Xiaoxue Martin

Special mention: the Parliament also mentioned Chinese investments in European ports, incl in Rotterdam. Read our recent reports on these topics here:
www.clingendael.org/publication/...

For more info on the debate:
www.tweedekamer.nl/debat_en_ver...

🔍The MP’s are likely to propose motions following up today’s debate, urging the government to shift its China policy. MP’s were not satisfied with the answers of the two Ministers, and requested a plenary debate in which motions can be proposed.
To be continued...

In conclusion:
🔍Lots of attention for China – and lots of challenges for the Dutch government.
But!

🔍The Ministers did NOT make any new commitments, e.g.:
🔍The Foreign Minister did not commit to high-level government visits to Taiwan – even though countries like Germany do organise ministerial visits to Taiwan
🔍The Minister for Foreign Trade defended Dutch budget cuts on development cooperation.

🔍The Ministers explained current government efforts, such as EU cooperation, the Dutch China Knowledge Network, and deploying a ship to the Indo-Pacific every 2 years.

What did the Ministers answer?
🔍The Ministers emphasized China’s shift from partner to systemic rival and competitor, but underlined the need to continue cooperation with China – derisking.

🔍 MP’s disagreed on the way forward: e.g. prioritise the green transition or reducing dependencies? More or less money for development cooperation?

🔍 MP’s agreed on the need to be more assertive towards China: sharper choices in Dutch China policy, and focusing on China as systemic rival and competitor instead of as partner.

🔍Foreign interference in the Netherlands
🔍The geopolitical consequences of US-China relations under Trump
🔍Human rights violations in and outside China (Tibet, Xinjiang, freedom of speech)
🔍 Growing Chinese influence abroad, also in relation to the US and NL budget cuts on development cooperation

hat did the MP’s discuss?
Many topics - actually, most MP’s mentioned the same issues in their opening statements:
🔍Dependencies on China, e.g. in critical raw materials
🔍Export controls of ASML and other key tech
🔍Taiwan – many of the MP’s had visited Taiwan recently
...

🔍 Minister of Foreign Affairs Veldkamp & Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Klever. In January, they met a Chinese delegation with Vice Premier Ding.

Who was there?
🔍 Political parties: Coalition parties NSC and VVD – but not the biggest party PVV (Wilders’ Freedom Party) or BBB. Reps from CDA, D66, CU, DENK, GL-PVDA, SGP did participate.

What does the Dutch parliament think about #China?

The Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs just held their debate on China, with 2 Ministers present to answer questions.

A summary of 2.5 hours of debate:

Lees ons nieuwe onderzoek over luchtvaart en open strategische autonomie hier!

The trip was part of the EU-funded 'EU China Think Tank Engagement on Green Governance': china.hss.de/en/our-work-...

Thanks to the delegation, and the Foundation for an excellently organised visit! I look forward to continuing to build upon the networks gained.
@clingendael.bsky.social

🟢 Future geopolitical instability:
With tensions sure to increase under the US Trump administration, it is especially important that the EU keeps channels of engagement with China open.

The EU and China need to show leadership on climate, especially in multilateral cooperation.

🟢Openness:
My work also covers a lot of EU-China topics that are more sensitive, where it is difficult to have proper exchanges. It gives me hope that these discussions on climate were much more open and collaborative.

🟢 Understanding:
A cliche, but true - even if we do not agree, we should try to understand China's position.

Even better: it was great to see there are so many topics where the EU and China agree, including on the need to continue collaboration.

🟢 There are also clashing priorities within China.

For example: should China prioritise food security or biodiversity? Energy security or the green transition?

🟢 Clashing priorities between EU and China:

It was incredibly useful to be in China and see the dynamics between the different stakeholders up close.

Priorities sometimes clash. Between the EU and China: e.g. should China be considered a 'developing country' still in its climate commitments?

Starting 2025 by looking back on 2024:

🍃 Will the future of EU-China cooperation stay green?
I had the pleasure of visiting China in December to discuss this with Chinese stakeholders.

The Hanns Seidel Foundation organized a great program in Beijing and Qingzhou.

Some thoughts: