EU-China summit showcases Europe’s growing disillusionment with Beijing
The summit marked a hardening of EU attitudes despite Chinese courtship, driven by Beijing’s ‘strings attached’ coronavirus aid and misinformation, and geopolitical concerns around the South China Sea and Hong Kong
When the global coronavirus pandemic finally subsides, the new normal will show that China has lost much, though admittedly not all, of its allure for Europeans. The virtual summit between European Union and Chinese leaders on Monday was a key marker in this respect.
This time last year, I was asked by the Asia-Europe Institute at the University of Malaya to discuss European reactions to China’s high-profile Belt and Road Initiative. The general thrust of the policies of the EU and its member states towards China in the 21st century has been on obtaining economic benefits, yet I found no unified response to the belt and road, with reactions varying widely across the EU from true believers to sceptics.
One year on, the Belt and Road Initiative has largely disappeared from European policy agendas and media interest, but the controversy over the pandemic’s origins and spread has not replaced the debate over the initiative; it has merely been laid on top.
In the process, however, the European debate has become much more polarised. Instead of multiple approaches, EU members now basically have only two positions: those who see China as a potential lifesaver in several senses of the word, and those who are increasingly suspicious and distrustful of Beijing’s ambitions and strategies.
Moreover, despite China’s efforts to court certain EU states, the balance has been shifting towards the latter group. While few in Europe would openly endorse the harsh rhetoric against China coming from the United States, the mood in Europe has undoubtedly changed.
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EU leaders warn Xi of ‘negative consequences’ if China imposes national security law in Hong Kong
EU leaders warn Xi of ‘negative consequences’ if China imposes national security law in Hong Kong
Many central and eastern European states continue to look to China for economic and medical support, particularly as the EU had been slow off the mark in arranging financial support packages for its more ailing members to cope with the health and economic damage from the pandemic.
Yet, although some EU states, most notably Hungary and Greece, have been open in acknowledging Chinese support, critics of China have emerged, even among central and eastern European states. The Czech Republic is a leading example: disillusioned by the lack of real Chinese investment, it was one of the first EU states to highlight the possible cybersecurity risks of using Huawei systems.
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Huawei founder on cybersecurity and maintaining key component supply chains under US sanctions
Huawei founder on cybersecurity and maintaining key component supply chains under US sanctions
Other central and eastern European states with doubts now include Poland, whose president was warned by Chinese diplomats that, without effusive thanks to President Xi Jinping, no Chinese medical equipment aid would be forthcoming.
In fact, China’s “mask diplomacy” – sending medical equipment to badly hit countries – has proved a mixed blessing. The medical face masks China sent to Poland in April failed safety tests. Slovakia paid China US$16 million for antibody testing equipment that was not up to standard.
In western Europe, too, Chinese medical support has been hampered by poor quality; in the Netherlands, the supplied face masks were not suitable for use in hospitals, and Britain said hundreds of Chinese ventilators could potentially kill patients if used.
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Some China-made coronavirus test kits and face masks rejected as ‘unreliable’ in European countries
Some China-made coronavirus test kits and face masks rejected as ‘unreliable’ in European countries
In the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak in China, the EU sent medical equipment to China, but at China’s request, this was done discreetly with no publicity, so it is not surprising that the EU has mixed feelings that the reverse flow of Chinese medical support comes with strings – public acknowledgements – attached. The politics of generosity have become complicated.
But the European disillusionment with China is not just because of the pandemic, but also because geopolitical concerns have become more pronounced.
While most of the world has been preoccupied by the struggle with the human and economic costs of the pandemic, China has tried to consolidate its strategic position in the South China Sea territorial disputes and, most recently, in formulating new controls over Hong Kong, though both these steps have not gone unnoticed in European capitals.
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Hong Kong’s national security law is like ‘anti-virus software’, top Beijing official says
Hong Kong’s national security law is like ‘anti-virus software’, top Beijing official says
In addition, several EU states, as well as Britain, are being forced into re-evaluating how far their 5G networks should depend on Huawei technology. Several have taken defensive measures to prevent Chinese companies buying sensitive technology companies in any “fire sale” after the pandemic.
Last year, an EU report described China as a “systemic rival” for the first time and warned of its geopolitical ambitions. This April, a new EU report highlighted China’s “coordinated” misinformation campaigns over the Covid-19 pandemic, even after the phraseology had been watered down by Chinese diplomatic pressure in advance.
Monday’s virtual summit between the new EU leadership, Xi and Premier Li Keqiang only served to show that the two sides are far apart over an investment treaty and Hong Kong. One EU leader warned of “very negative consequences” for China for imposing its new security law on Hong Kong.
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China rebuffs EU criticism over Hong Kong security law
China rebuffs EU criticism over Hong Kong security law
Recently in a blog post, EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell warned that there was “a geopolitical component including a struggle for influence” in China’s approach to Europe. With US-China relations likely to deteriorate further as the US presidential election approaches, China will find that Europe is not such a comfortable alternative.
EU states recognise that an early decoupling of their economies from China is unrealistic. Some supply chains, especially involving health-related products, may well be repatriated, but Europe will still need to do some business with China for many other products, at least until alternative suppliers reach suitable production levels.
But, as the balance shifts towards a harder political line within the EU, Europe’s preoccupation with social distancing will also be applied to the relationship with China.
Brian Bridges is an affiliate fellow at the Centre for Asia-Pacific Studies, Lingnan University
