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Thread: On 30 December, the European Commission and the Chinese Communist Party agreed on a trade deal, the #CAI after 7 years of negotiations. The deal, although agreed upon in principle, still needs to be signed by the European Parliament where many MEPs strongly oppose it.
Before we get into the criticism, let’s discuss what the #CAI is about:
- Guaranteeing market access to EU investors in China
- Increasing the investment volume between EU and China
- Improving competition for EU companies in China
...and a lot more: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_2542
- Guaranteeing market access to EU investors in China
- Increasing the investment volume between EU and China
- Improving competition for EU companies in China
...and a lot more: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_2542
So, what's the criticism?
There are 4 major issues that have been raised by many MEPs:
1) Forced labor in Xinjiang
2) Lack of a free press
3) Treatment of the Uyghurs
4) Lack of support for Hong Kong
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2020-0436_EN.html
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20210114IPR95635/human-rights-breaches-in-hong-kong-turkey-and-vietnam https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/world/20200423STO77709/protecting-press-freedom-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
There are 4 major issues that have been raised by many MEPs:
1) Forced labor in Xinjiang
2) Lack of a free press
3) Treatment of the Uyghurs
4) Lack of support for Hong Kong
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2020-0436_EN.html
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20210114IPR95635/human-rights-breaches-in-hong-kong-turkey-and-vietnam https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/world/20200423STO77709/protecting-press-freedom-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
#Xinjiang is a Chinese region, home to the Muslim Uyghur population, and a popular spot for many EU firms.
In recent years, China’s treatment of the Uyghurs has made headlines and was condemned by MEPs.
The CAI doesn’t specifically address it. https://thediplomat.com/2021/01/china-eu-investment-deal-sparks-backlash-over-rights-concerns/
In recent years, China’s treatment of the Uyghurs has made headlines and was condemned by MEPs.
The CAI doesn’t specifically address it. https://thediplomat.com/2021/01/china-eu-investment-deal-sparks-backlash-over-rights-concerns/
What are MEPs condemning exactly?
1) Detention of at least 1,3 million (!) Uyghurs in “re-education” camps
2) Clear evidence of arbitrary and politically motivated imprisonment
3) Widespread reports of forced labor, also for EU companies
More info: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2020-0436_EN.html
1) Detention of at least 1,3 million (!) Uyghurs in “re-education” camps
2) Clear evidence of arbitrary and politically motivated imprisonment
3) Widespread reports of forced labor, also for EU companies
More info: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2020-0436_EN.html
What does #HongKong have to do with the CAI?
The @EU_Commission previously raised concerns over breaches of human rights and intl. law in Hong Kong, e.g. over the police violence during the 2019 protests, but doesn’t include the issue in the CAI. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests-eu/eu-says-escalating-violence-in-hong-kong-unacceptable-idUSKBN1XS1EV?utm_source=reddit.com
The @EU_Commission previously raised concerns over breaches of human rights and intl. law in Hong Kong, e.g. over the police violence during the 2019 protests, but doesn’t include the issue in the CAI. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests-eu/eu-says-escalating-violence-in-hong-kong-unacceptable-idUSKBN1XS1EV?utm_source=reddit.com
The EU prides itself in upholding & defending press freedom. Reporters without borders labels the Chinese press as extremely restricted and ranks it on the 177th spot out of 180 nations on its press freedom index.
Yet, the issue is not part of the CAI. https://rsf.org/en/ranking
Yet, the issue is not part of the CAI. https://rsf.org/en/ranking
What can be done to ensure that these issues are not neglected?
We can approach our MEPs and demand that they raise issues such as human rights breaches in Xinjiang,Hong Kong, and elsewhere.
It will still take months until MEPs vote on the CAI, so there's time to change it!
We can approach our MEPs and demand that they raise issues such as human rights breaches in Xinjiang,Hong Kong, and elsewhere.
It will still take months until MEPs vote on the CAI, so there's time to change it!
How can we encourage this change?
We can reach out to our MEPs via phone, mail, social media, or if we live close to their regional offices, even in person, and tell them to act!
Find out who represents your member state and then get in touch here: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/home
We can reach out to our MEPs via phone, mail, social media, or if we live close to their regional offices, even in person, and tell them to act!
Find out who represents your member state and then get in touch here: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/home
