External Threats - China

Without a doubt, Russia is currently the EU's greatest threat and it's important to remember that the US is not our ally during certain presidential administrations. Some of the EU's eastern wing countries are happy with receiving what is being labelled corrosive capital. We need a new, more assertive EU - China strategy must unite all Member States and shape relations with Beijing in the interest of the EU as a whole.

Imperialism, in all its awful forms, still poses a threat. But it is no longer the imperialism of the west, rightly execrated and self-condemned. Today’s threat emanates from the east. Just as objectionable, and potentially more dangerous, it’s the prospect of a totalitarian 21st-century Chinese global empire. For too long we have defined our relationship with China solely on trade. It is time to recognise that China is much more than an interesting trade partner. It is a country led by the Chinese Communist Party with great ambitions, which will be a significant challenge to the liberal world order.China acquired a reputation as a “predatory” lender. 

It’s difficult to regard Xi – with his unassailable dictatorial powers, his techno-fascist surveillance state that stifles dissent and oppresses minorities, and his aggressively expansionist foreign policy – as anything other than a totalitarian control freak with imperial fantasies. Xi’s vision of future global dominion is centrally controlled, collectively oppressive, individually crushing totalitarianism. He promises only misery for the masses. China's foreign investments are by definition corrupting, with a corrosive influence on smaller, often only nominally democratic and market-based nations, including those on the eastern periphery of the EU.

This mirrors in gaining Hungary as an ally that has a great potential to open "back door" to EU. Hungarian PM Viktor Orban is enjoying an unusual moment as the rare NATO ally leader beloved by both American conservatives and the Chinese Communist Party. Orban thinks that he needs to deliver to his cronies on economic cooperation and he doesn't care much about the rest of the issues like oppression and human rights. Although there were recent efforts towards a more united and firmer attitude towards China, the current situation in which some Members States would have a preferential partnership with China, while the EU is struggling to define a common position is not sustainable.

EU is getting flooded by cheap sub-standard Chinese products that, after a short period of use end up in landfills. Only China, importers and shipping companies profit from this. European citizens can do their bit, by simply looking at the packaging of products for the place of origin. Buying "Made in EU" directly benefits them, as they can be sure the products are of the highest quality and are as safe as possible, it directly benefits the environment as it saves carbon emissions produced during transportation, storage, packaging, inspections and etc., and it indirectly creates jobs during this difficult time.

Topics

• EU Values
• Green EU
• Brexit / Rejoin EU
• Nationalism
• Climate Crisis
• Corruption
• Tax Havens
• Human rights
• EU Army
• External Threats