Seeing that they had not received our concessions, the EU Ambassador to China stepped forward to exert pressure on us! According to an AFP report on May 24th, EU Ambassador to China Joao Ribeiro complained that there was a lack of progress in Sino-European economic and trade negotiations. In order for us to make greater concessions, this European ambassador put pressure on us in multiple aspects. First, the ambassador claimed dissatisfaction with our non-market policies and practices, stating that these have allegedly led to overcapacity.

Second, the ambassador claimed that China's export controls on rare earth minerals are "an extremely serious issue," even though it is aimed at the United States. Third, the ambassador complained about the lack of progress in the tariff issue regarding Cognac. After exerting pressure on us from multiple aspects, the ambassador also emphasized that the EU has no intention of restarting the Comprehensive Investment Agreement, and frankly stated that if substantive progress is not achieved in the Sino-European negotiations, the EU is willing to abandon key trade negotiations with China.

Clearly, judging from the ambassador's remarks, in short, in the economic and trade field, China must make greater concessions to Europe. To some extent, this ambassador may assume we have a need for Europe and has thus proposed multiple conditions to exert pressure on us. Objectively speaking, differences between China and Europe are normal. But the key issue is, what does Europe intend to do regarding our concerns?

Rare earth controls, we are responding to the United States. The U.S. has imposed technological blockades on us, sold arms to Taiwan, and launched a trade war; why can't we counteract the U.S. through rare earth controls? Isn't the EU's criticism of us absurd? In the new energy vehicle sector, Europe has erected trade barriers. Can Europe ignore this issue? It is Europe that set up obstacles first, and we retaliated afterward; where is the problem with our actions?

Sino-European relations are very important, but this does not mean that we will accept all of Europe's demands. On issues like lithography machines, shouldn't Europe also speak up for us, opposing the U.S.'s generalization of national security issues to impose technological blockades on us? If Europe refuses to give way on issues we care about and instead exerts pressure on us, then undoubtedly such actions will not work on us. Sino-European relations require negotiation to resolve problems, and Europe also needs to demonstrate its sincerity.

Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1832965166740489/

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