36 Amendments of Norica NICOLAI related to 2012/2137(INI)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
- having regard to the Council's East Asia Policy Guidelines,
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU-China strategic partnership is of great importance for relations between the EU and China,both sides as is paramount for maintaining and developing the booming economic and thisrade relationship is paramount for finding answers to global concerns, such as global security, nuclear non-proliferation an, as well as for jointly addressing global challenges ranging from security and non-proliferation to climate change, the fight against organised clrimate changee, terrorism and piracy, as well as the promotion of universal human rights;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas China is undergoing a process of socio-economic transition from an extensive model of economic growth to a model aiming at regional and social equity and – above all – at maintaining stability, a process that has had varied levels of success across the country;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas China emphasises social human rights (e.g., food, clothes, economic development), while the EU stresses individual human rights (e.g., freedom of speech, religion, association); whereas the two are complementary and indivisible;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas the 21st century sees the impressive return of China on the world scene as a superpower, on account of its ongoing rapidly growing economic and military power; whereas China has recently added a new airplane carrier to its navy;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas the positive role of the PRC in South-East Asia in terms of economicPRC plays a vital part in the economic development of South-East Asia, being a leader in terms of trade and investment and a party to all regional organisations and dynamics bodies, this becoming increasingly overshadowed by territorial disputes in the South China Sea with Vietnam (Paracel/Xisha islands) and Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan (Spratly/Nansha islands) – all areas rich in fish, as well as in oil and gas reserves;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. Whereas there are growing tensions in the South China Sea and East China Sea regions stemming from the policy of the PRC to claim a maritime border which is different from the one assigned by the UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea and which puts it into direct dispute with virtually all countries in the area; whereas there is a serious risk of escalation, especially with Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan and whereas a war would be harmful to everyone, including the PRC;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas China maintains close relations with North Korea, graphically described by Mao Zedong as being ‘as close as lips and teeth’, with an inflow of Chinese money and tourists being vital to the survival of the Pyongyang regime in its current state;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas the relations between China and the USA are the world's most important bilateral ties, in particular owing to the phenomenon of ‘Chinamerica’, or the strong financial-economic entanglement of Beijing and Washington, which lead to a state of interdependency, where peace and cooperation is the only way;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital O
Recital O
O. whereas nowhere in the world is China's explosive growth more visible than in Africa, as illustrated by the impressive rise of China's mutual trade volume by 80 % to USD 166.3 billion between 2009 and 2011, according to Chinese statistics; whereas Chinese interests in Africa are visible through major development projects such as railways, roads and social welfare projects, giving it a distinct approach from the EU model of development aid;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital O a (new)
Recital O a (new)
Oa. Whereas the rising tensions over the disputed islands and overlapping and conflicting claims exist in the East Asia's maritime areas;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 m (new)
Paragraph 1 m (new)
(m) Considers that relations between the EU and China, both at economic and trade levels and on cultural and social issues can be one of the major factors for the development and betterment of both societies and therefore sees this cooperation as vital for the interests of both sides;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Shares the vehement rejection by Chinese lawyers of a compulsory oath of allegiance to the CCP on the grounds that it is an attack on the legal system, because any lawyer should swear to the Constitution and not to a political party or organisation; notes that this would lead to a weak and clientelar legal system; urges China to abandon this outdated reform and to move forward towards a more independent legal system;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines that although forced abortions are strictly illegal in China, family-planning officials repeatedly coerce women into inhumane practices such as forced abortions or sterilisation; condemns the so-called ‘social maintenance fee’, an often exorbitant fine that parents have to pay in the event of extra births, as was the case in the tragedy of Feng Jianmei; wholeheartedly supports Chinese voices that call for an end of the one-child policy;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
(a) Notes that there are long term, damaging effects of the "one-child policy" coupled with a wide spread negative feeling towards the birth of a female child, such as a severe demographic unbalance, social disparities, a worsening gender equality situation and ageing population; calls on the Chinese leadership to consider as a top priority the finding of a solution to this problem;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 e (new)
Paragraph 6 e (new)
Tibet (New subtitle)
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 f (new)
Paragraph 6 f (new)
(f) Recognises the enormous efforts made by the Chinese Government to develop Tibet and Xinjiang economically; urges the Chinese Government to act in a politically responsible way by respecting and protecting Tibetan and Uighur traditional cultures and lifestyles; believes that Beijing cannot win the hearts and minds of the Tibetan and Uighur peoples by way of millions of surveillance cameras or repressive police methods;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 k (new)
Paragraph 8 k (new)
