China-EU relations: why Beijing may not want to let Xinjiang sanctions undermine investment deal

A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman warned that Brussels cannot talk about cooperation on one hand and harm China with the other

But diplomatic observers believe that it does not want to let the first EU sanctions on China since the Tiananmen crackdown ruin its trade relationship

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The Xinjiang sanctions were the first the EU has imposed on China since the Tiananmen crackdown in 1989. Photo: Reuters

Kinling Loin Hong KongandRachel Zhangin Shanghai

Published: 9:00pm, 23 Mar 2021Updated: 1:18am, 24 Mar 2021

Beijing has warned the European Union that its decision to impose sanctions on Chinese officials risks damaging relations, but diplomatic observers do not expect China to issue additional trade sanctions that would further jeopardise its investment deal with the bloc.

The EU’s sanctions on four individuals and one entity accused of human rights abuses in Xinjiang were the first of their kind since the bloody Tiananmen crackdown of 1989, and mirrored those imposed by the United States, Britain and Canada.

In response, Chinese foreign vice-minister Qin Gang summoned the EU’s ambassador Nicolas Chapuis on Monday and the British ambassador Caroline Wilson the following day.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing the EU “cannot talk about cooperation on one hand, and impose sanctions to harm China’s rights and benefits on another”.

Hua was responding to a question about whether the sanctions would affect the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) signed by the EU and China in December and added: “This is unreasonable and will lead nowhere. The EU should reflect on its behaviour and stop the confrontation, and contribute to the healthy and stable development of bilateral ties with practical moves.”