After China announced sanctions on 10 individuals and four entities from the EU as a countermove to EU’s unilateral sanctions against China, some people from the EU reacted strongly, claiming China’s countermeasures were “unacceptable.” The European Parliament canceled a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) with China. Some members of the European Parliament warned that the lifting of Chinese sanctions should be a condition to promote talks on CAI. Voices that support to block the agreement in an attempt to punish China have been hyped by some anti-China forces. Yet those forces should be told that the CAI between China and the EU is mutually beneficial, rather than a gift from the EU to China. If the European Parliament wants to obstruct the deal, taking it as a bargaining chip in interactions with China, it should first reach a consensus among European countries. If they all agree, let’s just take it as negotiations between China and the EU never took place last year. But don’t blackmail China with the case. China despises such ugly deeds. China is the EU’s biggest trading partner. Take a look at how many German cars there are on the streets of China, how many French and Italian fashion products are being used by Chinese women, and how many Chinese travelers have visited Europe in normal years. Then take a look at the momentum of Chinese development in years to come. How could those ignorant politicians in the European Parliament possibly feel they are entitled to threaten China by not approving the CAI? Beijing has not yet suspended the promotion of the deal as a warning toward Brussels! Chinese society has always respected Europe and we have never taken the initiative to find fault with EU countries. Some European anti-China politicians, as well as few European countries’ official institutions led by these people, provoked us first. They put their arrogance and prejudice toward China into action and harmed China’s interests. There is no reason why we do not stand up and make countermoves. This time, the EU has fired the first shot of sanctions against China in more than three decades. Do European countries expect Beijing to swallow it silently? Or do they wish Beijing to ask their opinions first before making countermoves? Who gave them the right to act so capriciously? Even after the sanctions and countermoves, we still attach importance to our relations with the EU and are willing to return to normal interactions between our two sides. But the first principle of normal interactions is equality and mutual respect. China has its core interests and bottom line. Restoring Xinjiang’s peace, stability and prosperity is one of the focuses of this principle. EU should not recklessly step on China’s toes. If it continues to do so, China won’t stay polite when striking back.
–The Daily Mail-Global Times News Exchange Item
