China holds EU to account for criticism by European MPs
- Veteran diplomat says Beijing does not recognise bloc’s separation of powers
- Series of recent visits to Taiwan by EU lawmakers has sparked diplomatic rebukes
At a reception in Beijing last month, the European Union’s outgoing ambassador was warned by a senior Chinese official that the words and deeds of European lawmakers towards China – including visits to Taiwan – would be viewed as official EU policy.
“China will never deal with two EUs,” Wu Hongbo, a veteran diplomat and special envoy for China on European affairs, said at a leaving party for Nicolas Chapuis on July 8, according to sources familiar with the conversation.
“You are telling us that you have nothing to do with the European Parliament,” he said. “That’s not OK for China. China sees the EU as one, so whatever the separation of powers in the EU – we recognise only one.”
The remarks came amid a flurry of EU-Taiwan contacts, parliamentary resolutions, and visits from European delegations to Taipei.
Pelosi, second in line to the US presidency, was on the island for just 19 hours, but sparked a furious reaction from the Chinese government that escalated through the week.
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