The PRC government deleted diplomatic missions from the European Parliament as response to the invitation of the Tibetan leader in Strasbourg
by Emanuele Bonini
The People's Republic of China cancelled external mission of the European Parliament in return of yesterday Dalai Lama's official visit to the EU institution. Tibet's spiritual leader has always been considered by Chinese authorities as the leader of Tibet independence movement, so a problem for the integrity of Chinese territory. The XIV Dalai Lama was invited by the president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz. The decision itself made the PRC upset, but in Beijing censured what the Dalai Lama said yesterday in Strasbourg. «Some constructive criticism is sometime necessary», he said. A statement that forced China to «postpone» the missions from the European Parliament in the Asian country, originally foreseen next week. Two delegations from the Economic Affairs and Industry Committees were supposed to travel to China next week, but they won't do it any longer since China deleted the meetings.
The European Parliament preferred not to comment. It has been taken note of the decision of the Chinese authorities, and delegations will not be sent to the country. Sources confirmed that everything happened because of the official visit of the Dalai Lama in Strasbourg, without adding further details. There is an ongoing diplomatic crisis between the EU and the PRC, and what has just happened is nothing but a new chapter in a never-ending story. The political agenda of the European Union is in contrast with the strategic interests of the Chinese partner, as shows the single strategy on China.
Promotion of human rights and protection of Tibetans are still part of the EU Strategy on China. Amongst the others, these two issues have always been matter of dispute, since PRC consider any statement on these topics an interference with Chinese internal affairs. The twenty-eight Member States of the European Union officially don't care about. In the Strategy the Council underlines that «the promotion of human rights and the rule of law will continue to be a core part of the EU engagement with China». This political engagement means a broader action in the whole country as well as in particular areas such as the Autonomous region of Tibet and not only. In line with its agenda, «the EU continues to call on China to ensure a safe and enabling environment for civil society and to protect the rights of people belonging to minorities, not least in Tibet and Xinjiang».
The official declaration contained in the EU Strategy on China has a great relevance: Chinese authorities have been conducting an assimilation policy aimed to eradicate any claim by the minorities living in these territories (Buddhist Tibetans in Tibet, Muslim Uyghur in Xinjiang). As regard with Tibet, PRC don't recognise neither the State nor the territory. The only possible Tibet in China is the Xizang, or Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). The word "Tibet" means the historic Tibetan State today incorporated in the five provinces of Xizang, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Sichuan and Yunnan province to the south-east. What happened yesterday with the Dalai Lama's visit in Strasbourg confirm how Chinese authorities don't want to change anything in their approach over the Tibetan issue.
Tibet is not the only sensitive issue. The EU strategy on China foresees «the commitment to continuing to develop relations with Taiwan». In this sense the European Union «will explore launching negotiations on investment with Hong Kong and Taiwan». Here the problem lies in the PRC's One China policy, by which the one of Beijing is the sole legal government of China and Taiwan is a province of China. From a Chinese perspective, any European agreement with Taiwan should be negotiated in Beijing rather than in Taipei.
Further cause of tensions in EU-China ties are human rights. In the EU Strategy on China the Council underlines that «the ongoing detention and harassment of human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists and labour rights defenders and their families remains a major concern». Just like the Tibetan question, the PRC consider any statement on human rights an interference with Chinese internal affairs. This is another very sensitive issue that makes Chinese authorities unhappy every time is raised.
The People's Republic of China cancelled external mission of the European Parliament in return of yesterday Dalai Lama's official visit to the EU institution. Tibet's spiritual leader has always been considered by Chinese authorities as the leader of Tibet independence movement, so a problem for the integrity of Chinese territory. The XIV Dalai Lama was invited by the president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz. The decision itself made the PRC upset, but in Beijing censured what the Dalai Lama said yesterday in Strasbourg. «Some constructive criticism is sometime necessary», he said. A statement that forced China to «postpone» the missions from the European Parliament in the Asian country, originally foreseen next week. Two delegations from the Economic Affairs and Industry Committees were supposed to travel to China next week, but they won't do it any longer since China deleted the meetings.
The European Parliament preferred not to comment. It has been taken note of the decision of the Chinese authorities, and delegations will not be sent to the country. Sources confirmed that everything happened because of the official visit of the Dalai Lama in Strasbourg, without adding further details. There is an ongoing diplomatic crisis between the EU and the PRC, and what has just happened is nothing but a new chapter in a never-ending story. The political agenda of the European Union is in contrast with the strategic interests of the Chinese partner, as shows the single strategy on China.
Promotion of human rights and protection of Tibetans are still part of the EU Strategy on China. Amongst the others, these two issues have always been matter of dispute, since PRC consider any statement on these topics an interference with Chinese internal affairs. The twenty-eight Member States of the European Union officially don't care about. In the Strategy the Council underlines that «the promotion of human rights and the rule of law will continue to be a core part of the EU engagement with China». This political engagement means a broader action in the whole country as well as in particular areas such as the Autonomous region of Tibet and not only. In line with its agenda, «the EU continues to call on China to ensure a safe and enabling environment for civil society and to protect the rights of people belonging to minorities, not least in Tibet and Xinjiang».
The official declaration contained in the EU Strategy on China has a great relevance: Chinese authorities have been conducting an assimilation policy aimed to eradicate any claim by the minorities living in these territories (Buddhist Tibetans in Tibet, Muslim Uyghur in Xinjiang). As regard with Tibet, PRC don't recognise neither the State nor the territory. The only possible Tibet in China is the Xizang, or Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). The word "Tibet" means the historic Tibetan State today incorporated in the five provinces of Xizang, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Sichuan and Yunnan province to the south-east. What happened yesterday with the Dalai Lama's visit in Strasbourg confirm how Chinese authorities don't want to change anything in their approach over the Tibetan issue.
Tibet is not the only sensitive issue. The EU strategy on China foresees «the commitment to continuing to develop relations with Taiwan». In this sense the European Union «will explore launching negotiations on investment with Hong Kong and Taiwan». Here the problem lies in the PRC's One China policy, by which the one of Beijing is the sole legal government of China and Taiwan is a province of China. From a Chinese perspective, any European agreement with Taiwan should be negotiated in Beijing rather than in Taipei.
Further cause of tensions in EU-China ties are human rights. In the EU Strategy on China the Council underlines that «the ongoing detention and harassment of human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists and labour rights defenders and their families remains a major concern». Just like the Tibetan question, the PRC consider any statement on human rights an interference with Chinese internal affairs. This is another very sensitive issue that makes Chinese authorities unhappy every time is raised.
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