MEP Claire Daly accepts an exclusive interview with the Global Times: The hostility to China was carefully planned
[Global Times reporter Bai Yunyi and Chen Qingqing] In 2021, China-EU relations will be shrouded in a lingering shadow.
The European Union followed the U.S. to sanction Chinese officials and entities, the European Parliament froze discussions on ratifying the China-EU investment agreement, and the European Parliament passed the so-called "EU-Taiwan Political Relations and Cooperation" report. At a crossroads?
The "old knot" has not yet been resolved. Lithuania, which insists on setting up a "representative office" in the name of "Taiwan", has repeatedly tried to tie its mistakes to China-EU relations.
Amid the constant uproar from Lithuania, last week's informal meeting of EU foreign ministers talked about so-called "coercion" by China.
In a year when China-EU relations were at a low point, there was one EU institution with a high “report rate”—the European Parliament, which is considered to be one of the main sources of anti-China sentiment within Europe, but this does not mean that the institution does not have any interest in it. Hua rational voice.
Claire Daly, an Irish MEP, is one of the representatives of reason. She is a member of Ireland's "Independent Changemakers", an organization whose purpose is to pursue social equality and oppose neoliberalism.
In an exclusive interview with a reporter from the Global Times, Daley repeatedly emphasized that the MEPs who accused China of human rights issues are hypocritical -- they don't really care about human rights issues, but just want to gain geopolitical interests.
Hostility against China is carefully planned
Global Times: Has there been an anti-China sentiment or force in the European Parliament?
Where do they come from?
Daly: In a way, this hostility towards China is well planned.
Many members of the European Parliament may not realize this, but I think it is what it is.
The anti-China forces in the European Parliament mainly come from two aspects.
First, many U.S. think tanks, foundations funded by U.S. billionaires, and organizations funded by NATO, etc. operate in Europe, and they have launched a joint campaign, often blaming China on the agenda of the European Parliament.
The US sees China as a threat to its economic interests and world hegemony (which also affects the EU's attitude towards China), just as the deterioration of US-Russian relations has put pressure on the EU, the "north stream- 2" The natural gas pipeline project has thus become a "victim".
On the other hand, the EU is also trying to strengthen its influence.
Therefore, when some think tanks, foundations, etc. continue to provide information about the so-called "human rights violations in China", many MEPs put this issue at the center of the stage (trying to show the influence of the EU).
But in reality, these accusations run counter to reality.
I also don't think these MEPs really care about human rights - they don't care about human rights in Europe, and I don't understand why they should care about human rights in China.
Moreover, China is also one of our largest trading partners.
Global Times: Are you facing enormous pressure in the European Parliament because of your stance on China, or even being frequently attacked?
Daly: My attitude towards China is no different from my attitude towards any other country.
The starting point for all my positions is to oppose the EU's use of double standards in its dealings with third countries.
For example, the European Parliament has discussed the issue of China's increase in military spending.
To be honest, I don't want to see an increase in China's defense spending because I am a pacifist.
But what I have to say to the European Parliament is that China's military expenditure is only a small part of the US military expenditure, even less than that of Western European countries.
Therefore, it is hypocritical for us to discuss China's military expansion.
I just stick to the same standard and demand respect for international law.
But a lot of people label me "China's apologists" for this, and they call people like us "panda huggers."
Such claims are actually "racial discrimination" against China.
In a body like the European Union, where democratic and anti-racist issues are discussed every day, this kind of discrimination against China is becoming more and more serious and even more accepted by the political circles and society.
Many MEPs are not anti-China in the first place, but if there are other people who often repeat the so-called "big and evil China" and other rhetoric, it will naturally penetrate into people's consciousness, especially when the media is also playing the role of such rhetoric. role.
Taiwan issue 'not our business'
Global Times: Some countries and their politicians have been clamouring for a "boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics" recently. What do you think of this?
Daly: I think it's pretty ridiculous.
Some MEPs may join the "boycott", but others will ignore the clamor and want to go to China for the Winter Olympics.
It's a pity that I don't have time to go to China this time, and due to the epidemic, not many people can go.
In my opinion, the "boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics" has been thoroughly "instrumented" as part of "acceptable racism" against China.
There is a lot of talk about it in the media, which was rarely seen in the past, and I think it's pretty scary.
Human rights should be protected everywhere, but China is singled out for geopolitical reasons.
This is an opportunistic approach that actually undermines our ability to truly protect human rights.
One example is that while many politicians criticize the human rights situation in China, they turn a blind eye to human rights violations that take place within their own country and in border areas.
