China raises sanctions against Green politicians Bütikofer!

China raises sanctions against Green politicians Bütikofer!

A remarkable turn in the relationships between China and the European Union takes place, because the People's Republic has lifted the sanctions against the German Greens politician Reinhard Bütikofer. This decision was officially confirmed by the office of Parliamentary President Roberta Metsola at the beginning of the week. This takes another step towards dialogue between Beijing and the European Parliament, which has both political and economic dimensions. According to Blick , the sanctions were originally imposed in 2021 in response to EU sanctions due to the oppression of Uighers in Xinjiang.

The cancellation means that Bütikofer and his family can now travel to mainland china, Hong Kong and Macau without restrictions, and business activities with China are also allowed again. This is a clear sign that China is trying to normalize relationships with the EU. Bütikofer himself said that he and his family are no longer affected by these sanctions and was concerned about the continued sanctions against the Mercator Institute for China Studies (Merics). The institute is known for its research on China and its effects on European society.

a complex ratio

The decision to cancel the sanctions is in a larger context. The geopolitical situation is tense, especially with regard to the Ukraine conflict and the allegations that China supports Russia. In addition, China is increasingly confronted with allegations to use unfair trade practices, which also complicated the relationship with the EU. "Unfair trade practices, restrictions for European companies and human rights are central issues that have to be addressed in dialogue," continued Metsola. SPIEGEL reports that the process for the completion of an investment agreement was put on hold due to the original sank.

As early as April of this year, China had lifted sanctions against some incumbent MEPs, but Bütikofer was initially affected. The walking into the negotiations is also an important sign that the EU economy is not only dependent on dialogue with China, but is also looking for ways to become more independent. This could have long -term effects on economic and political relationships between the two powers.

perspectives for the future

An upcoming EU China summit in Beijing, in which China's state and party leader XI Jinping and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will take part, could bring further developments. Despite the lifting of sanctions, the situation is invited: the ongoing EU sanctions due to human rights violations in China, including entry bans and frozen assets, are still in force. Blick emphasizes that this underpins the need for a critical dialogue between the two sides.

Mutual relationships, for example, are on the brink; With the lifting of the sanctions against Bütikofer, however, a cautious step towards relaxation is taken. It remains to be seen how this dynamic will affect political and economic negotiations in the near future.