EU shouldn't let hearsay damage ties with China

Relations between China and the European Union soured after the EU announced sanctions against Chinese officials and entities last month over what Brussels claimed were human rights violations in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, which was followed by counter-sanctions from both sides.

The European Parliament has even threatened to not sign the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment, negotiations on which concluded in December, unless China lifts the sanctions on the EU.

But it was the European Parliament that first imposed sanctions on Chinese entities based on frivolous allegations of human rights violations and is ignoring the significance of the China-EU investment agreement, and China will not give in to its threats.

Worse, after a Hong Kong court sentenced 10 local radicals to prison terms from eight to 12 months on April 16 for their involvement in the yearlong violent protests in the special administration region, the EU said the developments in Hong Kong call into question China's will to uphold its international commitments, which will undermine trust and impact EU-China ties.

This is blatant interference in China's internal affairs－as is the EU's move on Xinjiang. Not to mention that the radicals have been brought to book for unleashing mayhem in the SAR, attacking innocent people, and holding the local society and economy to ransom.

The European Parliament is obliged to take rational and judicious measures to safeguard Europe's peace, prosperity and integration, instead of making decisions based on hearsay and groundless claims.

So in the long-term interests of the EU, European leaders need to develop a more objective understanding of China.

First, the EU needs to better understand Chinese society, economy and policies. Thanks to its inclusive but robust economic policies, China has become the world's second-largest economy, contributing nearly 30 percent to global economic growth for more than one decade. Also, strict anti-pandemic measures helped it to largely contain the spread of the novel coronavirus within its borders, which in turn helped it to become the only major economy to realize positive economic growth in 2020.

Further, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has been a major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions, both in terms of personnel and funds, as well as global growth, global governance and the global fight against climate change.

The EU also needs to understand Chinese diplomacy in the new era. China has called for improving the existing world order to develop win-win, open and inclusive international relations, and help build a community with a shared future for mankind. It has also been calling for international cooperation to maintain peace, facilitate global development and widen its circle of friends.

Second, the EU should realize that the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership is a new type of international relations featuring mutual benefit. Sino-EU economic and trade relations have deepened benefiting people on both sides－and data from the EU statistics agency show that in 2020, China overtook the United States to become the EU's biggest trading partner as two-way trade reached 586 billion euros ($711 billion).

And as the room for cooperation between China and the EU has expanded, the two sides should work together to boost economic growth, keeping in mind their complementary economic strength will continue and create new opportunities.

Third, the EU needs to develop the correct understanding about the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment. Signing the agreement does not mean the EU has buckled under pressure or has done a favor to China. It took the two sides seven years to negotiate a balanced and mutually beneficial investment agreement, and while the agreement, if both sides ink it, will help China to further open up its economy, it will give EU member states easier access to the Chinese market and thus promote Europe's prosperity.

So the European Parliament should not let hearsay damage both sides' efforts to upgrade China-EU economic cooperation and harm bilateral interests in the long term.

Perhaps US President Joe Biden's announcement that Washington is set to "return" to Europe and his opposition to a China-EU trade deal are responsible for the setback in China-EU ties. But since the EU has put greater emphasis on independent diplomacy in recent years, Biden may find it extremely difficult to strengthen the US-Europe alliance to target China despite being invited to a virtual European Council summit on May 25.

And since China and the US are more likely than not to cooperate on various issues, especially climate change, in the future, the EU will only harm itself if it abandons its win-win cooperation with China at the coaxing of the US.

China remains hopeful that EU policymakers will change course and correct their mistakes to bring China-EU relations back on the development track.

The author is a research fellow at the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.