2012/2137(INI) EU-China relations
Lead committee dossier:
Progress: Procedure completed
| Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | AFET |
BELDER Bas ( EFD)
|
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54
Legal Basis:
RoP 54Events
2013/03/14
EP - Results of vote in Parliament
Documents
2013/03/14
EP - Decision by Parliament
Details
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on EU-China relations.
It highlights that the EU-China strategic partnership is of great importance for relations between the EU and China and that this relationship is paramount for finding answers to global concerns, such as global and regional security, the economic crisis, energy security, the promotion of democracy and human rights, as well as in creating a framework to address bilateral concerns between the EU and China.
Members, Parliament considers that a strategic partnership requires a strong commitment to mutual responsibility and a good level of confidence, and must be based on universal values.
Members go on to make a series of recommendations on the main themes of the EU-China partnership.
(1) EU-China Strategic Partnership and cooperation : Parliament supports and encourages the almost 60 sectoral dialogues between the EU and China, with the conviction that an enhanced and highly developed partnership will be mutually beneficial to both the EU and China. Members wish, however, to see a strengthening of these dialogues in the fields of human rights, the environment, security, energy and in particular the fight against counterfeit products , in view of its impact on public health and safety. They believe, moreover, that the concept of strategic partnership must be better defined and call for increased trade and economic relations with China.
It also expects Member States to give the European External Action Service (EEAS) and especially its Delegation in Beijing a clear mandate to strengthen a long-term strategy EU-China Strategic Partnership.
Moreover, they state that the concept of strategic partnership must be better defined and call for increased trade and economic relations with China to go hand in hand with considerable progress in the political dialogue on human rights and the rule of law.
Members expect Member States to give the European External Action Service (EEAS) and especially its Delegation in Beijing a clear mandate to strengthen the EU-China Strategic Partnership. They also call for the EU to implement a long-term strategy vis-à-vis China, providing operational coordination both between the institutions of the Union and between the Union and its Member States.
(2) Internal situation : Parliament recognises the significant progress made as regards social policy. However, a successful economic policy is seriously threatened by corruption scandals, a lack of transparency and a ‘red aristocracy’ of close family members of former and present party leaders who possess enormous fortunes owing to their political and economic connections.
Members believe that only effective political reforms aimed at shaping inclusive, democratic and accountable institutions that reflect China’s ethnic, religious, political and social diversity will pave the way for building sustainable growth and stability.
As regards forced abortions , although they are strictly illegal in China, family-planning officials repeatedly coerce women into inhumane practices, such as forced abortions or sterilisation. Members support Chinese voices calling for an end to the one-child policy.
(3) Human rights and democracy : the resolution admires and supports the courage and activism of those Chinese citizens acting in socially responsible ways to promote and defend universally recognised social and human rights. It urges the Chinese leadership to encourage civil responsibility and to comply with minimum social standards . Members underline the importance of compliance with, and rapid implementation of, all International Labour Organisation rules , including the right freely to form independent trade unions. Members take the view that the EU should not allow market access for goods that have been produced by means of child labour or in facilities that gravely violate international labour standards and human rights, such as prison camps.
It also underlines the importance of the rapid implementation of all International Labour Organisation rules, and takes the view that the EU should not allow market access for goods which have been produced by means of child or prison camp labour.
The Chinese authorities are called upon to reconsider their policy on capital punishment .
As regards the freedom of the media , Parliament stresses that the Strategic Partnership between the EU and China includes freedom of the media on a reciprocal basis and it deplores the control and censorship of the internet by the Chinese authorities.
On religion , Parliament urges the Chinese authorities to pull back on policies and practices that curtail any citizen’s fundamental right to freedom of religion and belief . It recalls that the Chinese state recognises only five religions, namely Buddhism, Daoism, Islam and Christianity (both Catholicism and Protestantism), and that all of these religions have centralised governing bodies loyal to the CCP. It also recalls that China has banned Falun Gong since 1999 with the aim of eradicating the practice, and as a consequence of this ban, human rights organisations have reported extralegal coercive measures sometimes resulting in death.
Recalling that since 2009 at least 90 Tibetans have self-immolated in Tibetan-populated areas of China, Parliament urges the Chinese Government to act in a politically responsible way by meaningfully engaging the Tibetan and Uighur peoples in governance issues, rather than through forcible assimilation.
(4) External situation : Parliament urges China to use its global position in a more responsible way. It stresses, in this connection, the need for China to abandon its veto position on any UNSC resolution allowing intervention in Syria in order to halt the civil war. Members call on China to review its policy of “non-interference in countries’ internal affairs” in cases of severe breaches of international humanitarian law. Parliament considers that China can play a pivotal role in stabilising Afghanistan through a soft power approach and urges the development of close cooperation between the EU and China on this issue.
Members call on the EU to remain vigilant about the political, economic, social and environmental impact of China’s growing investments in Africa .
Parliament underlines the global importance of the South China Sea , through which one third of the world's trade passes and is alarmed at the escalating tension. It urgently appeals to all the parties involved to refrain from unilateral political and military actions, to tone down statements and to settle their conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea by means of international arbitration. It considers it regrettable, that the survival of the dictatorial and repressive North Korean regime depends essentially on China. It looks forward to China continuing to take responsibility for stability on the Korean Peninsula, a swift resumption of the six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear threat. It is seriously worried about the escalating tensions between China and Japan. It calls on all parties concerned ( China, Japan and Taiwan ) to demonstrate restraint and to take steps to calm the situation on the disputed islands.
Parliament encourages China, the world’s biggest emitter of carbon dioxide, to play a more proactive and constructive role in promoting cooperation within the global community in order to tackle climate change .
Lastly, Members urge China to make it an absolute priority to ensure legal certainty for foreign companies, by upholding the principles of equality, reciprocity and corporate social responsibility.
Documents
2013/03/14
EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2013/03/13
EP - Debate in Parliament
Documents
2012/12/20
EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details
The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own-initiative report by Bastiaan BELDER (EFD, NL) on EU-China relations.
It highlights that the EU-China strategic partnership is of great importance for relations between the EU and China and that this relationship is paramount for finding answers to global concerns, such as global and regional security, the economic crisis, energy security, the promotion of democracy and human rights, as well as in creating a framework to address bilateral concerns between the EU and China.
However, according to Members, a strategic partnership requires a strong commitment to mutual responsibility and a good level of confidence, and must be based on universal values.
(1) EU-China Strategic Partnership and cooperation : the report supports and encourages the almost 60 sectoral dialogues between the EU and China, with the conviction that an enhanced and highly developed partnership will be mutually beneficial to both the EU and China. Members wish, however, to see a strengthening of these dialogues in the fields of human rights, the environment, security, energy and in particular the fight against counterfeit products, in view of its impact on public health and safety. Moreover, they state that the concept of strategic partnership must be better defined and call for increased trade and economic relations with China to go hand in hand with considerable progress in the political dialogue on human rights and the rule of law.
Members expect Member States to give the European External Action Service (EEAS) and especially its Delegation in Beijing a clear mandate to strengthen the EU-China Strategic Partnership. They also call for the EU to implement a long-term strategy vis-à-vis China, providing operational coordination both between the institutions of the Union and between the Union and its Member States.
The report emphasises that China is not only the world’s second-largest economy and biggest exporter in the global economy, but also an increasingly important political power .
(2) Internal situation : the report recognises the significant progress made as regards social policy. However, a successful economic policy is seriously threatened by corruption scandals. Members believe that only effective political reforms aimed at shaping inclusive, democratic and accountable institutions that reflect China’s ethnic, religious, political and social diversity will pave the way for building sustainable growth and stability.
As regards forced abortions , although they are strictly illegal in China, family-planning officials repeatedly coerce women into inhumane practices, such as forced abortions or sterilisation. Members support Chinese voices calling for an end to the one-child policy.
(3) Human rights and democracy : Members admire and support the courage and activism of those Chinese citizens acting in socially responsible ways to promote and defend universally recognised social and human rights. The report urges the Chinese leadership to encourage civil responsibility and to comply with minimum social standards . Members underline the importance of compliance with, and rapid implementation of, all International Labour Organisation rules , including the right freely to form independent trade unions. Members take the view that the EU should not allow market access for goods which have been produced by means of child labour or in facilities which gravely violate international labour standards and human rights, such as prison camps.
The Chinese authorities are called upon to reconsider their policy on capital punishment .
As regards the freedom of the media , the report stresses that the Strategic Partnership between the EU and China includes freedom of the media on a reciprocal basis and it deplores the control and censorship of the internet by the Chinese authorities.
On religion , Members urge the Chinese authorities to pull back on policies and practices that curtail any citizen’s fundamental right to freedom of religion and belief .
