The European Union proclaims it is a global beacon for human rights, the rule of law, and the advancement of a broadly shared and prosperous peace. All noble ideals.
Sadly, on Friday, the EU offered a sad reminder that its rhetoric is increasingly detached from reality. At least as applied to the greatest threat to those noble ideals, Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party.
After all, just as President Trump took very significant action to hold China accountable for its immolation this week of the Sino-British accord and Hong Kong freedom, the EU did, well, not a lot. Nothing more, that is, than express a most qualified lament over China’s action. Not only did the EU’s foreign policy chief rule out sanctions of any kind, but he also emphasized the need for Sino-European cooperation. As Damir Marusic of the American Interest points out, this was sadly predictable.
Least surprising development of the year. Still disappointing, but exactly as expected. https://t.co/2zMv1hg3Q4
— Damir Marusic (@dmarusic) May 29, 2020
Yet, even if it were predictable, and even if it fits a pattern of quite astounding deference to Beijing from powerful EU leaders such as Emmanuel Macron, the astonishingly pathetic quality of this latest EU action cannot meet our simple shrug. Because what we’re seeing here is the rising international truth of the EU: the truth of EU foreign policy beyond foreign aid, as important as that is, and diplomacy with allies and prospective partners, as critical as that is. The truth that where the EU’s supposedly most sacred values intercept with reality, the emperor has no clothes.
This should concern us for two critical reasons.
First, because China views the subjugation (forced, coerced, or induced) of the democratic world as the critical stepping stone to its ultimate objective. That being the displacement of the U.S.-led international order and its replacement with Chinese feudal imperialism that offers peace at the price of systemic property transfer and absolute political deference.
Where, as now, the EU shows it cannot stand up and even raise a loud voice over Beijing’s shredding of sacred commitments, China wins a great victory.
The corollary problem is how this undermines U.S.-EU relations. I say this as someone who truly believes the EU’s success and NATO’s credibility are critical to America’s interests. And as someone who recognizes that Trump should show greater politeness in dealing with historic allies. Nevertheless, where the EU speaks of great values, then simultaneously blames the United States for the degradation of the liberal international order, and then acts as Beijing’s lap dog, it becomes harder to persuade Americans that this alliance is worth what it once was. Even more so, in that America finds no EU compatriots in its defense of Europe against Russia.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe the U.S.-EU alliance is critical — as much as it ever has been. But the EU needs to decide what it wants to be in the 21st century. Does it want to be a Chinese Communist Party patron, or does it want to be a partner for the human rights and democratic order we all claim to cherish?
The two are mutually exclusive. And the stakes are vast.
