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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.
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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