(k) Fears that the number of prisoners being executed under China's death penalty legislation, as well as the expediency of their trials and subsequent executions, go against the spirit of the human right to a free and fair trial, in that the speed used by Chinese authorities mistrials and other errors might be overlooked, leading to the execution of innocent people; considers that the application of the death penalty within an opaque judicial system, that lacks full transparency and where the rights of the prisoner are as yet still not as developed, is a grave error; calls on the Chinese authorities to reconsider their policy on capital punishment and, for a start, restrict its application to people guilty of non violent crimes;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that the Chinese Government is tightening its surveillance of the internet by way of a new law that forbids betrayal of state secrets, harming of national pride, endangering the ethnic unity of the country or making calls for ‘illegal protests’ or ‘mass meetings’; criticises the fact that these prohibitions are rather obscurely formulated and thus clear the way for unbridled censorship; is concerned by the lack of safeguards provided by the new law, which gives the possibility of using it in an abusive way; underlines that the terms "illegal protests" and "mass meetings" should only be used in situations where a law for peaceful and legal protests exists and is effective;
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
(b) Stresses that in a country with over 500 million Internet users, digital freedoms are the only way for a flourishing and developed cyberspace; calls on the Chinese authorities to both secure but also protect the huge cyber sphere developed in their country and to target their efforts towards its enhancement and not towards censorship and control;
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Wishes to see the flourishing Protestant house churches and underground Catholic churches, as well as those from other religions, granted official recognition by the Chinese State as well; strongly condemns all attempts by the authorities to deprive these non-registered churches of their fundamental right of freedom of religion;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 f – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 12 f – subparagraph 1 (new)
Cross-Strait Relations
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 h (new)
Paragraph 12 h (new)
(h) Welcomes the increasing contacts between the PRC and Taiwan; stresses that the improvement in Cross-Strait relations is still seriously undermined by PRC's missiles aimed at Taiwan and China's international isolation of Taiwan; calls on China and the EU to respect Taiwan's right to meaningful participation in international organisations, as endorsed by the Council's declaration 9486/09 of 8 May 2009;
Amendment 271 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 i (new)
Paragraph 12 i (new)
(i) Salutes the strong economic ties flourishing between mainland China and Taiwan, as well as the new opening of Taiwan towards Chinese tourists and cultural cooperation; considers that the internationalisation of trade and investment to be the best guarantor of Taiwan's stability; urges Taiwan's government therefore, to accompany its investment in the PRC with investments elsewhere;
Amendment 272 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 j (new)
Paragraph 12 j (new)
(d) Welcomes the recent initiative coming from the President of Taiwan for a consensus for a code of conduct of the East China Sea and the establishment of a mechanism allowing all sides to cooperate in the exploitation of the region's natural resources, including capacity for the generation of electricity from renewable sources; considers that this is a model to be used also in the South China Sea region;
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Urges the PRC to use its regainenewly found global position in a responsible way by acting according to its own criteria of ‘peaceful development’ and ‘a harmonious world’, as well as by respecting all international conventions and treaties to which it is a party;
Amendment 286 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
(a) Recognises China's responsibility in providing both security to its citizens and assuming a role of promoter of peace and stability in the world and welcomes its increased participation in the UN; calls, however, for more cooperation and transparency with the EU and the UN from the Chinese side on these issues, and for the avoidance of isolation in the development of its foreign policy;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
(a) Deplores the fact that so far, no efforts have been made for the creation of a fora of discussion that can address the growing tensions in the maritime neighbourhood of China; sees the PRC as having the leading role in this issue, as it is involved in most maritime border disputes in South East Asia and calls on it to pursue a diplomatic solution leading to all parties acknowledging that they need a consensual solution and coming together around a negotiation table; sees the EU as a potential neutral, third party mediator in these discussions;
Amendment 296 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
(b) Notes that China's claim to some parts of the region are contrary to the UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea and calls for a respect of international treaties and laws; welcomes the recent initiative for a consensual code of conduct for the East China Sea and considers it a model that could be also used in the South China Sea;
Amendment 298 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)
Paragraph 15 d (new)
(d) Due to the European Union's significant interests in the security and stability of East Asia, calls upon all parties concerned (China, Japan and Taiwan) to demonstrate restraint and to take steps to calm the situation; urges all parties concerned to settle disputes peacefully in a spirit of cooperation and in respect of international law, in particular the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea;
Amendment 304 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
(c) Notes that China's role in the cooperation between the two parties in the Korean Peninsula is vital and calls on the PRC to more actively seek enhanced cooperation between North and South;
Amendment 306 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 e (new)
Paragraph 16 e (new)
(e) Notes China's growing role in the Central Asian region, via trade, economic and energy projects; considers that it can have a major role in the development of countries in Central Asia and calls on the PRC to promote better relations between states there as a pivotal step towards regional cooperation;
Amendment 307 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 f (new)
Paragraph 16 f (new)
(f) Welcomes the developing ties between China and Afghanistan, with talks happening for the first time in history at a senior leadership level; considers that China can play a pivotal role in the stabilisation of Afghanistan through a soft power approach and urges the development of a close cooperation between the EU and China on this issue;
Amendment 308 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 g (new)
Paragraph 16 g (new)
(g) Underlines that the ongoing tensions between China and India over Arunachal Pradesh, as well as the dispute on parts of the Kashmir region are a grave threat to the peace and stability of not only the region but the whole world, as the two sides are the Globe's most populous nuclear states; calls for a renewal of bilateral talks and for the abandonment of aggressive acts and declarations from both sides;