Thread by @ClaFrancavilla

1/6) #EUChina: sadly, @JosepBorrellF's speech at #EPlenary (bit.ly/3j7zTGn) 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 👇🏽

2/6) Beijing has long been working to dismantle decades of progress in the int'l human rights system and replace it with one that allows for its systematic repression and atrocity crimes: hrw.org/news/2020/09/1…

In this, authoritarian govts like Russia'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's revisionist agenda. Why upset allies?

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

See where 🇨🇳 stands on #Myanmar's junta crimes...

5/6) In this context, 🇪🇺 speaking "principles" and "commitments" to Beijing really misses the whole point - to put it mildly

It's what @JosepBorrellF referred to as the "dialogue of the deaf", which begs the question: why even bother? scmp.com/news/china/art…

6/6) Amid trade concerns and usual internal divisions, the EU'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's long game. It would be too dangerous not to: hrw.org/news/2022/03/1…