

3. De-risking from China to ensure Europe’s open strategic autonomy: The European Parliament underscores the importance of identifying the risks of engaging with China. Parliament seeks to work towards a more coordinated approach with other EU institutions and like-minded partners to address the multi-dimensional challenge posed by China, including economic coercion and interference in critical infrastructure. We also recommend the Council and the Commission to uphold the EU’s engagement with Taiwan and to condemn China’s increasing military provocation within its neighbourhood.