The report acknowledges efforts made in the area of controlling and carefully applying the death penalty in China, but remains concerned at the fact that the Chinese Government is still maintaining its policy of not releasing details of the number of prisoners executed annually, keeping information on the death penalty a state secret.
(4) External situation : the report urges China to use its global position in a more responsible way, in particular in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), where it holds a permanent seat and a right of veto. It stresses, in this connection, the need for China to abandon its veto position on any UNSC resolution allowing intervention in Syria in order to halt the civil war. Members call on China to review its policy of “non-interference in countries’ internal affairs” in cases of severe breaches of international humanitarian law. The report considers that China can play a pivotal role in stabilising Afghanistan through a soft power approach and urges the development of close cooperation between the EU and China on this issue.
Members call on the EU to remain vigilant about the political, economic, social and environmental impact of China’s growing investments in Africa .
The report encourages China, the world’s biggest emitter of carbon dioxide, to play a more proactive and constructive role in promoting cooperation within the global community in order to tackle climate change .
Lastly, Members urge China to make it an absolute priority to ensure legal certainty for foreign companies, by upholding the principles of equality, reciprocity and corporate social responsibility.
Documents
2012/12/10
EP - Vote in committee
2012/11/06
EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2012/09/18
EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2012/07/05
EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2011/12/14
EP - BELDER Bas (EFD) appointed as rapporteur in AFET
Documents
- Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
- Decision by Parliament: T7-0097/2013
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
- Committee report tabled for plenary: A7-0434/2012
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE497.775
- Committee draft report: PE494.557
- Committee draft report: PE494.557
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE497.775
| Amendments | Dossier |
| 333 |
2012/2137(INI)
2012/11/07
AFET
333 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 2 a (new) - having regard to the decision of the European Council of 27 June 1989 which imposed an arms embargo on China,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 20 – having regard to its recent resolutions on China, in particular its resolution of 23 May 2012 entitled
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution Recital M M. whereas China maintains close relations with North Korea,
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution 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 102 #
Motion for a resolution Recital M a (new) Ma. Whereas China is cooperating with Russia, four Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) and four observer countries (India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan) in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO); whereas Chinese investments in Central Asia will rise in the next decade from 20 billion to 100 billion dollars, as was announced at the SCO Summit in Beijing, 6 June 2012;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N N. whereas the deepening economic relations between
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N N. whereas
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N N. whereas
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N N. whereas the relations between China and the USA are the world's most important bilateral ties, in particular owing to the
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N N. whereas the relations between China and the USA are one of the world's most important bilateral
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N N. whereas
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 21 Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution 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 111 #
Motion for a resolution Recital O O. whereas
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution Recital O O. whereas
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution Recital O O. whereas nowhere in the world is China's explosive growth more visible than in Africa
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution Recital O O. whereas
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution 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, as well as that of Chinese foreign direct investment in Africa, which rose by 58.9% in 2011 to USD 1.7 billion;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution Recital O O. whereas nowhere in the world is China's explosive growth more visible than in Africa, as illustrated by the impressive rise
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution 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 China's involvement in Africa, in economic and commercial terms, does not encompass a policy consistent with the promotion of human rights and of the Millennium Development Goals, including sustainable development, the rule of law and human security;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution 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 119 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Joins with the public commitment made by the EU and China during their High- Level Strategic Dialogue of 9
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 21 – having regard to its resolutions of 7 September 2006 on EU-China relations
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Joins with the public commitment made by the EU and China during their High- Level Strategic Dialogue of 9-10 July 2012 in Beijing to set a good example of international cooperation in the 21st century through their Strategic Partnership; supports and encourages the almost sixty sectoral dialogues between the EU and China with the conviction that an enhanced and highly developed partnership will be mutually beneficial to both the EU and China; wishes, however, to see a strengthening of these dialogues in the fields of the environment, security, energy and in particular the fight against counterfeit products, in view of its impact on public health and safety;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Joins with the public commitment made by the EU and China during their High- Level Strategic Dialogue of 9-10 July 2012 in Beijing to set a good example of international cooperation in the 21st century through their Strategic Partnership based on shared interests; supports and encourages the almost sixty sectoral dialogues between the EU and China with the conviction that an enhanced and highly developed partnership will be mutually beneficial to both the EU and China; believes, however, that the concept of strategic partnership needs further clarification and more focused approach on issues of strategic importance to the EU;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Joins with the public commitment made by the EU and China during their High- Level Strategic Dialogue of 9-10 July 2012 in Beijing to set a good example of international cooperation in the 21st century through their Strategic Partnership; supports and encourages the almost sixty sectoral dialogues between the EU and China with the conviction that an enhanced and highly developed partnership will be mutually beneficial to both the EU and China; calls for increased trade and economic relations with China to go hand in hand with considerable progress in the political dialogue on human rights and the rule of law;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) (a) Expects that EU Member States will give the EEAS and especially its Delegation in Beijing a clear mandate to strengthen the EU-China Strategic Partnership by speaking with one voice to the Chinese government; expects from the Chinese authorities at all political levels to strengthen the EU-China Strategic Partnership by a consistent and transparent application of mutual and international agreements and rules;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 b (new) (b) Suggests that a strategic priority for the EU in relations with China is to drastically improve its own decision making mechanisms in order to be able to speak with one voice and to develop consistent and coherent initiatives and policies in relations with China;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 c (new) (c) Reiterates that EU - China relations would benefit more from a comprehensive strategic partnership rather than from a confrontational approach; emphasizes that the EU must take into account that differences in the political system and culture between the two are so substantial that their forced and artificially accelerated harmonization is out of the question; in order to promote both parties' global interests, a strategy of joint projects and institutional approximation implemented in the frame of mutual understanding and respect is to be preferred;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 d (new) (d) Mentions the complementarity, compatibility and convergence of EU- China strategic interests at a global level and considers that adequate instruments should be defined and regulated in order to manage a truly strategic relationship, in addition to the routine bilateral dialogues that deal with daily operational issues;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 e (new) (e) Believes that the EU should insist in establishing institutional interoperability with China to be put in service of the achievement of local, regional and global projects based on the solidarity of strategic interests;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 f (new) (f) Calls on Member States to coordinate their foreign policy with China, and refrain from implementing bilateral foreign policy initiatives that can jeopardize the efforts made by the European Union External Action;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 g (new) 1g. Calls on the EU to speak with one voice with China so as to avoid a situation in which bilateral partnerships and agreements undermine the Union's position; calls for the EU to implement a long-term strategy vis-à-vis China, providing operational coordination both between the institutions of the Union and between the Union and Member States;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 22 Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 h (new) 1h. Welcomes China's reaffirmation of its commitment to pursue its cooperation with the EU concerning crisis management, the fight against piracy and maritime security, especially in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia, where acts of piracy have become a major security problem;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 i (new) 1i. Welcomes the commitments made at the 15th EU-China Summit held in Brussels on 20 September 2012, in particular regarding the negotiation of an agreement on investments and the commitment to a regular dialogue on defence and security issues;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 j (new) (j) Notes that this Partnership must be based on a mutual understanding and emphasises the importance of teaming cultures and social systems;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 k (new) (k) Is concerned about the continuing lack of progress in the human rights dialogue between the EU and China; calls on the newly appointed EU Special Representative for Human Rights to give this process of dialogue a new impetus;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 l (new) 1l. Calls for progress in the various sectoral dialogues to be verified in accordance with the principles of conditionality and 'more for more', ahead of the signing of an EU-China Association Agreement;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution 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 136 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 n (new) (n) Welcomes the launch and successful first round of the EU-China High Level People-to-People Dialogue; expresses satisfaction with the progress and achievements of ''EU-China Year of Intercultural Dialogue'' and takes note of the agreement at the 15th EU-China Summit on a series of follow-up actions in various areas of education, culture, multilingualism and youth;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 o (new) 1o. Calls on the Commission and the Council and the relevant Chinese authorities to facilitate, in cooperation with Parliament, tourist flows from China to the EU by harmonizing and accelerating procedures for issuing visas for Chinese nationals, particularly in the context of business and conference travel;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 p (new) (p) Welcomes the call of both sides at the 15th EU-China Summit for a launch of a comprehensive EU-China Dialogue on Mobility and Migration at appropriate level and their mutual engagement to continue to explore ways of facilitating exchanges for Chinese and EU citizens, including mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic passports;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 q (new) (q) Affirms that the EU must avoid policies, conditionalities and rhetoric which, if perceived as humiliating attempts to impose cultural values foreign to the traditions of China, might generate a nationalistic response;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 24 Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 r (new) (r) Points out that the EU should plan and implement policies which are able to assist China in consolidating its economic, social and territorial cohesion;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 s (new) (s) Stresses that China, in recent decades, has achieved important social progresses; underlines that such an improvement in the quality of life for a huge country in such a short period of time is unique in history; notes that the economic growth in China has lifted more than half a billion people out of poverty since 1990;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 t (new) (t) Notes that, by the middle of the century, China will probably become the world most powerful economy; therefore stresses the need to build a partnership based on mutual respect; emphasizes the importance to consider the potential benefits for developing countries from deeper economic relations with China and that the expansion of trade between all the EU Member States and China represents a crucial opportunity for growth;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 u (new) (u) Considers China as the most important challenge for EU trade policy and believes that the commercial relations with this country should be evaluated from a much larger perspective; underlines that China is not only the world's second largest economy and biggest exporter in the global economy, but also an increasingly important political power;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 v (new) (v) Is of the opinion that trade and investments are the cornerstone of the EU-China partnership and underlines the principle of reciprocity in trade relations; stresses the need of strengthening the intellectual property rights and developing more transparent public procurement rules in China and calls for an EU-China investment agreement to ensure better investment climate for European investors;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 w (new) 1w. Takes the view that China should, within the framework of the WTO and in conjunction with the WIPO, be a party to all international negotiations on the fight against counterfeiting and the protection of intellectual property rights; welcomes in this regard the signing by China on 26 June 2012 of the WIPO Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 x (new) 1x. Calls on the Commission and the Council to work with China and in collaboration with Parliament to establish a balanced EU-China trade relationship, based in particular on the principle of reciprocal access to public and private markets, the free flow of currencies and the reciprocal protection of investments and intellectual property rights;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Welcomes the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), approved by the National People's Congress in March 2012, which strongly intends to tackle the negative side effects of an unparalleled period of sustained high economic growth
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2.
