European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Josep Borrell proposed the
EU-U.S. dialogue on China in June to check the Asian nation's rise and
growing influence in Eastern Europe. Borrell criticized China of using
"debt trap" diplomacy when 17 Central and Eastern European countries
(CEEC) signed the "17+1" platform with China to enhance their economic
development in 2012. Borrell again complained that China was employing
"mask diplomacy" when the Asian power sent medical equipment to some of
the countries to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
However,
Borrell's proposal did not get much attention on either side of the
Atlantic until recently. Some Western politicians are using "illiberal"
developments in China to rally support in stifling China's growing
power.
The dialogue's revival gained currency in the EU, probably
because some of its members are losing competition and influence to
China. The Asian economic powerhouse is able to produce advanced
machinery and other equipment, reducing its dependence on those produced
in Europe, particularly in Germany. For example, German companies such
as Siemens are losing market share not only in China but elsewhere
because of competition from Chinese manufacturers. In this sense,
reviving the dialogue might be an attempt to slow down China's advance
in high-end manufacturing.
The U.S. might be motivated by Donald Trump's falling behind in the
polls to Democrat nominee Joe Biden as a result of the president's
mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, calling soldiers killed in wars
"losers and suckers" and a sinking economy.
Trump's complacency and inept management of the pandemic caused the
infection of over seven million and the death of over 200,000 Americans.
On top of the loss of human lives, the U.S. economy contracted by over
32 percent in the second quarter of this year. Playing the "China card"
was an effective way of deflecting attention away from the president's
failed policies.
However, the EU-U.S. dialogue on China might not gain traction because of the world's economic reality.
European
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President
Charles Michel and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country
currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU, held a virtual summit
with Chinese President Xi Jinping only days before the news emerged
about the dialogue's revival. The meeting would suggest the EU and China
are embarking on the path of cooperation rather than confrontation.
EU probably has more in common with China than with the U.S., in that
both champion globalization, desire to address climate change and other
issues that the U.S. shun. For example, Germany and France sided with
China in opposing the Trump administration's "snapback" to force the
return of sanctions on Iran.
Read more at:
The EU-U.S. dialogue on China is 'dead on arrival' - CGTN
Showing posts with label EU-China Relations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EU-China Relations. Show all posts
6/23/20
EU - US relations: US warns EU on making friends with China's 'dictator' - by Andrew Bettman
The EU would be abandoning its values if it opted for a deeper
partnership with China's "dictatorship", just because it did not get
along with US president Donald Trump, the American ambassador to the EU
has said.
"The people of China are a wonderful people and I have nothing but respect for them, but general secretary Xi is a dictator," Ronald Gidwitz, the US envoy, told press in Brussels on Monday (22 June), referring to Chinese president Xi Jinping.
Read more at:
US warns EU on making friends with China's 'dictator'
"The people of China are a wonderful people and I have nothing but respect for them, but general secretary Xi is a dictator," Ronald Gidwitz, the US envoy, told press in Brussels on Monday (22 June), referring to Chinese president Xi Jinping.
Read more at:
US warns EU on making friends with China's 'dictator'
11/4/18
EU-China Relations: Emerging Europe starts to question wisdom of Chinese-funded infrastructure projects - by Tamara Karelidze
A number of emerging Europe countries which have agreed big money
infrastructure deals with China are beginning to reconsider their
options. Members of the so-called 16+1 group, which includes 11 European
Union member states (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia,
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia) and
five Western Balkans nations (Albania, Bosnia, Macedonia, Montenegro,
Serbia) are increasingly concerned at what they see failed Chinese
promises and unacceptable conditions placed on finance.
The 16+1 group was set up in 2012 by China as a means to attract Chinese investment in infrastructure – mainly roads and rail networks – and to boost their economies. Many countries initially viewed the investment as having far fewer strings (and requiring less transparency) than European Union money. A major new report by Bloomberg suggests that they were wrong, and that alternatives, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) may be better.
“Some of those projects that have materialised with Chinese help have attracted unwelcome attention. Mounting costs for a highway development in Montenegro prompted the Washington-based Center for Global Development to single out the country as ‘at particular risk of debt distress,’ while the tender for an as-yet unfinished high-speed rail link between Budapest and Belgrade prompted an EU commission probe,” writes Bloomberg.
