The EU-China’s Strategic Partnership: A Case Study of the EU’s Arms Embargo against China

Yixiong Huang

doi:10.29173/agora12406

Abstract

In 2003, the EU and China established a strategic partnership intended to deepen their bilateral relationship not only economically, but also strategically. However, the EU-China relations are still challenged by several ideological and strategic issues. This paper will evaluate the EU-China’s strategic partnership by presenting a case study of the EU’s arms embargo against China since the 1989 Tiananmen Incident. This paper will argue that although the EU-China’s strategic partnership has a strong foundation of bilateral economic and strategic cooperation, the relationship between the EU and China is still very weak: (1) ideologically, the EU is still unsatisfied with China’s human rights record and political reform process; and (2) strategically, the United States (U.S.) still plays an influential role the EU’s external decision-making process.

Highlights

European integration began in the 1950s after World War II
Statistics from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) show that the European Union (EU) accounted for only 0.7% of China’s market in 1980, and that this amount increased to 7.5% in 2002.10 In order to benefit from China’s growth, the EU member states want a more open China with reliable business rules
Cold War thinking and for laying the ground for closer Sino-European cooperation and exchanges on political and security matters in a situation of buoyant commercial relations.”20 The Chinese government believes that the arms embargo against China will only increase the distrust between China and the EU

Summary

Introduction

European integration began in the 1950s after World War II. Postwar Europe needed to establish a framework for regional cooperation and peace. Cold War thinking and for laying the ground for closer Sino-European cooperation and exchanges on political and security matters in a situation of buoyant commercial relations.” The Chinese government believes that the arms embargo against China will only increase the distrust between China and the EU. “The fact that the authority that would lift the ban is the EU, a part of the West, provides additional credence to the signal that China is worthy of equal treatment and not of discrimination.” In sum, the Chinese government is hoping the EU will abolish its arms embargo against China because the great potential for economic, military, and political cooperation can be possibly achieved by the two sides Chinese premier Wen Jiabao has stated that “the embargo is a product of the Cold War era and is totally outdated.” China feels that the EU’s arms embargo is discriminatory, because only Zimbabwe, Sudan and Burma have been sanctioned by the EU. Vensesson indicated, “The fact that the authority that would lift the ban is the EU, a part of the West, provides additional credence to the signal that China is worthy of equal treatment and not of discrimination.” In sum, the Chinese government is hoping the EU will abolish its arms embargo against China because the great potential for economic, military, and political cooperation can be possibly achieved by the two sides

Obstacles to Lifting the Arms Embargo

Findings

Conclusion