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Welcomes the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), approved by the National People's Congress in March 2012, which strongly intends to tackle the negative side effects of an unparalleled period of sustained high economic growth, such as acute environmental threats, regional imbalances, rising income inequality and continuing collective protests centred on social, economic and legal grievances; asserts that Europe
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 25 Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Welcomes the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), approved by the National People's Congress in March 2012, which strongly intends to tackle the negative side effects of an unparalleled period of sustained high economic growth, such as acute environmental threats, regional imbalances, rising income inequality and continuing collective protests centred on social, economic and legal grievances; asserts that European capabilities and experiences can be of great value in sustaining and fostering innovation in China's economy; strongly supports China's development convinced that this would encourage China to embrace the model of soft universalistic, as opposed to nationalistic power;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 a (new) (a) Stresses the importance of setting up an investment framework between the EU and China, and notes the importance of identifying common grounds between the EU2020 strategy and the 5 year plan of China;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 b (new) (b) Is of the opinion that the EU should immediately recognise China's functional market economy status, among others as a confirmation of and an encouragement for its outstanding contribution to global economic growth and its involvement in fighting the global economic and financial crisis, as well as a means for consolidating the mutual trust in their bilateral relations;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Acknowledges the
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Acknowledges th
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Acknowledges the popular legitimacy of the CCP, especially in view of its successful economic policy
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Acknowledges the popular legitimacy of the CCP, especially
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 27 a (new) - having regard to the report on 'EU and China: Unbalanced Trade?', adopted by the European Parliament on 20 April 2012,
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Acknowledges the popular legitimacy of the CCP, especially in view of its successful economic policy
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Acknowledges the popular legitimacy of the CCP,
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 (new) Expresses its concern at growing inequalities and the unfair distribution of wealth; calls for equitable development underpinned by a social market economy;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) (a) Recognises that, following its historic and cultural Mandarin traditions, but also its demographic realities, China could democratise and become democratically interoperable with EU only through a process pursued from top to bottom, starting with a democracy of the elites; in this context emphasizes that it is of outmost importance for the EU - China relations to encourage and assist the democratisation of the Chinese Communist Party, among others by the development of a structured dialogue between its representatives and the European political families;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Looks forward to the speedy implementation of the repeated calls for democratisation and political reforms inside the CCP; b
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Looks forward to the speedy implementation
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Looks forward to the speedy implementation of the repeated calls of
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Looks forward to the
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Looks forward to the speedy implementation of the repeated calls for democratisation and political reforms inside the CCP by means of an open- minded new party leadership; believes that only effective political reforms will curb the semi-independence of high-handed provincial, district and local party bosses,
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the EU-China strategic partnership is of great importance for
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) (a) Further mentions that the EU should do its utmost in order to support the central authorities of China to effectively exercise their political oversight against the centrifugal tendencies of the possible emerging local or regional economic and political oligarchs from the most developed areas of the country;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 b (new) (b) Urges China, as the world's rising trading power, to play a constructive role in international fora; in addition maintains that it is in the Chinese leadership's interest to act as the guardian of an open trading system and fully abide by its WTO commitments as a contribution to the resolution of the ongoing "rare earths" and other trade disputes;
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Shares the vehement rejection by Chinese lawyers of a compulsory oath of
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Shares and supports 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 which blatantly disregards international legal standards, because any lawyer should swear to the Constitution and not to a political party or organisation;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 a (new) (a) Underlines that China has always been too big and too populous to be governed only by force as an army of reliable size is not large enough to control China and an army capable of controlling China can not be trusted; notes therefore that law and order is enforced in China by a small force of one million 300 thousand individuals, a police officer for every 1,000 inhabitants; considers that the European average is a police officer for every 400 people;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Underlines that although forced abortions are strictly illegal in China, family-planning officials repeatedly coerce women into abortions or sterilisation;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Underlines that although forced abortions are strictly illegal in China, family-planning officials repeatedly coerce women into abortions or sterilisation;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Underlines that although forced abortions are strictly illegal in China, family-planning officials repeatedly coerce women into 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; urges that women should be free to take a decision to have an abortion, and that a wide range of safe, effective and acceptable family planning methods should be made available, so that any form of coercion is ruled out, in accordance with the sexual health and reproductive rights recognised under international law;
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Underlines that although forced abortions are strictly illegal in China, family-planning officials repeatedly coerce women into abortions or sterilisation and calls therefore on the People's Republic of China to stop and strictly punish this way of proceeding, while encouraging the abolition of abortion and respecting the fundamental right to life of the unborn; 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 18 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the EU-China strategic partnership is of great importance for relations between the EU and China, a
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Underlines that although forced abortions are strictly illegal in China, family-planning officials repeatedly coerce women into abortions or sterilisation;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution 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 182 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Underlines that although forced abortions are strictly illegal in China, family-planning officials repeatedly coerce
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution 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 184 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 b (new) 6b. Takes seriously into account the vigorous protests by workers at the Foxconn plant and demands that workers' rights be respected; supports the pursuit of decent pay and decent working conditions;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 c (new) (c) Welcomes China's efforts to establish a nationwide emission trading system by 2015, which could in the future be integrated with other carbon trading systems, notably EU ETS; notes however that China does not yet have a fully- functioning mature market economy which is a clear prerequisite for a well functioning emissions trading system;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 d (new) (d) Urges the Chinese government to step up the measuring of pollutants and emissions in order to overcome the lack of reliable carbon emission data, to establish a better legal infrastructure and to increase capacity building at administrative level. Welcomes in this regard the 20 September 2012 financing agreement between the EU and China promoting the environment, transition towards a low-carbon economy and a reduction of green house gas emissions in China;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution 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 Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the EU-China strategic partnership is of great importance for relations between the EU and China, and
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Welcomes the
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Welcomes the
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Welcomes the increasing contacts between the PRC and Taiwan; notes China's strong wish for reunification with Taiwan; stresses that this political aim is still seriously undermined by Chinese missiles aimed at Taiwan and China's international isolation of Taiwan; expects that China, Taiwan and the EU will respect the free choice of Taiwanese citizens on the
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Welcomes the increasing contacts between the PRC and Taiwan; notes China's strong wish for reunification with Taiwan; stresses that this political aim is still seriously undermined by Chinese missiles aimed at Taiwan and China's international isolation of Taiwan;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Welcomes the increasing contacts between the PRC and Taiwan; notes China's strong wish for reunification with Taiwan; stresses that this political aim is still seriously undermined by Chinese missiles aimed at Taiwan and China's international isolation of Taiwan; expects that China, Taiwan and the EU, in line with its "One China" policy, will respect the free choice of the Taiwanese
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) (a) Takes note of the decision of Hong Kong's Chief Executive not to force the implementation of a controversial "national education" curriculum after mass demonstrations and widespread opposition; calls on the Beijing authorities to fully respect the "one country-two systems" principle in compliance with the agreement signed before the handover of the former British colony to the PRC; welcomes the high turnout in the recent elections of the Legislative Council and expects the introduction of the universal suffrage for the election of all the members of this assembly in the shortest delay;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 b (new) (b) Advocates that cooperation in preventing and managing future conflicts in highly sensible regions should be a core issue for both EU and China, as responsible, emerging global soft powers; welcomes China's positive involvement in maintaining stability in its surrounding areas; concludes that this kind of relation should be build on common interests rather than on differences when assessing their respective policies towards regions characterised by conflict; the EU-China strategic comprehensive partnership should be also conceived in the prospective of diminishing the differences in perceiving the geo-strategic opportunities, challenges and threats, thus allowing for similar, complementary or coordinated reactions;