“Some feeling of unease about the whole scheme has been brewing for some time,” said Jan Weidenfeld, head of European affairs for the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Berlin, told Bloomberg. The conditions attached to projects are seen by 16+1 members as similar to those offered to African states, meaning that some countries “even feel insulted,” he said. “The package just isn’t quite as attractive as China would make believe it is.”
Not that China’s much-hyped Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which calls for massive investment in and development of trade routes, has been without trouble in Africa. Just this week Sierra Leone scrapped plans to build a China-funded 318-million US dollar airport outside the capital, Freetown. This is the first instance of an African country announcing the cancellation of a China One Belt One Road project. Both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund had warned that the project could place an unnecessary debt burden to Sierra Leone.
Read more: Emerging Europe starts to question wisdom of Chinese-funded infrastructure projects - Emerging Europe
The 16+1 group was set up in 2012 by China as a means to attract Chinese investment in infrastructure – mainly roads and rail networks – and to boost their economies. Many countries initially viewed the investment as having far fewer strings (and requiring less transparency) than European Union money. A major new report by Bloomberg suggests that they were wrong, and that alternatives, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) may be better.
“Some of those projects that have materialised with Chinese help have attracted unwelcome attention. Mounting costs for a highway development in Montenegro prompted the Washington-based Center for Global Development to single out the country as ‘at particular risk of debt distress,’ while the tender for an as-yet unfinished high-speed rail link between Budapest and Belgrade prompted an EU commission probe,” writes Bloomberg.
“Some feeling of unease about the whole scheme has been brewing for some time,” said Jan Weidenfeld, head of European affairs for the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Berlin, told Bloomberg. The conditions attached to projects are seen by 16+1 members as similar to those offered to African states, meaning that some countries “even feel insulted,” he said. “The package just isn’t quite as attractive as China would make believe it is.”
Not that China’s much-hyped Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which calls for massive investment in and development of trade routes, has been without trouble in Africa. Just this week Sierra Leone scrapped plans to build a China-funded 318-million US dollar airport outside the capital, Freetown. This is the first instance of an African country announcing the cancellation of a China One Belt One Road project. Both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund had warned that the project could place an unnecessary debt burden to Sierra Leone.
Read more: Emerging Europe starts to question wisdom of Chinese-funded infrastructure projects - Emerging Europe
8/25/18
EU-China Relations: How to make China work for Europe
China’s bet to transform the world economy, the Belt and Road Initiative
(BRI), involves strategic risks for Europe. But these are far from
insurmountable. If the Continent’s policymakers can overcome their
knee-jerk reaction to China’s ambitions, they can easily contain the
threats to Europe’s core interests.
Despite widespread fears of Chinese competition and the security risks involved in their takeover of major infrastructure projects, China’s move to the West also offers plenty of opportunities that — if handled properly — can help Europe advance its own strategic priorities. To exploit them, the EU needs to develop a common approach that draws China closer, on European terms.
The EU must continue to work toward becoming a credible economic counterweight to Beijing, preferably together with other liberal market economies. If done right, this could draw Beijing into a mutually dependent economic relationship, help to promote sustainable development and contain threats to European unity.
To sidestep the risks involved, the EU needs to set out clear red lines to ensure governments do not support BRI projects unless they live up to recognized criteria on transparency, equal say of stakeholders and environmental and labor standards.
Read more: How to make China work for Europe – POLITICO
Despite widespread fears of Chinese competition and the security risks involved in their takeover of major infrastructure projects, China’s move to the West also offers plenty of opportunities that — if handled properly — can help Europe advance its own strategic priorities. To exploit them, the EU needs to develop a common approach that draws China closer, on European terms.
The EU must continue to work toward becoming a credible economic counterweight to Beijing, preferably together with other liberal market economies. If done right, this could draw Beijing into a mutually dependent economic relationship, help to promote sustainable development and contain threats to European unity.
To sidestep the risks involved, the EU needs to set out clear red lines to ensure governments do not support BRI projects unless they live up to recognized criteria on transparency, equal say of stakeholders and environmental and labor standards.
Read more: How to make China work for Europe – POLITICO
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