EU head cautions China to respect int’l system

Beijing / AFP

European Union President Donald Tusk on Tuesday cautioned China to respect the international system, as the world’s second-largest economy finds itself locked in disagreements over maritime law and global trade practices.
His comments preceded a judgement from a UN-backed tribunal declaring that China had no “historic rights” in the strategically vital South China Sea, a ruling swiftly rejected by China’s foreign
ministry.
Speaking in Beijing at the start of the EU-China summit, Tusk called on the Asian giant to protect the “rule-based international order”, saying the task “may be the biggest challenge ahead of us.”
EU members have roundly criticised Beijing for its trade practices, claiming the Asian giant is flooding global markets with cheap products, driving down prices and threatening economic stability.
The global framework of laws and regulations “brings so many benefits to our nations,” Tusk said, adding: “If many start believing that globalisation and international trade are happening without or against common rules, then the first victims will be Chinese and European economies, not to mention people.”
His comments followed remarks by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang that the meeting is “an active signal that clearly states that we are two important powers safeguarding world peace and development.”
Earlier in the day, China cancelled a pre-arranged press conference with the leaders, EU representatives said.
The EU is in the process of considering whether or not to grant China market economy status, a designation that would make it much harder for major economies to fight Beijing over alleged unfair trading practices.