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 7 a (new) - having regard to the Council's East Asia Policy Guidelines,
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the EU-China strategic partnership is of great importance for relations between the EU and China, and this relationship is paramount for finding answers to global concerns, such as global governance and security, nuclear non- proliferation and climate change as well as in creating a framework to address bilateral concerns between the EU and China;
Amendment 200 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Admires the courage and
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Admires the courage and
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Admires the courage and
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Admires and supports the courage and
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Admires the courage and the social responsibility of numerous Chinese citizens for defending precious social rights in their country, but denounces the tragic state of affairs whereby several of them are being officially persecuted and punished for their efforts to correct well-known social dangers/criminal acts such as corruption, abuse of office, environmental damage, AIDS infection, food poisoning, construction fraud concerning schools, illegal land and property expropriation, often committed by local party authorities; urges the Chinese leadership to encourage civil responsibility for observing social human rights and to rehabilitate officially persecuted and punished defenders of these rights;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Admires the courage and the social responsibility of numerous Chinese citizens for defending precious social rights in their country, but denounces the tragic state of affairs whereby several of them are being officially persecuted and punished for their efforts to correct
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Admires the courage and the social responsibility of numerous Chinese citizens for defending precious social rights in their country
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Admires the courage and the social responsibility of numerous Chinese citizens for defending precious social and human rights in their country, but denounces the tragic state of affairs whereby several of them are being officially persecuted and punished for their efforts to correct well-known social dangers/criminal acts such as corruption, abuse of office, environmental damage, AIDS infection, food poisoning, construction fraud concerning schools, illegal land and property expropriation, often committed by local party authorities; urges the Chinese leadership to encourage civil responsibility for observing social human rights and to rehabilitate officially persecuted and punished defenders of these rights; also expects a responsible Chinese leadership to comply strictly with individual human rights;
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Admires the courage and the social responsibility of numerous Chinese
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Admires the courage and the social responsibility of numerous Chinese citizens for defending precious social rights in their country, but denounces the tragic state of affairs whereby several of them are being officially persecuted and punished for their efforts to correct well-known social dangers/criminal acts such as corruption, abuse of office, environmental damage, AIDS infection, food poisoning, construction fraud concerning schools, illegal land and property expropriation, often committed by local party authorities; ;urges the Chinese leadership to
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the EU-China strategic partnership is of great importance for relations between the EU and China, and this relationship is paramount for finding
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) (a) Acknowledges that through its opening to the world and increased engagement with the international community in the past three decades, China's human rights stance has moved closer to internationally accepted standards, seen through the country's signing of several international human rights agreements, such as the International Covenant on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights (ICSECR), but also apparent in official statements of Chinese leaders as well as in increasing scholarly interest and analysis on China's approach to human rights; deplores however the fact that China's embracing of international norms has been selective, and urgently calls for further and increased effort to bring genuine progress in human rights in practice, furthermore it urges the Chinese government to respect its international obligations as well as to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 b (new) (b) Strongly endorses the critical comments of Chinese lawyers and jurists that the humiliating detainment of suspects for more than 15 days conflicts with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which China signed in October 1998; is shocked by the fact that according to the new Criminal Procedures Law of 2013 police and state security authorities can even detain a suspect more than 14 months without any assistance of a lawyer; fully supports the criticism of Chinese jurists that the police retains the option not only to keep suspects under house arrest, but also to detain them under "Arrest at a determined place"; backs all initiatives of Chinese jurists to really reform the Criminal Procedures Law of the PRC;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 c (new) 8c. Expresses its concern at the unwillingness of the Chinese government to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which is still pending;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 d (new) (d) Urges Chinese authorities as well as the European investors and companies that operate in China to respect international labour standards to guarantee decent working conditions and respect of human rights in China; is of the opinion that the EU should not allow market access for goods which have been produced in facilities which gravely violate international labour standards and human rights such as prison labour camps;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 e (new) (e) Calls on China to comply with minimum social standards; stresses that observance of human rights, in all their complexity, is essential in the cooperation between the EU and China; underlines the importance of compliance with, and a rapid implementation of all rules of the International Labour Organisation and the World Trade Organisation, including the right to freely form independent trade unions; supports the pursuit of decent pay and working conditions; calls for mutual respect for labour legislation, especially the prevention of illegal forms of labour such as child labour and prison labour; notes the improvements made by the Chinese government regarding better conditions for employees, yet observes that workers' rights are not always respected due to poor enforcement of labour laws and employers frequently failing to comply with environmental, health and safety standards, which thus leads to dangerous work environments; calls for a thorough improvement of the legislation concerned;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 f (new) f) Emphasises that the observance of human rights and international labour and social standards is an essential pillar of economic cooperation between the EU and China; believes that it is important that the rules and core labour standards of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) should be observed and emphasizes in this connection also the responsibility of the companies operating production plants in China or cooperating with suppliers producing goods in China;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 g (new) (g) Takes note of the evolution of the labour market and of the increased number of social conflicts, welcomes in this regard the implementation of the Labour contract law and calls for the legislative framework to be supplemented by the adoption of a law on collective bargaining ; calls on the freedom of trade union, which is guaranteed by the constitution, to be implemented;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 h (new) (h) Takes the view that the trade imbalances between the EU and China reflect their differing social, economic and democratic models; takes the view that the limited or non-existent degree of respect for certain rights in China is a contributing factor; Stresses the importance of identifying a strategy for dialogue with China, starting with labour market issues;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 i (new) (i) Notes that the consolidation of China's security both internally in terms of individual, social and cultural security and externally in terms of international security will facilitate the democratic progress of power sharing in China, together with the freedoms and the human rights related to it; believes the EU should encourage, stimulate and support such a development beforehand, instead of rewarding it or of punishing the lack of progress afterwards;
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 j (new) (j) Admires the courage and activism of those Chinese citizens who act in socially responsible ways to promote and defend human rights, and address issues such as corruption, abuse of office, environmental damage, AIDS infection, food poisoning, construction fraud concerning schools, and illegal land and property expropriation; denounces all incidences of official retaliation against these Chinese citizens; and expects a responsible Chinese leadership to comply strictly with domestic and international human rights law;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution Recital Α Α. whereas the EU-China strategic partnership is of great importance for relations between the EU and China, and this relationship is paramount for finding answers to global concerns, such as the economic crisis, global security, nuclear non-proliferation, security of energy supplies and climate change;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution 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 221 #
Motion for a resolution 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
Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9.
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution 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,
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution 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’;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution 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; recalls that the right to freedom of expression on the Internet has been recognised recently by the UN Human Rights Council;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution 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
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Is concerned about the entry into force of the new provisions relating to control of the internet legalizing the closure of blogs, but also providing stiff penalties for bloggers, journalists and lawyers who defend them;
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution 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 Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the EU-China strategic partnership is of great importance for relations between the EU and China, and this relationship is paramount for finding answers to global concerns, such as global and regional security, nuclear non- proliferation and climate change;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10.
