European Parliament should be wary of dire consequences of acting on its new document: China Daily editorial

In a move that risks harming the foundation of China-European Union relations, the European Parliament adopted a document on Wednesday that takes a significantly tougher stance toward China. Labeling the country's industrial policy as an "existential threat" to the EU's industrial base and a "decisive enabler" of Russia, the document is a crystallization of the increasing hostility of some politicians in Brussels toward Beijing.

Steeped in double standards and a geopolitical zero-sum mindset, the recommendations in the document are not only disconnected from reality, but also self-defeating. Overlooking the fact that China and the EU have no fundamental conflicts of interest or geopolitical contradictions, the European Parliament is advocating a confrontational approach, including a continuous European naval "presence" in and around the Taiwan Strait.

Earlier this week, France and Germany proposed that the bloc reinforce its economy by enacting a new rapid-action measure ‌to hit back against countries that "harm" it. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz claimed in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday that "systemic market-distorting practices" threaten the EU's economy and industrial ‌base, necessitating urgent actions.

The growing calls for confrontation within the EU largely stem from the bloc's internal anxieties. Faced with industrial challenges and a weak economy, some EU politicians are using China as a scapegoat to mask their reluctance to make the difficult decisions needed to boost the EU's competitiveness. Additionally, geopolitical pressures and the influence of Washington have led to the politicization of economic issues, prompting some in the EU to misinterpret China's actions and intentions.

The core of China-EU relations is about partnership. The hostility evident in the European Parliament document extends to trade and economic relations, security and even China's internal affairs, such as the Taiwan question. Its systematic and potentially destructive nature has rarely been seen in recent years.

Disagreements are normal in relations between major economies, and the key lies in how they are resolved. The China-EU relationship is a testament to the complementary strengths and mutual benefits that have contributed to sustainable development for both sides. EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic's ongoing visit to Beijing for trade and investment talks is a rational and pragmatic approach to bilateral economic relations. Indeed, differences cannot be resolved through confrontation or suppression, but through dialogue and candid communication.

For its own benefit, the EU should avoid adopting unilateral measures based on miscalculations. The problems the EU faces in industry and economy are mainly the pains of a transition bottleneck, for which China is not to blame. On the Ukraine crisis, if China really were what some EU politicians make it out to be, the outcome would have been very different long ago. Instead, China has consistently advocated building a sustainable and balanced security framework for Europe. On the Taiwan question, if Brussels dares to challenge Beijing's red line, it will learn in full what it means to reap what it sows. There seems to be only one voice some EU politicians can hear: the outcry from within the EU that their own misguided decisions would have unleashed.

A new round of the China-France Strategic Dialogue is being held in Beijing from Friday to Tuesday. It is hoped that face-to-face exchanges like this between China and major EU member states can help some EU politicians view China's development rationally and handle China-EU differences pragmatically, rather than mistaking a partner for a rival — a misjudgment whose cost would be enormous for either side.