China’s vision for the European Union is contained in a policy paper published by Beijing in 2018 (China’s Policy Paper on the European Union – https://www.mfa.gov.cn/ce/cega/fra/zgyw/t1623919 .htm), which sets out the outlines of the way in which it wishes to conduct its bilateral relations with the European Union.
Starting from the way Beijing sees the world, the paper explains that the international community is moving towards a growing globalization scenario, where various factors are increasingly interconnected in the field of economics. This integration process was accompanied by a growing “democratization” of international relations, something that China considers positive.
Indeed, as the world moves toward greater multipolarity, this means that US hegemony in the world order is relatively reduced as a consequence,
However, in addition to this trend in recent decades, Beijing is also realizing another more worrying trend toward “unilateral …, protectionism and growing de-globalization,” which could well be a reference to the United States. of Donald Trump, who rejected many of the features of globalization many times, clearly stating how these had made China possible.
It is in this changing world that China is an influential player in the EU, believing that it plays a crucial role in the still ongoing process of globalization as a force for “integration”.
Thus, the document explains that China has two priorities in its foreign policy in relation to the Union: “developing or rather strengthening a stable relationship with the EU”, in addition to pursuing dual cooperation in world affairs.
Thus, as part of the first point, China shows support for the process of European integration in the form of a “united, stable, open and prosperous Europe”. It is committed to strengthening relations in all areas, especially economics, including the conclusion of an investment agreement (known as the CAI, which failed due to European sanctions due to the deterioration of human rights in China).
It also promises to stay focused on EU markets, as well as continue to receive foreign investment, which has been one of the reasons for China’s economic recovery. In this sense, the text refers to Beijing’s desire to maintain “two-way openness and facilitate mutual investment”.
However, and very importantly, it sets limits in this relationship, warning that both parties should “manage disagreements and frictions constructively, avoiding the politicization of economic and trade issues.”
This is particularly important given that the EU imposed the first trade sanctions against China on arms sales after the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre. lift the arms embargo on China immediately. “
The text also refers to the cases of Taiwan, Tibet, East Turkestan and the “special administrative areas” of Hong Kong and Macao, in the sense that the EU should meticulously respect “China’s territorial integrity” and abstain. from maintaining any kind of relations or exchanges with these parties without the explicit consent of China, as they are part of the country’s “internal affairs”.
The document acknowledges, however, that in the history of China-EU relations there has been no major conflict despite the many differences between the two sides and so China wants these relations to continue.
With regard to cooperation, the text identifies many areas in which the interests of both parties can converge and suggests that through cooperation between them, they can promote changes in the international community that benefit them.
Politically, the document proposes cooperation to jointly pursue greater “democracy in international relations”, strengthening multilateralism, so as to strengthen dialogue and multilateral forums, such as the G20 in which China and the United Nations system are present. especially when faced with “global challenges”.
Advocates a reform of the international financial structure — which could suggest a Bretton Woods alternative that was largely favorable to the United States and the United Kingdom, liberalization of investment, trade and economy to build an “open world economy”.
The document also refers to the promotion of equal treatment of all parties involved, establishing a more balanced and equitable world order, in another clear reference to the declining global dominance of the United States.
In addition, both China and the EU must work together to achieve greater inclusiveness, transparency and a mutually beneficial economic globalization.
All of this, however, is challenged by a growing “unilateral approach” and “protectionism” against which, as the text points out, China and the EU must tackle vigorously together.
In fact, it explicitly refers to the United States when it warns the EU that Brussels should refrain from following the US in trade disputes between both Washington and Beijing, which is important as China sees the EU being used from the US in their strategy to contain China.
In short, China sees the growing potential of the EU as positive, as this process could serve as a counterweight to US hegemony, provided that this development does not “target China or affect Chinese interests”. .
It is therefore interesting that in some respects and despite the huge differences in values, China would view more positively the greater strategic autonomy of the EU from Washington.