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Recognises the
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Recognises the
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Recognises the
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Recognises the enormous efforts made by the Chinese Government to develop Tibet and Xinjiang economically;
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. 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;
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. 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 human rights and fundamental freedoms, 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 239 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. 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, but only by seriously addressing all indigenous complaints to create a really shared responsibility for the well-being of both autonomous provinces;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution Recital Α a (new) Αa. whereas a real partnership must be based on shared values;
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. 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
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Recognises the enormous efforts made by the Chinese Government to develop Tibet and Xinjiang economically; condemns however the renewed crackdown in Tibet comprising a blackout on information and communications into and out of region, travel restrictions, increased repressive security operations and multiple arbitrary detentions; 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; urges the Chinese Government to put an end to the bar of independent observers to the regions;
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Recognises the
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) (a) Recognizes the significant efforts made by the Chinese Government for the socio-economic development of Tibet and Xinjiang aimed at reducing unemployment and increasing the quality of living of the people; however remains deeply concerned about the devastating impact such efforts have had on the everyday lives, the traditional livelihoods of the nomad communities and the environment of the region; urges the Chinese Government to act in a politically responsible way by meaningfully engaging the Tibetan and Uyghur peoples in governance issues, including resource management and economic development priorities, by including their valuable local knowledge into the drafting and implementation of development policies working in partnership, considering that such local knowledge is indispensable for the sustainable development of the region, it further calls on the Chinese authorities to respect rather than dilute the rich cultural heritage of the Tibetan and Uyghur people, including their language and religion; strongly asserts that the Chinese Government will not achieve lasting stability in Tibet or Xinjiang among Chinese, Tibetan and Uyghur peoples through forcible assimilation, cultural destruction or repressive police and security methods;
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 b (new) (b) Recognises the significant efforts by the Chinese Government to develop Tibet and Xinjiang economically and the impact of such efforts on nomad communities and traditional livelihoods; urges the Chinese Government to meaningfully engage the Tibetan and Uighur peoples in governance issues, including resource management and economic development priorities, and respecting rather than diluting cultural elements such as language and religion; strongly asserts that the Chinese Government will not achieve lasting stability in Tibet or Xinjiang or comity among Chinese, Tibetan and Uighur peoples through forcible assimilation, cultural destruction or repressive police and security methods;
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 c (new) (c) Deplores that according to various news reports of 8 October 2012 since 2009 between 40 and 50 Tibetans committed suicide by self-immolation; asks the Chinese government to deeply reflect to the motives of these shocking acts of human desperation; criticizes the Chinese government's decision in early 2012 to station permanent State administrative committees inside Tibetan monasteries and convents to secure that monks and nuns should not participate in "separatist activities" and in "disturbing public order";
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Stresses that, notwithstanding a harsh policy of repression, a religious revival is taking place in China which is demonstrated by the reopening or reconstruction of
Amendment 247 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Stresses that, notwithstanding a harsh policy of repression, a religious revival is taking place in China which is demonstrated by the reopening or reconstruction of
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Stresses that, notwithstanding a harsh policy of repression, a religious revival is taking place in China which is demonstrated by the reopening or reconstruction of
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Stresses that, notwithstanding a harsh policy of repression, a religious revival is taking place in China which is demonstrated by the reopening or reconstruction of
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. Whereas a strategic partnership requires a strong commitment to mutual responsibility and good confidence;
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Stresses that, notwithstanding a harsh
Amendment 251 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Stresses that
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Stresses that, notwithstanding a harsh policy of repression, a religious revival is taking place in China which is demonstrated by the reopening or reconstruction of countless places of
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Stresses that
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Stresses that, notwithstanding a harsh policy of repression, a religious revival is taking place in China which is demonstrated by the reopening or reconstruction of countless places of worship; urges the Chinese authorities to replace their ineffective policy of controlling religion with one
Amendment 255 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Stresses that, notwithstanding a harsh policy of repression, a religious revival is taking place in China which is demonstrated by the reopening or reconstruction of countless places of worship; urges the Chinese authorities to replace their ineffective policy of controlling religion with one offering real freedom of thought, conscience and religion;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12.
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12.
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Wishes to see
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A b (new) Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution 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 261 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Wishes to see the
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12.
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) (a) Shares the criticism of Chinese jurists that the fundamental shortcomings of China's legal code on religion reside with the Constitution, because the principle of "religious freedom" provided for in clauses 1 and 2 of Article 36 conflict with the principle of "restrictions on religion" provided for in clauses 3 and 4, with no clarification as to which takes precedence; joins the call of Chinese jurists to establish religious freedom as the principle of precedence in the Constitution;
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 b (new) (b) Recommends the European Council to launch a major review of its China's policy in order to establish priority areas where the strategy of the common projects could produce the best strategic results. In this context EU should encourage the European investments in the less developed areas of China while opening the European markets to the Chinese investors. Likewise, the EU should cooperate with China on third markets for the achievement of strategic projects of infrastructures with global relevance;
Amendment 265 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 c (new) (c) Acknowledges efforts made in the area of controlling and carefully applying the death penalty in China, but remains concerned that the Chinese government still maintains its policy of not releasing details on the prisoners reportedly executed annually, keeping information on the death penalty a state secret, further urges the Chinese authorities to stop the politicized use of the death penalty and to ensure procedural safeguards in its legal system guaranteeing the protection of those sentenced to death, including the right to a fair trial conform to international standards;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 d (new) (d) Regrets the lack of any substantial progress as regards the EU-China Human Rights dialogue; calls on the EEAS, the Council and the Commission to step up efforts in order to make this dialogue more effective and result-oriented including preparatory meetings with both international and local CSOs and NGOs in the presence of the authorities of both sides; stresses the importance to address thoroughly all the problems concerning human rights and the rule of law in China and in the EU; calls, furthermore, on EU leaders not to refrain from raising human rights issues clearly during EU- China summits;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 e (new) (e) Recalls that upon the adoption of a new EU human rights strategy, EU foreign ministers pledged in June 2012 that the EU will now "raise human rights issues vigorously in all appropriate forms of bilateral dialogue, including at the highest level"; takes the view that such dialogue should be included in all contacts with officials from strategic partners like China; regrets though that the EU-China human rights dialogues have failed to produce concrete and visible results so far; takes the view that EU-China summits and human rights talks should include a set of transparent issues to be discussed and concrete benchmarks; urges the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, to voice her concerns regarding human rights abuses in China and publicly refer to the concrete cases and issues discussed with Chinese officials in all encounters; encourages EU Member States' officials to follow the same lines in a coherent and coordinated manner; calls on EU companies with activities in China to comply with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and urges the EU and Member States to closely monitor such compliance;
Amendment 269 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 g (new) (g) Is pleased by the great interest millions of Chinese citizens took at the presidential and parliamentary elections in Taiwan on 14 January 2012, which could be instantly followed on the internet for the first time;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A c (new) Ac. whereas EU-China relations have developed considerably since the signing of the EU-China cooperation agreement in 1985; whereas the Commission adopted its main political strategy on China in 2006 and, in this context, launched in January 2007 negotiations on a comprehensive partnership and cooperation agreement with a view to further improving relations between the EU and China, in particular in the field of trade and investment;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution 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) (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) (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 273 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13.
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Urges the PRC to use its regained global position in a responsible way, by helping to establish a system of global economic governance, and acting in accord
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Urges the PRC to use its
Amendment 276 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Urges the PRC to use its regained global position in an enhanced responsible way by acting according to its own criteria of
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Urges the PRC to use its
Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Urges the PRC to use its
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) (a) Calls on China to cooperate with the international community on important global security concerns; to that end, urges for greater Chinese involvement in the resolution of the Syrian crisis with view of ending the conflict in the country;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A d (new) Ad. whereas the trade relations between the EU and China generates significant benefits for both;
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 b (new) (b) Calls on China to review its policy of "non interference in the internal affairs of countries" in cases of severe breach of international humanitarian law.
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 c (new) 13c. Welcomes the EU-China dialogue initiated in July 2012 on the Common Security and Defence Policy; proposes that this dialogue should be extended to include the entire Asia-Pacific region;
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 d (new) (d) Appreciates that China is the biggest contributor of peacekeeping troops among the permanent members of the UNSC, for which its rapid modernizing navy is most responsible;
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 e (new) (e) Urges the PRC to unequivocally commit to the respect of the UN Charter and International Law in the pursuit of its goals abroad;
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 Amendment 285 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Asks China to dispel growing international concerns about its non- transparent military budget
Amendment 286 #
Motion for a resolution 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 287 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 b (new) (b) Takes account of the progress that China has made in the area of ICT and advanced weapons technology and thus discerns that the current EU arms embargo seems obsolete and even counterproductive in building a trust based relationship between EU and China; since, under these circumstances all the assessments of this embargo show that it actually has no political or security benefits, recommends its lifting;
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Underlines the global importance of the
Amendment 289 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15.
