US and EU start new forum to discuss China issues, including human rights and security
- Washington has been pushing other countries to take a tougher stance towards Beijing, but some observers question whether Europe can reach a consensus
- Mechansim was announced following discussion between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his EU counterpart Josep Borrell
The United States and Europe have set up a new mechanism to discuss China-related matters, including human rights, security, and multilateralism.
The US announced the establishment of a “dedicated forum” to “discuss the full range of issues related to China” following a phone conversation between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Friday.
The US has been pushing the EU and other countries to take a tougher stance towards Beijing, including pressure to exclude Chinese telecoms firms such as Huawei from 5G networks and ensure a “clean internet”,
The EU has also expressed increasing scepticism towards China in recent months, designating it a “systemic rival”, but some observers questioned whether it would be able to reach a consensus on how to handle Beijing.
Wang Yingwei, a professor of international relations at Renmin University, said the mechanism would also help the EU to push for action in areas such as stalled talks with Beijing over an investment agreement.
“They feel the urgency of dealing with China’s challenge in all aspects to ensure the continuity of Western leadership in the world,” said Wang.