Denials ... and many more questions. European Foreign Minister Josep Borrell on Monday denied through his spokesperson that he watered down under pressure from Beijing a report on China's disinformation campaigns.
"I absolutely refute and dispute any claim that in our report we have been subjected to external pressure," said his spokesman Peter Stano during a press briefing.
The Group of the European People's Party (EPP, right) in the European Parliament has said it is "revolted" by press reports claiming that the European External Action Service (EEAS) has yielded to Chinese pressure and has modified its conclusions concerning the Chinese disinformation campaign on the Covid-19.
Requests for clarification
"I urge High Representative Josep Borrell to explain in detail and without delay what happened to the report," said Latvian MEP Sandra Kalniete, Vice-President of the EPP Group in charge of foreign affairs.
The Renew group (liberals) also asked for "clarifications" from the EU chief diplomat. "If it's true, it's a very serious problem," said Dutch MEP Bart Groothuis.
The report published on the European External Action Service website differs from a document that leaked in the press and of which AFP obtained a copy. References to investigations in Taiwan and an incident with France are no longer mentioned. "Let me say one thing very clearly: there has been no change and there have not been several versions of these documents," said Peter Stano.
Two different reports
“We have two separate processes. One component is internal, designed for different purposes. Then there are documents to be published which are processed in parallel because they have different objectives and content, ”he said.
"The fact is that there are two reports, one, internal, for internal use, and the other for public use, prepared according to a different process," he acknowledged. "Two procedures, two documents. One document is not necessarily a true reflection of the other. In the meantime there are different things that can come into play, ”he explained.
Asked about internal emails cited by the New York Times regarding threats of reaction from Chinese authorities "if the report is published," Peter Stano declined to comment. However, he lamented on Twitter on Saturday for the use of "internal communications out of context".
Commission spokesperson Eric Mamer warned against publishing such documents with names because "unfortunately this can have consequences".
The threats made by the Chinese ambassador to Australia on Monday confirmed, however, the pressure exerted by Beijing to neutralize the investigations into the way in which the authorities have handled the coronavirus pandemic.
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