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A e (new) Ae. Whereas the harmonization between the EU and China in terms of values is the best guarantee and facilitator for their political cooperation and convergence, but whereas the approximation of values could be successfully achieved only after the approximation of the geostrategic interests and the achievement of the political and institutional interoperability allowing the enhancement of common strategic projects;
Amendment 290 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Underlines the global importance of the South China Sea, through which one-third of the world's trade passes, and therefore urgently appeals to all involved parties to settle their conflicting
Amendment 291 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Underlines the global importance of the South China Sea, through which one-third of the world’s trade passes, is alarmed at the escalating tension and therefore urgently appeals to all involved parties to settle their conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea by international arbitration and to refrain from unilateral political and military actions;
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Underlines the global importance of the South China Sea, through which one-third of the world’s trade passes, and therefore urgently appeals to all involved parties to ensure the freedom of maritime transport, fight effectively against piracy and to settle their conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea by international arbitration and to refrain from unilateral political and military actions;
Amendment 293 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Underlines the global importance of the South China Sea, through which one-third of the world's trade passes, and therefore urgently appeals to all involved parties to settle their conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea by international arbitration
Amendment 294 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Underlines the global importance of the South China Sea, through which one-third of the world’s trade passes, and therefore urgently appeals to all involved parties to settle their conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea by international arbitration and to refrain from unilateral political, economic and military actions;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution 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) (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 297 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 c (new) (c) Worries seriously about the escalating tensions between China and Japan on the disputed Senkaku/Diaoy islands, for both countries covet the oil and gas reserves under the surrounding waters; urges China to take serious notice of Japanese discomfort about the more offensive actions of the Chinese navy in the Pacific; appeals strongly to China and Japan to combat mutual enemy perceptions and to grasp the fortieth anniversary of their diplomatic relations for constructive negotiations;
Amendment 298 #
Motion for a resolution 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 299 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Notes that the survival of the North Korean regime depends essentially on China; welcomes China's responsible behaviour by voting in favour of the strong condemnation by the UNSC on 15 April 2012 of the failed rocket launch by North Korea, widely considered as an attempted ballistic missile test; looks forward to China continuing to take responsibility for stability on the Korean Peninsula, a swift resumption of the six- party talks on the North Korean nuclear threat, and, above all, to a drastic improvement in the day-to-day living conditions of North Korean citizens brought about through Chinese incentives;
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 12 a (new) - having regard to the establishment on February 2012 of the EU-China High- Level People-to-People Dialogue, which will accommodate all EU-China joint initiatives in this field
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas China is undergoing a process of socio-economic transition from an extensive model of
Amendment 300 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Notes and regrets that the survival of the dictatorial and repressive North Korean regime depends essentially on China; looks forward to China continuing to take responsibility for stability on the Korean Peninsula, a swift resumption of the six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear threat, and, above all, to a drastic improvement in the day-to-day living conditions of North Korean citizens brought about through Chinese incentives;
Amendment 301 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 – subparagraph 1 (new) Reiterates its call for China, as a member of the UN Security Council, to fulfil its responsibility to put an end to the violence and repression against the Syrian people, and to ensure compliance with UNSC resolutions 2042 and 2043;
Amendment 302 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 a (new) 16a. Calls on China, a member of the UN Security Council, to adopt a firm and constructive diplomatic position on the Syrian crisis and to consider the impact of this crisis on security, peace and stability, not only at regional, but also at international level;
Amendment 303 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 b (new) (b) Regrets the decision of the PRC to use twice its veto power to stop at the UN Security Council the resolutions on Syria supported by the EU calling for international sanctions on the Assad regime and a more active role of the international community in the resolution of the crisis and the protection of the civilian population; calls on Beijing to adopt a more constructive attitude moving beyond positions that have proved so far to be ineffective;
Amendment 304 #
Motion for a resolution 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 305 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 d (new) (d) Remarks that China's main objectives with the SCO are to achieve peace and stability in Central Asia through collectively combating the so-called "three evils" of extremism, separatism and terrorism; notes China's great strategic and economic interest in the region by the exploitation of its vast oil and gas reserves and by connecting Central Asia to China's coastline via railways and highways;
Amendment 306 #
Motion for a resolution 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) (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) (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;
Amendment 309 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17.
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution 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 310 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Observes that the new American strategy of ‘rebalance’ or ‘pivot’ towards Asia is perceived as a threat by the Chinese leadership; encourages China and the USA to avoid tensions
Amendment 311 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Observes that the new American strategy of ‘rebalance’ or ‘pivot’ towards Asia is perceived as a threat by the Chinese leadership; encourages China and the USA to avoid tensions and an arms race in the Pacific; urges China to
Amendment 312 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Observes that the new American strategy of ‘rebalance’ or ‘pivot’ towards Asia is perceived as a threat by the Chinese leadership; encourages China and the USA to avoid tensions and an arms race in the Pacific; urges China to
Amendment 313 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Observes that the new American strategy of
Amendment 314 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 a (new) 17a. Believes that very serious consideration should be given to the economic, social and environmental impact of increasing investment by China in developing countries;
Amendment 315 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18.
Amendment 316 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 – introductory part 18. Appreciates the Chinese leadership’s acknowledgement of the serious criticism of its imbalanced, raw-material-centred African policy during the Forum of Chinese-African Cooperation (FOCAC), held on 20 July 2012 in Beijing, which is shown by its current open promotion of a diversification of its activities on the continent;
Amendment 317 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Appreciates the Chinese leadership's acknowledgement of the serious criticism of its imbalanced, raw-material-centred African policy during the Forum of Chinese-African Cooperation (FOCAC), held on 20 July 2012 in Beijing, which is shown by its current open promotion of a diversification of its activities on the continent; points to the obvious ethical and strategic flaws of China's non-intervention principle in Africa's domestic policies in cases of popular resistance against repressive regimes (e.g., Sudan), or in cases of regime change (e.g., Libya); notes that the increasing Chinese presence in Africa has led to grave social tensions, but welcomes the fact that Chinese companies have expressed their willingness to place greater emphasis on
Amendment 318 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Appreciates the Chinese leadership's acknowledgement of the serious criticism of its imbalanced, raw-material-centred African policy during the Forum of Chinese-African Cooperation (FOCAC), held on 20 July 2012 in Beijing, which is shown by its current open promotion of a diversification of its activities on the continent; welcomes China's expressed support for the Extractive Industries' Transparency Initiative (EITI) and encourages the Chinese authorities to follow the global trend towards more transparency and increase their concrete commitments in this area; points to the obvious ethical and strategic flaws of China's non-intervention principle in Africa's domestic policies in cases of popular resistance against repressive regimes (e.g., Sudan), or in cases of regime change (e.g., Libya); notes that the increasing Chinese presence in Africa has led to grave social tensions, but welcomes the fact that Chinese companies have expressed their willingness to place greater emphasis on social responsibility in their African activities;
Amendment 319 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Appreciates the Chinese leadership's acknowledgement of the serious criticism of its imbalanced, raw-material-centred African policy during the Forum of Chinese-African Cooperation (FOCAC), held on 20 July 2012 in Beijing, which is shown by its current open promotion of a diversification of its activities on the continent; welcomes the pledge of State and Party leader Hu Jintao at this FOCAC-meeting of the record credit of 20 billion dollars to African countries in the next three years for developing their infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing and SMEs; points to the obvious ethical and strategic flaws of China's non-intervention principle in Africa's domestic policies in cases of popular resistance against repressive regimes (e.g., Sudan), or in cases of regime change (e.g., Libya); notes that the increasing Chinese presence in Africa has led to grave social tensions, but welcomes the fact that Chinese companies have expressed their willingness to place greater emphasis on social responsibility in their African activities;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution 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; whereas China is profiling itself as one of the world's most important investors, finance providers and strategic infrastructure builders with local, regional and global relevance;
Amendment 320 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Appreciates the Chinese leadership’s acknowledgement of the serious criticism of its imbalanced, raw-material-centred African policy during the Forum of Chinese-African Cooperation (FOCAC),
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Appreciates the Chinese leadership's acknowledgement of the serious criticism of its imbalanced, raw-material-centred African policy during the Forum of Chinese-African Cooperation (FOCAC), held on 20 July 2012 in Beijing, which is shown by its current open promotion of a diversification of its activities on the continent; points to the obvious ethical and strategic flaws of China's non-intervention principle in Africa's domestic policies in cases of popular resistance against repressive regimes (e.g., Sudan), or in cases of regime change (e.g., Libya);
Amendment 322 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 – subparagraph 1 (new) Regrets the insufficient protection of intellectual property rights in China, and the lack of specific resources enabling European companies to combat intellectual property violations effectively; urges China to bring its national legislation into line with current international law relating to the protection of intellectual property rights and, in particular, to the fight against counterfeiting and piracy;
Amendment 323 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 a (new) 18a. Calls on China and the European Union to continue to work together and develop a relationship based on trust, in order to prepare the ground for a review of the decision of the European Council of 27 June 1989;
Amendment 324 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 b (new) 18b. Encourages China, the world's biggest emitter of carbon dioxide, to play a more pro-active and constructive role in promoting cooperation among the global community in order to tackle climate change; welcomes the white paper issued by the Chinese authorities in November 2011 on the policies and actions adopted to combat climate change and calls for it to be implemented swiftly;
