‘No more dumping, no more spying’: European Parliament hardens line on China

The European Parliament voted for a significantly tougher China position on Wednesday, despite strong and long-standing lobbying from Beijing to tone down its official stance.

The chamber backed stronger actions against Beijing, stating it is a “decisive enabler” of Russia, calling for a “continuous [European] naval presence and joint exercises” in and around the Taiwan Strait, and urging swift action to counter Beijing’s industrial policy, which it described as an “existential threat to the EU”.

Lawmakers voted by a landslide to adopt the report on Wednesday. In total, 454 lawmakers voted in favour, 86 voted against and 110 abstained.

The paper does not directly affect the European Union’s China policy, but helps crystallise the tougher China consensus that has developed in Brussels since the parliament last changed its official line in 2023.