Earlier this week, European Council President Charles Michel and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Minister Li Keqiang at the digital EU-China Summit.

The summit focused on several topics such as trade disagreements, cyberattacks on EU hospitals and the infringement of the security situation in Hong Kong. ALDE Party President Hans van Baalen took a firm stand on the situation, stating:

“China is a strategic rival of the EU and the Free World. President of the European Council Charles Michel is right when he states that “we have to recognise that we do not share the same values, political systems or approach to multilateralism”.

An EU-China Comprehensive Investment Agreement should be based on reciprocity. If private European companies cannot own more than 49% of the shares of Chinese companies, the same should apply to Chinese companies buying shares of European companies. China should live up to its commitments laid down in the 1985 Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong Basic Law which guarantee Hong Kong’s autonomous status. China should stop threatening Taiwan with using violence and stop opposing Taiwan’s membership to the WHO. Taiwan should be able to play a meaningful role in the international community. In this respect, I fully support that the Czech Senate, despite Chinese blackmail, will send a mission to Taiwan this year which should be an example for other EU Member States.

I agree with President Charles Michel that the EU will robustly defend EU interests and values. I demand an independent investigation to the outbreak of COVID19 and the way how China handled the pandemic. Lessons must be learned!”