Blacklist to backchannels: inside the European Parliament’s unlikely China reset

No EU institution has clashed more often – or more loudly – with China than the European Parliament.

While others tiptoe around thorny issues, its members have for years engaged in running battles with Beijing, taking aim at everything from human rights and trade to Taiwan and foreign meddling, sometimes sending the broader EU-China relationship spiralling.

In recent months, however, a remarkable reset has been under way, led by President Roberta Metsola, who has sought to normalise relations with Beijing after four years of estrangement. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the recent history, not everyone is pleased.

The extent of the detente is revealed in previously unseen correspondence obtained by the South China Morning Post and conversations with parliament insiders, which helps piece together an improbable thaw that virtually nobody expected six months ago.

“I believe this is an opportune moment to reset relations between the European Parliament and the National People’s Congress,” Metsola wrote to Chinese ambassador to the EU Cai Run, in a letter dated March 12.

“Our discussion marked a significant step toward re-establishing constructive parliamentary relations and revitalising our legislative dialogue,” she said, referring to a meeting held with Cai in the parliament on March 3 – the first of two face-to-face encounters between the pair.