Amendment 325 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 c (new) (c) Notes that people-to-people contacts can play a crucial role towards a better mutual understanding between China and the EU, but also some of its other partners like the USA, welcomes in this regard the programmes meant to facilitate mobility between China and the EU;
Amendment 326 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 d (new) (d) Takes notice of the worries expressed during the Forum of Chinese-African Cooperation (FOCAC), and while recognizing the importance of China's investments in Africa, stresses the differences between the business oriented and well rounded Chinese approach, on one hand, and the values conditioned Western aid for development approach, on the other hand;
Amendment 327 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 e (new) (e) Is aware that the Chinese-African economic partnership is key in fuelling China's double digit growth, which is needed to maintain its political stability and therefore should be encouraged, while taking account of the said partnership's deficiencies; addressing the deficiencies raised during the FOCAC forum should be object of the EU-China structured dialogue and comprehensive strategic partnership, bearing in mind the African countries' needs for sustainable development as an asset for the global security, as well;
Amendment 329 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 f (new) (f) Asks for a EU initiative dedicated to the harmonization of the EU and China policies in the field of aid for development with the aim of establishing a minimal set of rules and principles to be observed by both parties when dealing with third countries on such issues;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas, however, there has been no similar progress in the field of political liberties,
Amendment 330 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 g (new) (g) Welcomes the agreements reached during the EU-China Summit on 20 September 2012; urges for their swift operationalisation and implementation which will strengthen the relations between the Union and China;
Amendment 331 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 h (new) (h) Notes with great concern the existing difficulties for effective economic and business relations between China and the EU; more specifically, expresses concern that market distortions and lack of protection of Intellectual Property Rights represent considerable impediments for European businesses to operate in China; calls for the promotion and establishment of stronger ties between European and Chinese small and medium enterprises;
Amendment 332 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 – subparagraph 1 (new) Expresses its concern at the difficulties experienced by foreign companies in gaining access to Chinese public procurement markets and at the distortions of free competition, in particular the hidden State subsidies paid to Chinese companies;
Amendment 333 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 – point 1 (new) (1) Urges that China make it an absolute priority to ensure legal certainty for foreign companies, by upholding the principles of equality, reciprocity and corporate social responsibility;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B b (new) Bb. Whereas the political, social and economic stability of China are strategically essential for the global security and stability, and therefore for the security and stability of the EU;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B c (new) Bc. Whereas the economic and political reforms adopted by China have dramatically diminished the capacity of its official ideology to coagulate the nation, while generating internal disparities in terms of economic and social wealth, which could lead to the political fragmentation of the nation; whereas the loss of the old factor of social cohesion associated with the new dangers of regional fragmentation could lead either to internal political and social instability or to the transformation of China into a nationalistic, internally oppressive and externally exclusive hard power;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B d (new) Bd. Whereas the EU is strategically interested in the internal coherence of China, in China's capacity to softly participate at the stabilization of the global equilibriums and in China's contribution to the EU development through trade and through providing labour without immigration;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B e (new) Be. Whereas the emergence of China as a soft global player within a multipolar balanced global order is beneficial for the sustainability of this order;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 15 – having regard to the 1
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E E. whereas the
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E a (new) Ea. Whereas China steps up it's efforts regarding market based systems for emissions trading; whereas China carries out 7 pilot projects in this regard with the purpose of establishing a national emissions trading scheme in 2015;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E b (new) Eb. Whereas China is the world's biggest carbon dioxide emitter and emissions still increase rapidly; whereas China's per capita CO2 emissions reached 6.8 tonnes in 2010 and are expected to overtake the US per capita emissions already in 2017;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F F.
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F F. whereas the EU adheres to
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G G. whereas
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G G. whereas
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 15 – having regard to the 14th EU-China Summit and the 15th EU-China Summit, which took place in Beijing in February 2012 and in Brussels in September 2012, and to the Joint Statements issued at the conclusion thereof,
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G G. whereas China emphasises social human rights
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G G.
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G G.
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution 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 54 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G a (new) Ga. Whereas Chinese civil rights activists have reported on their deprivation of liberty when they disappeared under the conduct of the police, without an arrest warrant, an indictment, any contact with their families and legal aid for several months;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution Recital H Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution Recital H H. whereas
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution Recital H H. whereas
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution Recital H H. whereas China, with more than 500 million users, is a country that is passionate about the internet
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution Recital H H. whereas China is a country that is passionate about the internet, with more than 500 million users, the country’s internet environment remaining, however, very restrictive;
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 17 a (new) - having regard to the China-EU Round Tables,
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution Recital H H. whereas
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution Recital H H. whereas
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution Recital H a (new) Ha. whereas the EU is the world's most important tourist destination and 100 million Chinese are expected to travel abroad by 2020 and it is therefore necessary to support initiatives to attract these new tourist flows;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I I.
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I I. whereas the
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I I.
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I I.
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I a (new) Ia. whereas the Tibet Autonomous Region and other Tibetan autonomous areas, and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region have become important territories for China's regional, military and economic ambitions and therefore are seen as core issues of 'territorial integrity' by the current Chinese Government;
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 18 Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I b (new) Ib. whereas as of 6th September 2012, 54 Tibetans have self-immolated in Tibetan populated areas of the People's Republic of China, including the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and Tibetan Autonomous Areas within the Gansu, Sichuan and Qinghai provinces;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I c (new) Ic. Whereas since 2009, 54 Tibetans have self-immolated in Tibetan populated areas of the People's Republic of China, including the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and Tibetan Autonomous Areas within the Gansu, Sichuan and Qinghai provinces;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I d (new) Id. whereas as of 1st September 2012, 52 Tibetans have self-immolated in Tibetan populated areas of the People's Republic of China, including the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and Tibetan Autonomous Areas within the Gansu, Sichuan and Qinghai provinces ;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I e (new) Ie. whereas as of 6 September 2012, 51 Tibetans have self-immolated in Tibetan populated areas of the People's Republic of China, including the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and Tibetan Autonomous Areas within the Gansu, Sichuan and Qinghai provinces;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I f (new) If. whereas despite the Chinese government's progress in the promotion of some economic and social rights, the exercise of rights of expression, association, assembly, press and of joining trade unions is persistently repressed; whereas human rights organisations continue to report serious human rights abuses by the Chinese authorities, namely the sentencing high- profile dissidents such as imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, expanded restrictions on media and internet freedom, tightened surveillance and harassment of lawyers, human rights defenders, and nongovernmental organisations, broadened control and oppression on Uyghurs, Tibetans and their freedoms, increasing numbers of enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions, including in secret, unlawful detention facilities known as "black jails"; whereas repressive policies against Tibetans' basic freedoms have triggered a worrying number of self-immolations in recent years;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I g (new) Ig. whereas China is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council; whereas such status determines special duties for China to abide by its international legal obligations under the ICCPR and the Charter of the United Nations;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I h (new) Ih. whereas Hu Jia, Laureate of the Sakharov Prize 2008, and his wife Zeng Jinyan, remain in house arrest under great surveillance and restricted communication;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution Recital J Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution Recital J J. whereas despite immense ethnic and religious diversity in the country, the Chinese state recognises only five religions, namely Buddhism, Daoism, Islam, and Christianity (both Catholicism and Protestantism); whereas all have
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution Recital J a (new) Ja. Whereas, although the opening up of the Chinese economy has brought major benefits such as better access to the employment market and a fall in rural unemployment, not all segments of the Chinese population have equally benefited from the economic growth and there are large disparities emerging between urban and rural parts of the country;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 18 – having regard to the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China scheduled for
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution Recital J b (new) Jb. Whereas inequalities in incomes, access to employment, social welfare, health and education between the urban and rural populations constitute a significant cohesion policy challenge for China;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution Recital K K. whereas the 21st century sees the
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution Recital K K. whereas the 21st century sees the impressive r
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution 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 84 #
Motion for a resolution Recital K K. whereas the 21st century sees the
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution Recital K a (new) Ka. whereas China provides a 'no strings attached' foreign assistance, since its commercial and aid for development deals do not impose conditions such as transparency, accountability, environmental standards or prevention of corruption; whereas imposing China to change this approach and to adopt the same conditionalities as the EU is a non- start;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution Recital K b (new) Kb. whereas China's WTO accession protocol does not foresee market economy status (MES) until 2016; whereas this constitutes a major point of contention for the Chinese leadership, which is eager to obtain MES earlier and which has led it to state that the further acquisition of sovereign bonds in the Euro area could be made contingent on the EU altering its position on this issue;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution Recital K c (new) Kc. whereas China is expanding its trade and economic relations with third parties by initiating Free Trade Agreements with the Republic of Korea and Japan, which could eventually lead to the creation of a NE Asian FTA; whereas as a global trade power, China has a strategic interest in ensuring that the regional trade arrangements that it creates or joins are compatible with the global rules;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution Recital K d (new) Kd. whereas China produces 97% of the world's rare earths and imposes significant export duties and reduced export quotas on these goods, in violation of its WTO commitments; whereas these restrictions significantly distort global markets, creating a disadvantage for EU companies;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution Recital K e (new) Ke. whereas the EU, US and Japan have complained to the WTO about China's practise of increasing export duties and reducing export quotas which they argue unfairly benefit Chinese companies; whereas Beijing maintains that its restrictions are needed to protect the environment, conserve supplies and meet domestic demand;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 20 – having regard to its
