Von der Leyen's de-risking plan on China meets resistance from EU member states
Big member states have warned against mimicking the United States's approach on China regarding European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's de-risking plan, South China Morning Post reported.
Von der Leyen's de-risking plan on China meets resistance from EU member states
Geurasia

Von der Leyen's de-risking plan on China meets resistance from EU member states

Photo: AFP/Ludovic Marin
Eurasia 14/06/2023 06:30

Big member states have warned against mimicking the United States's approach on China regarding European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's de-risking plan, South China Morning Post reported.

As European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen prepares to unveil a road map for "de-risking" economic ties with China, big member states have warned against "mimicking" the "gung ho" approach of the United States, South China Morning Post reported.

Diplomats from France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands were among those expressing concern about "national security" references von der Leyen's chief of cavinet, five diplomats familiar with the topic told SCMP. The "cool and cautios" feedback from some of the blocs' most powerful members, said a senior official, was: "We are Europe, not the United States."
AFP/Kenzo Tibouillard
Some capitals worry that Brussels is veering onto their turf by conflating trade policy with "national security". "National security means national security", one western European diplomat said, a reminder that the EU has no domain over its members' individual policies in this are, SCMP stated. 

An early-stage proposal for the new economic security strategy  – which will not directly target China, but which has been drafted with it in mind – is due on June 20. The policy will include outbound invesment screening, which would restrict European firms from investing in some sectors of the Chinese economy, the news site added.
AFP/Jacques Witt
According to a new report released by the European Council of Foreign Relations, 43 percent of Europeans view China as a "necessary partner" – a stance which is emphasized by French President Emmanuel Macron – while 35 percent see Beijing as a "rival" or an "adversary" to their country, Politico reported. Interestingly, the majority of Europeans think that the continent should remain neutral in any conflict between the US and China over Taiwan.

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