Steven Sim

Since the tearing down of the Iron Curtain, Europe’s relationship with China has greatly improved, culminating today in a lucrative business and trade partnership between the two blocs. Fairly recent statistics has shown that EU held the third largest stakes in the trading industry in China and evidently, they are moving up the ladder very quickly. China’s import from EU increased about 40% in 2003 from the previous year and by 2004, EU was providing 16% of China’s total import. While French had previously declared a celebration of Year of China (2003-2004), the Far Easter Economic Review was quoted as saying (in 2004), “For China, this could well be the Year of Europe”. These indeed are prosperous days of the EU-China cooperation.

The European Union’s policy towards China was formulated in the Commission paper, EU Strategy towards China: Implementation of the 1998 Communication and Future Steps for a more Effective EU Policy and was further refined and reported in A maturing partnership: shared interests and challenges in EU-China relations. These are summarized in the following agendas:

1. to engage China further, both bilaterally and on the world stage, through an upgraded political dialogue.
2. to support China's transition to an open society based upon the rule of law and respect for human rights.
3. to encourage the integration of China in the world economy through bringing it fully into the world trading system, and supporting the process of economic and social reform that is continuing in China.
4. to raise the EU's profile in China.

The policy arguably fits into EU’s social and foreign agendas. Notably enough, it represents EU’s effort to elevate China’s socio-economic-politic status on the international platform. It is evident that such realistic operation was to have a reciprocal effect, EU will finally benefit from China’s acceptance and recognition in the post-Communist world, especially on the economic ground. Nonetheless, it can be observed that in the midst of cultivating the fertile Sino economic land, EU seemed to have set asunder or at least placed lesser emphasis on the issue of human rights in China.

One of the most pressing issues to consider is the arms embargo imposed by United States and the EU on China in the aftermath of the Tiananmen massacre (1989). The embargo was not lifted even after more than a decade considering China’s poor human rights records, especially the government’s persecution of political dissidents and their unwillingness to make restitution for the Tiananmen tragedy. On the account of their relationship, the European Union Parliament is already advocating a lifting of the embargo and there have already been talks about such measure being accomplished by mid 2005. Another issue is China’s estranged relation with neigbouring Taiwan. The former had on many occasion threaten to execute military actions on Taiwan for insisting on her sovereignty and independence from China. Such threats had recently became more intense as President Hu of China bid the PLA to be prepared for war with Taiwan and the legitimizing of such actions by a new legislation recently. EU’s silence on this issue seemed to reflect its commitment to the “One China” concept. This same stance was also taken in the Tibetan’s government-in-exile issue. While it is a very wise move to promote China as an open society and to elevate it as one of the major players in a multipolar world envisioned by the EU, EU should consider making a more stringent demand on China in the area of human rights. Several issues should be pressed towards amiable solutions as soon as possible if an impending superpower China is to be expected:

1. The restitution of Tiananmen Massacre and the pardon of political dissidents currently in exile or in prisons.
2. The annulment of the legislation for military actions against Taiwan and Tibet.
3. A more proactive measure to secure and guarantee the rights of the Taiwanese people towards self-governance.
4. Retreat of the PLA from Tibet and recognition of the Dalai Lama’s government in exile.
5. Promotion of the freedom of religion. Thorough enquiry into the persecution of several religious groups such as the Falun Gong and the Christian house-churches.
6. Investigation into the abuse of power by government machineries.
7. Improvement of the workers’ condition especially in foreign invested factories.
8. A more determined and comprehensive fight against corruption from the highest level to the grassroots.

If EU is looking forward to a new spouse after decades of marriage to the USA, China is an excellent candidate, not only because of her major presence on the world economy and political stage, but also because such partnership will enhance the East-West relationship which since colonial days was deemed as one of master and slave. Just as China must be a voice for the developing nations to the western/European world, EU must be a voice against the corruptions of governments in the developing nations. Both countries now stand at advantageous corners to play such roles.