https://www.scmp.com/rss/512789/feed Priyanka Shankar is an independent journalist with a keen interest in press freedom, human rights and podcasting. Currently based in Brussels, her work can be seen in Deutsche Welle, Al Jazeera English, Lighthouse Reports, Middle East Eye, Reuters, and others. Languages: English, Hindi, Kannada, German (basic) en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Leaders of the European Union’s member nations have agreed to pursue the trade bloc’s “de-risking” strategy in its dealings with China, and reduce critical dependencies in its supply chains. At a summit in Brussels on Friday, the 27 EU leaders stated that it was important to “seek to ensure a level playing field, so that the trade and economic relationship is balanced, reciprocal and mutually beneficial between China and the European Union”. But the statement also emphasised that the union “does... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3226197/eu-leaders-agree-de-risk-blocs-trade-dealings-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3226197/eu-leaders-agree-de-risk-blocs-trade-dealings-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jun 2023 17:58:19 +0000 Brussels is eager to project a united EU approach in its China policies despite some divergent positions among members, as the 27-nation bloc’s leaders gather in the Belgian capital for a two-day summit. In a letter to EU leaders ahead of the high-level meetings, EU Council President Charles Michel said discussions on China – expected to be held on Friday – would give an opportunity to “reconfirm” the bloc’s “broad and united stance” towards the country. European Union leaders were expected to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3225892/eu-seeks-project-united-approach-towards-china-ahead-high-level-brussels-meetings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3225892/eu-seeks-project-united-approach-towards-china-ahead-high-level-brussels-meetings?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jun 2023 20:42:47 +0000 A human rights group has urged the European Union to better track where its products end up, after a report showed that EU firms have been providing supplies “critical” to arms production in Myanmar. Companies from at least 13 countries, including France, Germany and Austria, were named in the January 2023 report by Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M), an independent group of former UN officials seeking to fight for human rights, justice and accountability in Myanmar. “Foreign companies... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3208480/eu-urged-act-products-end-myanmar-despite-everything-arms-sanctions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3208480/eu-urged-act-products-end-myanmar-despite-everything-arms-sanctions?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Jan 2023 14:30:12 +0000 Just before the summer lull hits Brussels, the European Union will hold a high-level trade dialogue with China on Tuesday – talks the 27-member bloc has been trying to organise for more than three months. Valdis Dombrovskis, the European commissioner for trade, and Chinese vice-premier Liu He will co-chair the virtual meeting, which will also include representatives from the trade and economics ministries of both sides. According to a European Commission representative, a number of global... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3185573/china-and-eu-hold-high-level-trade-talks-week-after-months-delays?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3185573/china-and-eu-hold-high-level-trade-talks-week-after-months-delays?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Jul 2022 10:00:26 +0000 The head of Nato got into an impromptu debate on Wednesday with a member of the European Parliament over why the security alliance needed to concern itself with China. Jens Stoltenberg, secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, was questioned by members of parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and its subcommittee on security and defence two weeks after Nato identified China as a “systemic challenge to Euro-Atlantic security”. Irish MEP Mick Wallace pressed Stoltenberg on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3185202/nato-chief-challenged-need-confront-china-cites-its-military?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3185202/nato-chief-challenged-need-confront-china-cites-its-military?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Jul 2022 21:44:15 +0000 State-backed foreign firms acquiring companies in the European Union will be subject to a regulation which aims to address foreign subsidy distortions in the bloc’s internal market. But Chinese businesses said the new regulation – which comes into force next year – may slash their confidence in the European market. The regulation – proposed by the European Commission in May 2021 and approved by EU nations last week – allows the investigation of acquisitions worth €500 million (US$516 million)... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3184450/china-firms-warn-eu-foreign-subsidy-rule-could-hit-investor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3184450/china-firms-warn-eu-foreign-subsidy-rule-could-hit-investor?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Jul 2022 12:00:25 +0000 The European Parliament passed a non-binding resolution on Thursday condemning the arrest of senior Hong Kong cleric Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun and four other trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund in Hong Kong, saying it was “an attack on the freedoms guaranteed in the Hong Kong Basic Law, including the freedom of religion or belief”. The relief fund was established in 2019 to provide legal and financial help to those involved in pro-democracy demonstrations. It ceased activity in 2021... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3184526/eu-parliament-condemns-arrest-cardinal-joseph-zen-4-other-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3184526/eu-parliament-condemns-arrest-cardinal-joseph-zen-4-other-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Jul 2022 17:49:44 +0000 The European Union and India have resumed trade talks after an eight-year hiatus as the bloc’s relationship with China continues to cool. The talks, which aim to strengthen economic ties and establish a joint comprehensive trade agreement by the end of 2023, are the latest in a series of efforts by Brussels to upgrade ties with India. Have China-India economic ties changed 2 years on from the Galwan border clash? Last week EU trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said that “for the European... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3183821/eu-seeks-boost-ties-india-relations-china-cool?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3183821/eu-seeks-boost-ties-india-relations-china-cool?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Jul 2022 04:00:23 +0000 China has been identified for the first time as a “systemic challenge to Euro-Atlantic security” in Nato’s strategic concept – a key document that sets the alliance’s military and security strategy for the next 10 years. While expected, the move reflects rising suspicion towards China among the Western military alliance, but also a recognition of Beijing’s growing military clout. The strategy has not been updated since 2010, and since then China has been closing the military and economic gap... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3183564/nato-leaders-say-china-systemic-challenge-euro-atlantic-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3183564/nato-leaders-say-china-systemic-challenge-euro-atlantic-security?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jun 2022 16:50:55 +0000 As Nato leaders prepare to convene in Madrid next week for their annual summit, observers say the world’s largest defence alliance is likely to harden its stance towards China over its position on Russia’s war in Ukraine. China is expected to be identified for the first time in Nato’s new strategic concept, a key document charting the 30-member bloc’s future security trail and military development to be adopted at the summit. A recent Nato survey across all member states found China was viewed... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3183024/nato-poised-harden-position-china-support-russia-deepens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3183024/nato-poised-harden-position-china-support-russia-deepens?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Jun 2022 14:00:24 +0000 It has been more than two years since the first strain of the coronavirus pandemic was discovered. Since then, the virus has infected more than 500 million people worldwide and upended economies. The initial response to tackle the pandemic saw governments resorting to draconian lockdowns, mass testing, mask mandates and long quarantines. But such measures have now been relaxed in most countries, especially in the West, after vaccines were rolled out. However in Asia, besides vaccination drives,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3182084/coronavirus-which-works-better-handle-pandemic-democracy-or?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3182084/coronavirus-which-works-better-handle-pandemic-democracy-or?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Jun 2022 04:00:20 +0000 When German Chancellor Olaf Scholz took office last year, he told Chinese President Xi Jinping that Germany would deepen economic ties with China “in the spirit of mutual respect and mutual trust”. But over the past few months, a wind of change has begun blowing over Berlin’s relationship with Beijing, just as its foreign ministry constructs a new China strategy. This comes in light of China’s obfuscation over Russia’s actions in Ukraine, its zero-Covid strategy, which has frustrated businesses,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3181041/china-germany-economic-ties-shift-xinjiang-allegations-zero?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3181041/china-germany-economic-ties-shift-xinjiang-allegations-zero?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Jun 2022 15:00:37 +0000