Activities of László TŐKÉS related to 2017/2274(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
State of EU-China relations (debate) HU
Amendments (12)
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the 19th EU-China Summit in 2017 advanced a bilateral strategic partnership, which has a global impact, and highlighted joint commitments to addressing global challenges, such as climate change, common security threats and the promotingon of multilateralism, peacekeeping and peace-building;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas, largely unnoticignored in Europe, China has been rapidly and systematically increasing itsthe Chinese leadership has gradually and systematically increased efforts to translate its economic weight into political influence through strategic infrastructure investments and transport links, ands well as strategic communication aimed at influencing European political and economic decision- makers, media, academics and the wider publicuniversities and academic publishers and the wider public in order to shape perceptions about China and build up a positive image for the country, by building up ‘networks’ of supportive European individuals across societies;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the so called 16+1 format between China andon one hand and eleven Central and Eastern European Countries (CEE) and five Balkans countries on the other hand was established in 2012 in the aftermath of the financial crisis and as part of Chinese sub-regional diplomacy; whereas Chinese investments in those countries are wide-ranging to develop large- scale infrastructure projects and strengthen economic and trade cooperation; whereas Chinese investments in those countries, as well as overall in the EU, are wide-ranging and have become a critical feature of EU-China relations;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the most ambitious foreign policy initiative the country has ever adoptedannounced by President Xi Jinping in 2013 as the "One Belt One Road" and elevated to constitutional rank within the Chinese Communist Party in 2017 is the most ambitious foreign policy initiative the country has ever adopted covering two-thirds of global population and three-fourth of global energy resources; where BRI was further strengthened with the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in 2015; whereas at the 16+1 summit held in late December 2017, China pledged to invest USD 3 billion in infrastructure in the 16 CEE countries as part of the BRI; whereas the Chinese infrastructure projects will create large debts for the European governments to Chinese state-owned banks and few jobs in Europe, and are often awarded without transparent tenders;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas the situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, home to ten million Muslim Uygurs, has rapidly deteriorated in recent years, in particular under the rule and tightened security measures of the current president with the establishment of an extrajudicial detention program holding tens of thousands of people who are forced to receive political 're-education', as well as the development of a sophisticated network of invasive digital surveillance, mass deployment of police, strict restrictions on religious practices, the Uyghur language and customs;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Reminds that the EU-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is founded on a shared commitment to openness and working together as part of a rules-based international system; stresses that both sides committed to establishing a transparent, just and equitable system of global governance with a central role for the UN in international affairs, sharing the responsibility for promoting peace, prosperity and sustainable development;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Is concerned that the increase in China’s global economic and political weight over the past decade has put the shared commitments at the core of EU- China relations at test; calls therefore on the EU to reassess and reaffirm the principles underlying EU-China relations, as well as to reassert the principles at the core of its own external action which have inspired its creation, including democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for the principles of the UN Charter and international law; reminds that the EU’s engagement with China should be principled, practical and pragmatic, staying true to its interests and values;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Stresses that addressing global challenges, such as security, disarmament, non-proliferation, counter- terrorism and cyberspace, cooperation on peace in Africa, climate change, energy, oceans and resource efficiency, global health and development all require genuine partnership between the EU and China; urges that the EU capitalise on China’s commitment to tackling global problems such as climate change and further extend successful cooperation in peacekeeping with China, as one of the biggest contributors to the UN budget and an increasing contributor of troops to UN peacekeeping operations, to other areas of joint interest while promoting multilateralism and a global governance based on respect for international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Reminds that as it continues to grow and integrate into the global economy along its ‘going out’ policy as announced in 2001, China seeks to increase its access to the European market for Chinese goods and services and to technology and know-how in order to support plans such as “Made in China 2025”, and to strengthen its political and diplomatic influence in Europe; stresses that these ambitions have intensified in particular in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis shaping new dynamics in EU-China relations;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Is worried about the increase of Chinese investment activity in recent years overall in the EU with several high- profile deals and acquisitions in particular in the west in high-tech industries and advanced manufacturing, such as industrial machinery and equipment, automotive industry and electronics; calls therefore on all EU member states receiving such investment to protect European interests, in particular in strategic industries and critical or security-sensitive technologies;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Is concerned about the lack of reciprocity and fair competition on issues such as trade and investment in EU- China relations, leading to a highly restricted Chinese market and a much more open European economy; calls therefore on China to open more sectors in its market, such as telecommunications, energy, healthcare and finance, in line with commitments articulated by the Chinese leadership;
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Reminds that as North Korea’s biggest trade partner and main source of food and energy, China remains of instrumental role in addressing North Korea’s globally threatening provocations together with the international community; welcomes therefore China’s recent inclination to uphold some of the international sanctions against Pyongyang, including suspending coal imports from North Korea and restricting financial activities of North Korean individuals and businesses and trade restrictions in textiles and seafood and welcomes Beijing’s efforts to establish dialogue with Pyongyang; urges the EU to speak with unity on China to play a constructive role on supporting the upcoming Inter-Korean summit as well as the North Korea-US summit with a view to actively assisting with the verifiable denuclearization of North Korea and establishment of permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula;