Tag: European Union

EU approves sanctions on Chinese officials over rights abuses in Xinjiang: Report
18Mar By Mike TrudellNo Comments
World

EU approves sanctions on Chinese officials over rights abuses in Xinjiang: Report

Increasing China’s troubles, European Union (EU) officials have approved sanctions on Chinese officials, who are accused of human rights violations in the Xinjiang province.The penalties, which were approved at preparatory meetings for next week’s Foreign Affairs Council, will be formally adopted at a meeting of the bloc’s top diplomats on Monday.These will be the first sanctions against Beijing since an EU arms embargo in 1989 following the Tiananmen Square crackdown. The embargo is still in place.Across the world, China has been rebuked for cracking down on Uyghur Muslims by sending them to mass detention camps, interfering in their religious activities and sending members of the community to undergo some form of forcible re-education or indoctrination.Meanwhile, Beijing has vehemently d...
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EU urges China to reverse ban on BBC, says it violates Chinese constitution, human rights
15Feb By Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, World

EU urges China to reverse ban on BBC, says it violates Chinese constitution, human rights

The European Union (EU) has urged China that it should reverse its ban on BBC World News as it violated both the Chinese constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.In a statement issued on Friday, the EU said that it has repeatedly spoken out on cases of intimidation and surveillance of journalists and media workers in China.The EU condemned China’s move to ban BBC in the country, which was imposed in response to the UK regulators revoking the broadcasting license for China Global Television Network (CGTN), stating that it restricted “freedom of expression and access to information inside its borders”.The EU said that according to Article 35 of the PRC Constitution citizens shall enjoy the freedom of speech and of the press and that according to Article 19 of the Universal ...
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US State Secy, EU Representative discuss ‘strong cooperation’ on China
30Jan By Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, World

US State Secy, EU Representative discuss ‘strong cooperation’ on China

While discussing ways to further US-EU bilateral ties, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell agreed to continue 'strong cooperation' on issues related to China."Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell today to discuss ways to repair, revitalize, and raise the level of ambition in the US-EU relationship," the State Department said in a statement."The Secretary and the High Representative also agreed to continue strong US-EU cooperation on issues related to China," the statement said.Blinken thanked Borrel for the European Union's leadership in various areas and emphasized the United ...
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EU and China to sign investment deal amid unease over rights
29Dec By Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, Market, World

EU and China to sign investment deal amid unease over rights

Despite rising concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang, the European Union (EU) and China are set to sign a business investment deal, which, EU hopes will help correct an imbalance in market access and create new investment opportunities for European companies in China by ensuring they can compete on an equal footing.According to an EU official with direct knowledge of the talks, the provisional agreement is set to be announced on Wednesday.The deal was sealed after China committed to pursuing ratification of the International Labor Organization's rules on forced labor, according to the unnamed official.The EU previously said the agreement, known as CAI, which includes provisions for settling disputes, should increase the transparency of Chinese state subsidies and make susta...
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PIA suffers loss of Rs 250 billion since suspension of EU flights
30Oct By Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

PIA suffers loss of Rs 250 billion since suspension of EU flights

Ever since the European Union and the United Kingdom suspended permission for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to enter its territories, the PIA has suffered a loss of a whopping Rs 250 billion.PIA’s spokesperson said that the national airlines is bearing a monthly loss of Rs 9 billion due to the suspension of its flights to Europe and the UK. The spokesperson further said that the airlines will face losses of Rs 54 billion if the suspension continues.The European Union Air Safety Agency had suspended flight operations of PIA for a period of six months from July 1 after it was revealed that the credentials of as many as 262 pilots were “dubious”.Post the revelation, Vietnam had grounded all of the 27 Pakistani pilots flying their aircrafts due to concerns about their qualifications. A...
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China loses landmark WTO dispute against EU over market-economy status
24Jun By Walter ParezNo Comments
China, Market

China loses landmark WTO dispute against EU over market-economy status

In a landmark development, China has lost a dispute to the European Union at the World Trade Organization (WTO) for a market economy status, as the former allowed the dispute to lapse.China spent four years fighting for market-economy status, a designation that would give it stronger footing with commercial partners while also curtailing their ability to retaliate over trade disputes.The Chinese government allowed a landmark World Trade Organization dispute — aimed at forcing the European Union to recognize it as a market economy in trade investigations — to lapse on June 15.The case was initially brought in 2016 and China lost an interim ruling on the matter last year.A note by the WTO Secretariat said: "At the request of China, the panel suspended its work on 14 June 2019 (WT/DS516/13). ...
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Vietnam ratifies free trade deal with European Union
8Jun By Joe RodriguezNo Comments
China

Vietnam ratifies free trade deal with European Union

Vietnam ratified a free trade agreement with the European Union on Monday that will cut or eliminate 99% of tariffs on goods traded between the Southeast Asian country and the bloc, and provide Vietnam with a much-needed post coronavirus pandemic boost.Deputies in the National Assembly voted by over 94% in favour of the European Union Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).The EVFTA, expected to take effect in July, is the European Union's second deal with a member of the Association of Southeast Asian nations (Asean) after Singapore, and one of few with a developing country.Vietnam will have a transition period of up to 10 years for some imports, such as cars.It will open up Vietnam's services, including post, banking and shipping and public procurement markets, align some standards and pro...
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Europe should give up overdependence on China, consider India as alternative: Experts
5Jun By Mike TrudellNo Comments
Singapore

Europe should give up overdependence on China, consider India as alternative: Experts

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and experts on Thursday said that the European Union that has been hit hard economically due to Wuhan-originated coronavirus and that India being a diplomatic nation provides a conducive atmosphere for the European investors.  “The countries were relying too much on China and they needed to look for other markets,” Thierry Mariani, a Member of the European Parliament and Former Minister of State for Transport of France said at a webinar.The event was organized by the Economic Development Foundation, Istanbul (IKV), a non-governmental research organization specialized on the EU and Turkey-EU relations.Mariani further said: "For me, this new Silk Road is just one opportunity but it cannot be said that it is the only opportunity. If we want to have pe...
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