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L L. whereas the positive role of the PRC in South-East Asia in terms of economic regionalisation and dynamics
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L L. whereas the
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L L. whereas the positive role of the PRC in South-East Asia in terms of economic regionalisation and dynamics is becoming increasingly overshadowed by territorial disputes
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L L. whereas the positive role of the PRC in South-East Asia in terms of economic regionalisation and dynamics is becoming increasingly overshadowed by territorial disputes with Japan over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands, 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 94 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L L. whereas the positive role of the PRC in South-East Asia in terms of economic regionalisation and dynamics is becoming increasingly overshadowed by territorial disputes in the East Asia and South China Sea with
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution 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 96 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L b (new) Lb. Whereas there is mounting tension between China and Japan over the disputed Senkaku Islands /Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L c (new) Lc. Whereas China and Japan intended to celebrate their 40 years of diplomatic relations in 2012; whereas China is Japan's most important customer and trading partner;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution Recital M M. whereas China maintains close relations with North Korea,
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution Recital M M. whereas China maintains close relations with North Korea
source: PE-497.775
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The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own-initiative report by Bastiaan BELDER (EFD, NL) on EU-China relations. It highlights that the EU-China strategic partnership is of great importance for relations between the EU and China and that this relationship is paramount for finding answers to global concerns, such as global and regional security, the economic crisis, energy security, the promotion of democracy and human rights, as well as in creating a framework to address bilateral concerns between the EU and China. However, according to Members, a strategic partnership requires a strong commitment to mutual responsibility and a good level of confidence, and must be based on universal values. (1) EU-China Strategic Partnership and cooperation: the report supports and encourages the almost 60 sectoral dialogues between the EU and China, with the conviction that an enhanced and highly developed partnership will be mutually beneficial to both the EU and China. Members wish, however, to see a strengthening of these dialogues in the fields of human rights, the environment, security, energy and in particular the fight against counterfeit products, in view of its impact on public health and safety. Moreover, they state that the concept of strategic partnership must be better defined and call for increased trade and economic relations with China to go hand in hand with considerable progress in the political dialogue on human rights and the rule of law. Members expect Member States to give the European External Action Service (EEAS) and especially its Delegation in Beijing a clear mandate to strengthen the EU-China Strategic Partnership. They also call for the EU to implement a long-term strategy vis-à-vis China, providing operational coordination both between the institutions of the Union and between the Union and its Member States. The report emphasises that China is not only the world’s second-largest economy and biggest exporter in the global economy, but also an increasingly important political power. (2) Internal situation: the report recognises the significant progress made as regards social policy. However, a successful economic policy is seriously threatened by corruption scandals. Members believe that only effective political reforms aimed at shaping inclusive, democratic and accountable institutions that reflect China’s ethnic, religious, political and social diversity will pave the way for building sustainable growth and stability. As regards forced abortions, although they are strictly illegal in China, family-planning officials repeatedly coerce women into inhumane practices, such as forced abortions or sterilisation. Members support Chinese voices calling for an end to the one-child policy. (3) Human rights and democracy: Members admire and support the courage and activism of those Chinese citizens acting in socially responsible ways to promote and defend universally recognised social and human rights. The report urges the Chinese leadership to encourage civil responsibility and to comply with minimum social standards. Members underline the importance of compliance with, and rapid implementation of, all International Labour Organisation rules, including the right freely to form independent trade unions. Members take the view that the EU should not allow market access for goods which have been produced by means of child labour or in facilities which gravely violate international labour standards and human rights, such as prison camps. The Chinese authorities are called upon to reconsider their policy on capital punishment. As regards the freedom of the media, the report stresses that the Strategic Partnership between the EU and China includes freedom of the media on a reciprocal basis and it deplores the control and censorship of the internet by the Chinese authorities. On religion, Members urge the Chinese authorities to pull back on policies and practices that curtail any citizen’s fundamental right to freedom of religion and belief. The report acknowledges efforts made in the area of controlling and carefully applying the death penalty in China, but remains concerned at the fact that the Chinese Government is still maintaining its policy of not releasing details of the number of prisoners executed annually, keeping information on the death penalty a state secret. (4) External situation: the report urges China to use its global position in a more responsible way, in particular in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), where it holds a permanent seat and a right of veto. It stresses, in this connection, the need for China to abandon its veto position on any UNSC resolution allowing intervention in Syria in order to halt the civil war. Members call on China to review its policy of “non-interference in countries’ internal affairs” in cases of severe breaches of international humanitarian law. The report considers that China can play a pivotal role in stabilising Afghanistan through a soft power approach and urges the development of close cooperation between the EU and China on this issue. Members call on the EU to remain vigilant about the political, economic, social and environmental impact of China’s growing investments in Africa. The report encourages China, the world’s biggest emitter of carbon dioxide, to play a more proactive and constructive role in promoting cooperation within the global community in order to tackle climate change. Lastly, Members urge China to make it an absolute priority to ensure legal certainty for foreign companies, by upholding the principles of equality, reciprocity and corporate social responsibility. New
The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own-initiative report by Bastiaan BELDER (EFD, NL) on EU-China relations. It highlights that the EU-China strategic partnership is of great importance for relations between the EU and China and that this relationship is paramount for finding answers to global concerns, such as global and regional security, the economic crisis, energy security, the promotion of democracy and human rights, as well as in creating a framework to address bilateral concerns between the EU and China. However, according to Members, a strategic partnership requires a strong commitment to mutual responsibility and a good level of confidence, and must be based on universal values. (1) EU-China Strategic Partnership and cooperation: the report supports and encourages the almost 60 sectoral dialogues between the EU and China, with the conviction that an enhanced and highly developed partnership will be mutually beneficial to both the EU and China. Members wish, however, to see a strengthening of these dialogues in the fields of human rights, the environment, security, energy and in particular the fight against counterfeit products, in view of its impact on public health and safety. Moreover, they state that the concept of strategic partnership must be better defined and call for increased trade and economic relations with China to go hand in hand with considerable progress in the political dialogue on human rights and the rule of law. Members expect Member States to give the European External Action Service (EEAS) and especially its Delegation in Beijing a clear mandate to strengthen the EU-China Strategic Partnership. They also call for the EU to implement a long-term strategy vis-à-vis China, providing operational coordination both between the institutions of the Union and between the Union and its Member States. The report emphasises that China is not only the world’s second-largest economy and biggest exporter in the global economy, but also an increasingly important political power. (2) Internal situation: the report recognises the significant progress made as regards social policy. However, a successful economic policy is seriously threatened by corruption scandals. Members believe that only effective political reforms aimed at shaping inclusive, democratic and accountable institutions that reflect China’s ethnic, religious, political and social diversity will pave the way for building sustainable growth and stability. As regards forced abortions, although they are strictly illegal in China, family-planning officials repeatedly coerce women into inhumane practices, such as forced abortions or sterilisation. Members support Chinese voices calling for an end to the one-child policy. (3) Human rights and democracy: Members admire and support the courage and activism of those Chinese citizens acting in socially responsible ways to promote and defend universally recognised social and human rights. The report urges the Chinese leadership to encourage civil responsibility and to comply with minimum social standards. Members underline the importance of compliance with, and rapid implementation of, all International Labour Organisation rules, including the right freely to form independent trade unions. Members take the view that the EU should not allow market access for goods which have been produced by means of child labour or in facilities which gravely violate international labour standards and human rights, such as prison camps. The Chinese authorities are called upon to reconsider their policy on capital punishment. As regards the freedom of the media, the report stresses that the Strategic Partnership between the EU and China includes freedom of the media on a reciprocal basis and it deplores the control and censorship of the internet by the Chinese authorities. On religion, Members urge the Chinese authorities to pull back on policies and practices that curtail any citizen’s fundamental right to freedom of religion and belief. The report acknowledges efforts made in the area of controlling and carefully applying the death penalty in China, but remains concerned at the fact that the Chinese Government is still maintaining its policy of not releasing details of the number of prisoners executed annually, keeping information on the death penalty a state secret. (4) External situation: the report urges China to use its global position in a more responsible way, in particular in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), where it holds a permanent seat and a right of veto. It stresses, in this connection, the need for China to abandon its veto position on any UNSC resolution allowing intervention in Syria in order to halt the civil war. Members call on China to review its policy of “non-interference in countries’ internal affairs” in cases of severe breaches of international humanitarian law. The report considers that China can play a pivotal role in stabilising Afghanistan through a soft power approach and urges the development of close cooperation between the EU and China on this issue. Members call on the EU to remain vigilant about the political, economic, social and environmental impact of China’s growing investments in Africa. The report encourages China, the world’s biggest emitter of carbon dioxide, to play a more proactive and constructive role in promoting cooperation within the global community in order to tackle climate change. Lastly, Members urge China to make it an absolute priority to ensure legal certainty for foreign companies, by upholding the principles of equality, reciprocity and corporate social responsibility. |
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