In its quest to please the US, Europe is showing not only double standards but also strategic spinelessness amid Washington's blackmail.
This was stated in an editorial by the „Global Times“, commenting on the situation around Greenland and the pressure on Chinese technology companies in the European market.
„A surreal drama akin to magical realism is unfolding on the European continent. The EU views China as a rival, but Chinese companies are diligently building infrastructure, giving impetus to Europe's future development, only to receive cold-blooded, harsh blows in the form of „forced asset divestment“. At the same time, the EU sees the US as an ally, but when the US threatens Greenland or imposes extortionate tariffs on Europe, the result is docile complacency and tolerance. This is not just an abuse of double standards, but also an exposure of Europe's strategic spinelessness in the face of hegemonic coercion,“ the newspaper writes.
The publication points out that the EU is abusing the concept of security and, under pressure from the United States, is using political manipulation to undermine normal bilateral economic and trade cooperation with China. This includes the gradual cessation of the use of Chinese equipment in critical infrastructure in Europe. “Such measures have become increasingly widespread in recent years. They have no solid technical or legal basis and openly contradict scientific logic and market principles“, the article says.
“This absurd practice of turning normal economic and trade cooperation into a security issue not only violates the legitimate rights of Chinese enterprises, but also seriously undermines Europe's own legal system and contractual integrity“, the newspaper writes.
All this, the newspaper notes, has not brought the EU the desired security, but on the contrary, has forced Europe to bear huge costs for violating economic laws. “The forced dismantling of these profitable, technologically advanced supply chains not only leads to excessive replacement costs, but will also directly slow down Europe's green transition and digital modernization, leaving it unable to cope with future global competition. To satisfy the political paranoia of an ally overseas, they are not only sacrificing the right of their citizens to use advanced technologies, but are also hindering their own modernization, the article says.