+ A
A -
AFP
Brussels
EU chief Charles Michel said on Tuesday the bloc wanted to help protect Hong Kong’s autonomy, as China pushes ahead with a new security law that critics fear will erode the region’s freedoms.
Michel, president of the European Council, which groups the 27 member states, said the EU was not “naive” about China’s behaviour on the international stage.
Beijing wants to enact legislation banning secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference in Hong Kong after months of massive, often-violent pro-democracy protests last year.
There are fears the move could end the finance hub’s freedoms and usher in the end of it passing its own laws.
“We attach great importance to the preservation of Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy,” Michel said after a video summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
“We are in permanent dialogue with the Chinese authorities in order to express our opinions.” Riven by internal differences, the EU has struggled to come up with a clear, unified response to China’s growing assertiveness under President Xi Jinping.
The bloc’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Monday it needed a more “robust” strategy, urging the member states to find a way to maintain “collective discipline”.
Despite a difficult few weeks in EU-China ties, in which Brussels was twice accused of caving in to pressure from Beijing, Michel insisted the bloc was under no illusions.
“We are not naive about Chinese behaviour at the international level,” Michel said.
“We are convinced that it’s essential as the European Union to promote more our values... but also to defend more our interests.” EU foreign ministers will discuss China at a regular session of talks on Friday.
While a spokeswoman said that sanctions were part of the EU’s diplomatic “toolbox”, it is highly unlikely any such measure will be adopted at this stage.
Brussels
EU chief Charles Michel said on Tuesday the bloc wanted to help protect Hong Kong’s autonomy, as China pushes ahead with a new security law that critics fear will erode the region’s freedoms.
Michel, president of the European Council, which groups the 27 member states, said the EU was not “naive” about China’s behaviour on the international stage.
Beijing wants to enact legislation banning secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference in Hong Kong after months of massive, often-violent pro-democracy protests last year.
There are fears the move could end the finance hub’s freedoms and usher in the end of it passing its own laws.
“We attach great importance to the preservation of Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy,” Michel said after a video summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
“We are in permanent dialogue with the Chinese authorities in order to express our opinions.” Riven by internal differences, the EU has struggled to come up with a clear, unified response to China’s growing assertiveness under President Xi Jinping.
The bloc’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Monday it needed a more “robust” strategy, urging the member states to find a way to maintain “collective discipline”.
Despite a difficult few weeks in EU-China ties, in which Brussels was twice accused of caving in to pressure from Beijing, Michel insisted the bloc was under no illusions.
“We are not naive about Chinese behaviour at the international level,” Michel said.
“We are convinced that it’s essential as the European Union to promote more our values... but also to defend more our interests.” EU foreign ministers will discuss China at a regular session of talks on Friday.
While a spokeswoman said that sanctions were part of the EU’s diplomatic “toolbox”, it is highly unlikely any such measure will be adopted at this stage.
