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EU moves to recalibrate China strategy with ‘clear-eyed but not confrontational’ approach
- Cosmetic changes rather than wholesale policy overhaul suggested in position paper seen by Post before ministers’ meeting in Stockholm
- New emphasis on Ukraine and Taiwan as bloc told that values, economic security and strategic security to define relations with China
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Finbarr Berminghamin Stockholm
The European Union must adopt a “clear-eyed” but “not confrontational” approach to a China seeking “to build a new world order” in its own image.
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That was the advice handed to the EU’s 27 member states before its ministers hold crunch talks on reconfiguring the bloc’s policy towards Beijing in Stockholm on Friday.
A position paper meant to steer the debate and seen by the Post was distributed by the EU’s External Access Service – its de facto foreign bureau – to capitals on Thursday.
It suggested cosmetic changes to the EU’s China strategy rather than a wholesale overhaul. New emphasis is placed on hot-button issues like Ukraine and Taiwan, while economic realism has replaced the erstwhile expectation that Beijing might be willing to reform its market to suit European businesses.
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Ministers have been urged to adhere to the 2019 designation of China as a partner, competitor and systemic rival, “even if the weighting between these different elements may vary according to China’s behaviour”.
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