Alfred Sant jappella għal aktar djalogu u kooperazzjoni bejn l-UE u ċ-Ċina

F’kummenti li ta rigward Rapport tal-Parlament Ewropew dwar ir-relazzjonijiet bejn l-UE u ċ-Ċina l-eks Prim Ministru Alfred Sant emfasizza li filwaqt li l-UE għandha tissalvagwardja l-interessi tagħha, hija għandha jkollha l-aħjar relazzjonijiet ta’ ħbiberija possibbli maċ-Ċina anke f’termini kompettitivi. Il-ħbiberija għandha tkun imsejsa fuq id-djalogu u l-kooperazzjoni bejn iż-żewġ naħat.

Il-MPE Laburista Alfred Sant innota li r-Rapport ftit li xejn jirrikonoxxi l-pożizzjoni ġeo-strateġika taċ-Ċina bħala qawwa globali b’interessi territorjali estensivi li jeħtiġilha tipproteġi u tafferma. “Iċ-Ċina għandha aktar minn elf kilometru ta’ fruntiera mar-Russja. Għalhekk, il-perspettiva tagħha dwar ir-Russja hija differenti mill-perspettiva tal-Ewropa.”

Huwa rrikonoxxa li xi linji politiċi li ċ-Ċina taddotta huma dubjużi, b’mod partikolari l-politika awtoritarja u repressiva tagħha f’Hong Kong u lejn l-Uighurs. Madanakollu, l-approċċi użati f’kuntesti internazzjonali differenti minn potenzi oħra fosthom l-UE huma wkoll iqanqlu dubju, sostna Sant. 

Hu nnota li l-insistenza taċ-Ċina fuq is-sovranità tat-Tajwan kienet il-bażi tar-relazzjonijiet tagħha mal-“Punent” sa mill-era ta’ Nixon. “Li ddaħħlet ambigwità fir-rigward tal-impenn tal-UE favur din il-pożizzjoni hu żvilupp kompletament inaċċettabbli”, Sant emfasizza.

Ir-Rapport ġie adottat b’529 vot favur, 47 vot kontra u 40 astensjoni. Alfred Sant astjena.

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Alfred Sant calls for more dialogue and cooperation between the EU and China

In comments about a European Parliament Report on EU-China relations former Prime Minister Alfred Sant emphasized that while the EU should safeguard it own interests it should maintain the best friendly relations possible with China in competitive terms. The latter should remain fully compatible with dialogue and cooperation between the two sides.

Labour MEP Alfred Sant noted that the Report shows an inadequate appreciation of the geo-strategic position of China as a global power with extensive territorial interests to protect and affirm. “China has a thousand kilometre plus border with Russia. So, its perspectives towards the country differ from Europe’s,” he claimed.

He acknowledged that some approaches adopted by China are questionable, in particular the authoritarian and repressive policies in Hong Kong and towards the Uighurs. Yet, the approaches used in different international contexts by other powers including the EU are equally questionable, Sant argued.

Alfred Sant noted that China’s insistence on sovereignty over Taiwan has been the basis of its relations with the “West” since the Nixon era. “That ambiguity has crept in regarding the EU’s commitment to this claim is deplorable”, he emphasized.

The Report was adopted with 529 votes in favour, 47 votes against and 40 abstentions. Alfred Sant abstained.