The European Parliament has thrown its weight behind a tougher EU approach to China, warning that the bloc's relationship with Beijing has reached a critical juncture. In a resolution passed on Wednesday, lawmakers called for concrete measures to counter China's economic coercion and its backing of Russia's war in Ukraine.
The text, approved by 454 votes to 86 with 110 abstentions, describes China as "a decisive enabler" of Russia's full-scale invasion, pointing to diplomatic support and material assistance that sustains the Russian military-industrial complex. It urges EU member states and the European Commission to act "urgently" on what it calls China's weaponisation of critical dependencies.
Pressure to use the Anti-Coercion Instrument
MEPs specifically want Brussels to consider deploying the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) if Beijing uses Europe's reliance on rare earths and other strategic raw materials as leverage. The ACI allows the EU to impose countermeasures—including restrictions on licences and intellectual property rights—against countries that engage in economic coercion.
The vote comes as EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič travels to Beijing for talks aimed at rebalancing a relationship that has become increasingly strained. October is shaping up as a decisive month, with all EU member states now running trade deficits with China and leaders pressing the Commission for tangible results from the negotiations.
Europe's vulnerability to Chinese export controls was laid bare in 2025, when Beijing restricted shipments of rare earths—critical for the EU's automotive, defence and clean-tech sectors—amid its escalating trade war with Washington. That episode sharpened concerns about over-reliance on a single supplier.
The resolution also calls for the EU to diversify its supply chains and to accelerate work on a Commission proposal, expected by the end of the year, that would push companies to source strategic materials from multiple countries. The issue is a central sticking point in the ongoing EU-China trade talks, as Brussels seeks to reduce its dependence on Chinese imports.
Beyond trade, the Parliament's stance reflects broader unease in European capitals about Beijing's alignment with Moscow. The resolution's language on China's role in the Ukraine war is notably strong, echoing warnings from EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and others that China's support is prolonging the conflict.
The vote also comes amid a wider recalibration of Europe's approach to China, with France and Germany pushing for new EU powers to counter unfair trade practices. The European Parliament's call adds political weight to those efforts, though the final decision on using the ACI rests with the Commission and member states.
As Šefčovič's talks in Beijing get underway, the EU is walking a tightrope: seeking to protect its economic interests without triggering a full-blown trade war. The Parliament's resolution sends a clear signal that patience is wearing thin, and that Europe is prepared to use the tools at its disposal.
