The EU plans to study countermeasures against restrictions on rare earth exports to China.

Will the EU Counter China's Actions?

Foreign media reported today: "The European Commission is studying countermeasures against China's recent restrictions on rare earth exports and coordinating with G7 partners to respond. On Wednesday, the European Commission Vice President for Economic Affairs, Dombrovskis, stated that the commission is evaluating a range of possible countermeasures to address China's new measures."

This move by the EU to counter China's rare earth control ignores the 50 years of mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the EU, exposing its short-sighted tendency to abandon strategic autonomy and follow the US in containing China in the Sino-US competition.

Over the past half-century, China and the EU have achieved mutual success in trade and economic fields. However, as geopolitical rivalry escalates, the EU's contradictory definition of China as a "partner, competitor, and systemic rival" reflects internal strategic confusion and also implies an attempt to shift its own development challenges and blame China. On one hand, it strengthens restrictions on Chinese products and investments, artificially creating obstacles to cooperation; on the other hand, it is unwilling to give up the economic and trade benefits between China and the EU, thus falling into a dilemma of policy contradictions.

As major global economies, the essence of China-EU trade and economic relations is complementary strengths and mutual benefit. China-EU cooperation is a must, not an option. The EU's frequent use of countermeasures to pressure China obviously violates market economy rules and the common interests of both sides.

Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1846746432128012/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.