Brussels/Beijing, 08/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - On the eve of the ASEM ministerial meeting, the European Troika, lead by the Council President Anna Lindh, with her Belgian successor Louis Michel, Commissioner Chris Patten and - in the absence of the High Representative for CFSP - the Deputy Director General of the Council Anastassio Vikas, met, on 23 May in Beijing, with the head of Chinese diplomacy Tang Jiaxuan. A shorter meeting than planned, during which they nearly only spoke of human rights and saw an irritation on both sides, summarised one of the European diplomats, who took part in the meeting. Mr Patten and Mr Michel have been invited to go to Tibet.
All the arguments that we are used to deploying have received a systematic answer. It is rather depressing. The only hope that remains to lead to the convergence of the efforts, is the dialogue on human rights, commented a European expert. The Union now hopes to reorganise, refocus this dialogue that it managed to form with China in 1998, in order to make it more effective at all levels, by gambling on the next bilateral summit, which will take place on 5 and 6 September in Brussels (see EUROPE of 14 and 15 May, p.15). The Chinese leaders, who seem to have cast off their traditional reservations with regards to political dialogue, are relatively favourable towards this move and are generally calling for "more Europe" on the international arena. This trend, which was perceptible during the first three summits, has totally disappeared. China manifestly wants Europe to take its place in a multipolar world and is, for the first time, prepared to eventually make a joint declaration following the next summit, notes the same source. On the European side, they nevertheless also note that, when it is a question of human rights, Beijing always proves to be rather stubborn, hiding behind a sort of exacerbated sensitivity: China, like Asia in general, is allergic towards those who give lessons, especially when they are Europeans. When they are critical the doors close.
In accordance with the mandate conferred upon it, the Swedish Presidency one by one outlined, during the meeting with Mr Tang, the Union's grievances - torture, death penalty, police brutality, barriers to freedom of expression, association and belief, Tibet, Flung Gong, etc. The next day, alongside him at the final press conference of the ASEM ministerial, Mrs Lindh underlined that it is important to maintain the dialogue, rather than remain silent and avoid difficult questions. We do not want a confrontation, we want a real and open discussion, where there may be disagreements. We want to understand the way of thinking of the other side. It is far more productive than silence, and it is a process that moves slowly, underlined a high ranking member of the Commission, when admitting that if the Europeans raise the tone, Beijing could break this fragile dialogue. It remains that Mr Tang let it be inferred that he was not a "stranger" to this problematic, but that it would be necessary to give things time. Separately, he was ironic towards the European leaders (I still see them puling out large dossiers with a pile of collaborators behind them). This route must be somewhat shaken up, to know where our priorities lie, this is a burdensome exercise for the Chinese and they know that we remain demanding, they note in the circles close to the future Presidency of the EU Council.
Among the numerous issues raised during this meeting, are those of illegal immigration and the fight against the trafficking of human beings. This last point is covered by the action programme that has just been launched by ASEM, but for the first, the Union still awaits a more active contribution from China, notably over the exchange of strategic information, the functions of networks and the search for documentary proof, etc. Chinese illegal immigration is increasing and, if the corresponding figures are not so large, in comparison with those from Eastern Europe for example, there is an exponential development of the phenomenon and its criminal element, notes a European expert. This problematic should be the object, over the coming days, of a Europe mission on the feasibility of cooperation including an information campaign in the provinces concerned, with the risk population, and, during the coming year, an international conference in Madrid.
The meeting also covered the deterioration of the climate between Beijing and Washington. The emissaries of the Union called on the Chinese authorities to show restraint, notably by returning the US Air Force spy plane (which was announced in the following days: Ed.). Furthermore, China thanked the Union for the fruitful mission accomplished by the European Troika in the Korean peninsula, though not specifying the extent of its support for the two main Europeans aims, namely the maintaining of a moratorium on missile tests and the true participation by Pyongyang in a dialogue on human rights with the EU
The Europeans would also like to obtain a confirmation of the Chinese political will to join the World Trade Organisation. We have been reassured, indicated one of the members of the European delegation (see other story).