After the India and the US, the European Union now seems to be asking China some tough questions. The EU officials are now calling for joint effort against a China that is getting increasingly aggressive.
Josep Borrell, EU’s High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy said in his blog and in an interview to the German media that China was getting increasingly assertive on the international scene and this assertion could perhaps be viewed as bordering on aggression, especially in context of the South China Sea or China’s border with India.
Borrell also mentioned the fact that Chinese leaders did not hesitate to go against their international commitments by imposing rules such as the Hong Kong National Security Law.
With regard to keeping a check on China’s abuse of power and its violation of international norms and treaties, he called out for a more coordinated approach between the US, the EU and other democratic powers like India.
The EU reacting to the threat posed by China to the international order s a major development because so far the EU has played it safe and mostly steered clear of making any direct comments, be it regarding China’s role in the origin and spread of coronavirus or China’s aggressive stance with regard to its border with India.
While the US has been at the forefront of the larger global movement critiquing China vis a vis its increasing muscle flexing and open violation of international treaties and norms through its ambitious projects like the Belt and Road Initiative, the European Union has been relatively quiet, many of its counties, have infact, even supported China.
But now the European Union has started speaking out against China as well, especially on the issue of China’s imposition of National Security Law on Hong Kong. A couple of days back, China had reportedly warned the EU not to interfere in Hong Kong matters. China was reacting to the EU’S decision to limit exports of surveillance equipment to Hong Kong over concerns about the new National Security Law in Hong Kong.
As far as India’s issues with China are concerned, especially the Galwan valley standoff, EU’s response has more or less been rather understated and diplomatic asking both countries to resolve the issue through a peaceful dialogue. But as EU now finally seems to be acknowledging the kind of threat China poses to world security, it is perhaps the right point of time for India to get the support of European Union on key issues between India and China.