MEPs urge tougher action against China as tensions hit ‘critical point’
The resolution calls China “a decisive enabler” of Russia’s war in Ukraine and says the EU should take action against China’s weaponisation of the rare eath minerals that Europe depends on.
European Parliament members have called for stricter measures against China, deeming the relationship between the two nations to have hit a "critical point". The resolution, approved by a large majority on Wednesday, urges the EU to consider using its powerful Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) if Beijing exploits Europe's reliance on critical raw materials.
The vote took place as EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič embarked on a mission to Beijing for urgent negotiations aimed at restoring balance to the deteriorating trade relationship.
The month of October is expected to be pivotal for EU-China relations, with European leaders, all of whom now face trade deficits with China, pushing for concrete outcomes from ongoing talks with Beijing. The tensions extend well beyond trade, as the EU has become increasingly concerned over Beijing's close ties with Moscow and its support for Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The resolution, adopted by 454 MEPs, highlights China's unfair economic practices, such as dumping and espionage, as well as its stance on Russia's aggressive campaign against Ukraine. The EU lawmakers have described China's involvement in the Ukraine war as that of "a decisive enabler," citing Beijing's diplomatic backing and material assistance that sustains the Russian military-industrial complex.
In addition to their concerns over China's economic tactics, MEPs also urge EU countries and the Commission to "urgently" address the weaponization of critical dependencies by China. They pointed to a 2025 incident where China restricted exports of rare earths, vital to the EU's automotive, defense, and clean-tech industries, during its trade dispute with the United States.
The resolution calls for the EU to consider deploying the ACI, an EU mechanism that enables the bloc to take drastic actions, including restrictions on licences and intellectual property rights, against a third country that employs economic coercion against the EU.
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