Crossick: Lifting arms embargo can break EU-China stalemate  Published: Friday 27 November 2009 Euractiv: Although the EU will enter today’s (30 November) EU-China summit with a revamped outlook provided by the Lisbon Treaty, no major turning point should be expected from the meeting unless Europe commits itself to lifting its arms embargo against China, argues Stanley Crossick, founding chairman of the European [...]

After more than two weeks in China, and a third visit in two months, I offer a number of reflections and recommendations, including on developing the so-called “strategic partnership”.  EU-China relationship This is best characterised as: “Europe, we still love you.  We’ll love you even more if you get your act together externally – as [...]

This forum was held in Hangzhou, from 8 to 10 November 2009, organized by the Europe Research Centre of Zhejiang University and sponsored by the Hangzhou municipality. This was an impressive, demonstrating a clear desire by the municipality to improve the quality of life, which is already comparatively high in Zhejiang province. Hangzhou exudes entrepreneurialism, [...]

The following are my closing remarks at the 6th China-EU Think Tank Roundtable in Changzhou on 21-22 October 2009: We have had a rich and fruitful discussion facilitated by excellent time discipline.  Underpinning all discussions was the search for mutual understanding and the elimination of misperceptions.  We do not sufficiently trust each other.  Trust comes [...]

During the “Forum on China-EU Partnership” in Beijing on 20 November 2009, sponsored by the Chinese government (see post of 27 November), the European scholars, led by former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, met Premier Wen Jiabao for an hour-long discussion.  It was significant that the premier devoted this amount of time to us, and [...]

The prime question is: why did Beijing choose to hold such a major event?  The decision was only taken in late September.  There were some 200 delegates and another 100 observers.  The Chinese official line-up was impressive, including Li Keqiang, Li Junru, Dai Binguo, Zhang Zhijun and a separate meeting with Premier Wen Jiabao (see [...]

Many reactions to the appointments of Herman van Rompuy as president of the European Council and Catherine Ashton as foreign policy chief have been negative.  They deserve a second thought. While the secrecy in which the appointments were made is disappointing, it is understandable that consensus was needed on this occasion; hopefully not next time [...]

I also commend to you the International Crisis Group’s report of 14 September 2009, the key conclusions of which are summarized below: • Beijing has pushed its neighbour to undertake political reforms, but not in the way the West would like. • China was the first to congratulate Aung San Suu Kyi on her election in 1990.  [...]

I commend to you the International Crisis Group’s report of 2 November 2009.  Its key conclusions are summarized below: • “Our mindset has changed, but the length of our border has not”  a high-level Chinese diplomat is quoted as saying.  The border is 1 416km.  • China’s overriding interest remains peace and stability, with non-proliferation a secondary [...]

“Bide time, conceal capabilities, but do some things.  “China should adopt a low profile and never take the lead.” Deng Xiaoping’s famous foreign policy axioms were apparently modified, as result of China’s 11th Ambassadorial Conference in July 2009, but the new formulation is not yet known. Hu Jintao emphasized in his speech to the conference [...]