The European Parliament overwhelmingly passed the "China Policy Recommendations" requiring the EU to strengthen security coordination across the Taiwan Strait

Members of the European Parliament voted at a plenary session in Strasbourg, France, on the 7th. (European News Agency)

First published 10-07 22:54

Update time 10-08 07:07

The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly on the 7th to adopt the "Recommendations for a Strengthened and Principled EU Policy towards China" report. In addition to requiring European Union member states and regional democratic partners to strengthen security coordination in the Taiwan Strait and maintain continuous naval presence and joint exercises to strengthen regional stability, it also clearly opposes any party's use of force or coercion to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

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This report on China policy recommendations for other European Union institutions was passed with 454 votes in favor, 86 votes against, and 110 abstentions. Although it is not legally binding, it reflects that the European Parliament has clearly become tougher on China policy.

On the Taiwan issue, according to Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, the report urges the EU to "work with member states and other democratic partners in the region to strengthen security coordination, including sustained naval presence and joint exercises, to strengthen regional stability." In addition, the European Parliament also reiterated the EU's existing "one-China policy" and clearly opposed the use of force or coercion to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.

The report also requires the EU to improve its ability to defend against cyberattacks, foreign interference, espionage and hybrid threats.

The European Parliament also listed China's industrial overcapacity, government subsidies, and restrictions on European companies' access to the Chinese market as increasingly serious challenges to the EU economy, and stated that China's electric vehicle industry is a "major threat" to Europe in terms of security and economics. Parliamentarians called for the establishment of "reciprocity" and a level playing field for China-EU trade and investment; if China fails to further open its internal market, the EU should take measures consistent with the principle of proportionality.

The report also supports strengthening the EU's "Global Gateway" plan, especially establishing more credible partnerships in Africa and Latin America, as an alternative to China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative.

Regarding the Ukraine-Russia war, the report accuses Beijing of being "the decisive facilitator of Russia's illegal and unprovoked aggressive war against Ukraine." It also states that China is Russia's largest supplier of dual-use military and civilian materials, while assisting Russia in evading Western sanctions. The European Parliament called on China to use its influence over Russia to help end the war.

In terms of security and human rights, the European Parliament requires the EU to continue to put pressure on Beijing, improve its suppression of dissidents, and pay attention to forced labor and Tibet and Xinjiang policies. In particular, the parliament expressed deep concern about China's passing of the National Unity and Progress Promotion Law, believing that this law may further institutionalize the assimilation policy and requiring China to unconditionally release political prisoners.

The report also emphasizes that the EU should maintain dialogue with China on issues such as climate change, human rights, global peace and security.