Many Europeans may not know that there are many migrants and refugees trying to come to Europe who are desperately disenfranchised, locked up, frozen to death in border areas.
I believe that China may also have human rights issues, but I have to start in my own yard - focusing on human rights violations in Europe, because here I am better able to do something to change the status quo.
The Beijing Winter Olympics has become a "starter" for some people, once again showing that racism is spreading in Europe, a place that most people think is democratic, inclusive, and opposed to racism.
Global Times: In the past year, many MEPs visited Taiwan, and Lithuania even challenged Beijing's bottom line on the Taiwan issue.
How do you see the motivation behind these moves?
As far as you know, is there a Taiwanese lobby group behind this pushing?
Daly: I don't know if there are lobbying groups from Taiwan behind these actions, but I think that some organizations lobbying for "Taiwan independence" have always existed and continued to operate, even though the vast majority of countries in the world recognize one China. in principle.
From my point of view, what is interesting is the question of timing: why are these legislators or individual countries suddenly so interested in Taiwan?
If it's not that they're incredibly stupid, it's that they're trying to humiliate mainland China in this way.
These people don't really care about human rights on the mainland or Taiwan or anywhere else, they want to gain geopolitical gain.
In this process, I think the most hypocritical and "double standard" is that the European Parliament is committed to focusing on the Taiwan issue is a committee dedicated to foreign interference in EU affairs, and they are now interfering in the internal affairs of another country.
In another rather ironic example, when the Catalans of Spain, one of the EU member states, held an independence referendum, the EU said "this is Spain's own business, not ours".
In a twinkling of an eye, they said that the distant China Taiwan issue caused their "great concern".
In my opinion, the Taiwan issue should be decided by the Chinese mainland and the people of Taiwan, which is not our business.
Global Times: Lithuania has been seeking the EU to "stand with it" on the Taiwan issue.
Do you think the EU should take a unanimous stance to support Lithuania on this matter?
Daly: I don't think the EU should have an overall policy on this.
Diplomatic relations between countries and China should be established on a bilateral basis.
The Lithuanian people have the right to support or correct their government's stance towards China.
As far as I know, many Lithuanian businesses and individuals are not satisfied with what the independent government is doing because the trade between Lithuania and China and the relationship between the two countries are negatively affected.
Global Times: The EU now seems to see China as a competitor, rival or even a threat.
Do you agree with this positioning?
Daly: I don't agree, but the fact is that the EU's attitude towards China tends to be in this position.
As I said before, this is the product of two factors: US hostility towards China is instilled in the EU; the EU itself aspires to be a "superpower".
But such a "Chinese positioning" is actually unreasonable.
Global issues such as climate change can only be resolved through diplomacy and mutual cooperation and support.
Conflicts with other countries should be resolved through dialogue on the basis of equality.
Also, I don't see China as a "threat" at all.
The world economy is becoming more interconnected than ever before, making it impossible for a "new cold war" to actually happen.
The EU has very close trade links with China and is also very dependent on China for key raw materials.
If the EU is to develop a renewable energy policy, it must cooperate with China.
"I think the same as the European people"
Global Times: We have noticed that you have been speaking out for the Assange case.
What do you think what happened to Assange?
What is the current mainstream view of the case in European society?
Daly: The public opinion situation in Europe is worse than in the United States.
We have seen that many American media are questioning the prosecution of Assange, but the mainstream European media has not reached such a consensus. Some media even demonize Assange and focus on things that have nothing to do with the case, such as his character.
They ignore the essence of the problem - that Assange exposed America's war crimes.
Global Times: You say you are a "socialist".
As a "socialist", will your political career in Europe be difficult and lonely?
Does Europe need socialism?
Daly: I am very opposed to neoliberalism, the ideology that is currently dominating the EU and many economies around the world, which puts the private ownership of wealth above the interests of the people.
When I say I'm a "socialist," I mean I'm against social inequality, wanting to serve ordinary people, make a difference in protecting the environment, etc.
In fact, the European people and the European Parliament are deeply divided on many issues: people want decent jobs, decent income and social security; people want housing, and Europe is facing a huge crisis in this area; people don't want to sweat their blood. Money is spent on things like military spending or conflict with other countries, what they want is cooperation between countries.
In this sense, I am not alone, I think the same as the people of Europe, whether they call themselves socialists or not.
It is a pity that the EU institutions are now pushing a neoliberal agenda that benefits big business, big farms, not the interests of the people.
It is European institutions, not me, who have left the people.