1/6) #EUChina: sadly, @JosepBorrellF& #39;s speech at #EPlenary ( https://bit.ly/3j7zTGn )">https://bit.ly/3j7zTGn&q... makes it clear Europe is still far from understanding - and most of all addressing - the worrying, underlying reasons why Beijing is de facto siding with #Russia on #Ukraine

A thread https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇🏽" title="Rug van hand met omlaag wijzende wijsvinger (getinte huidskleur)" aria-label="Emoji: Rug van hand met omlaag wijzende wijsvinger (getinte huidskleur)">

2/6) Beijing has long been working to dismantle decades of progress in the int& #39;l human rights system and replace it with one that allows for its systematic repression and atrocity crimes: https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/09/14/chinas-influence-global-human-rights-system

In">https://www.hrw.org/news/2020... this, authoritarian govts like Russia& #39;s are its "natural" allies

3/6) Autocrats make a mockery of their human rights obligations, would happily get rid of this "hurdle" - and of the scrutiny that comes with it. Their only concern is perpetuating their rule, at any cost

The more the merrier for Beijing& #39;s revisionist agenda. Why upset allies?

4/6) So #China& #39;s stance on #Ukraine should be no surprise to Europe - nor are #Russia& #39;s war crimes likely to be much of a problem for Beijing& #39;s relations with Moscow, when Beijing itself is responsible for crimes against humanity

See where https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇨🇳" title="Vlag van China" aria-label="Emoji: Vlag van China"> stands on #Myanmar& #39;s junta crimes...

5/6) In this context, https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇪🇺" title="Vlag van de Europese Unie" aria-label="Emoji: Vlag van de Europese Unie"> speaking "principles" and "commitments" to Beijing really misses the whole point - to put it mildly

It& #39;s what @JosepBorrellF referred to as the "dialogue of the deaf", which begs the question: why even bother? https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3173188/eu-china-summit-was-dialogue-deaf-says-top-brussels-diplomat">https://www.scmp.com/news/chin...

6/6) Amid trade concerns and usual internal divisions, the EU& #39;s long been holding its punches, waving the "dialogue" fairy tale

Europe needs to finally wake up and rise to the *systemic* challenge of Beijing& #39;s long game. It would be too dangerous not to: https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/03/18/joint-ngo-letter-ahead-eu-china-summit">https://www.hrw.org/news/2022...