appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Finbarr Bermingham

The head of a German think tank sanctioned by Beijing four years ago has returned from a trip to China, suggesting that travel restrictions on the organisation may be easing.
Mikko Huotari, the executive director of the Mercator Institute for China Studies (Merics) was in Beijing from July 14 to 17, after being invited by a leading Chinese think tank.
Merics was among the European institutions hit with travel bans and asset freezes in March 2021, in retaliation for European Union sanctions on Chinese officials accused of perpetrating human rights violations in Xinjiang, charges Beijing denies.
The news comes on the eve of an EU-China summit, and the week after Beijing further loosened its restrictions on members of the European Parliament, suggesting the Chinese government may be trying to improve the mood music ahead of an event that has been mired in negativity.
“We welcome the easing of travel restrictions and hope that more engagement between researchers and think tankers will be possible in the future. We look forward to future opportunities to engage with our Chinese counterparts whether in China, at Merics or elsewhere in Europe,” Merics said in a statement.

As part of one of Europe’s largest China-focused think tanks, Merics researchers have been unable to travel to China for four years and EU leaders and officials have repeatedly called on Beijing to remove the sanctions.
There is no suggestion, however, that the Chinese government has officially removed the sanctions. While Merics staff may be able to travel to China in the future, this would only occur under certain circumstances, including being invited by an institution, suggesting they will not be free to conduct open research.
It is understood that Huotari travelled without a visa, an arrangement available to German citizens.
While in Beijing, Huotari met researchers from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, which issued him an invitation letter, the Centre for China and Globalisation, and Tsinghua University. He also met European diplomats, including ambassadors from the EU’s 27 member states.
Last week, Beijing dropped its restrictions on retired EU lawmaker Reinhard Buetikofer, suggesting that all of the members of the European Parliament who were targeted in March 2021 have been removed from the list.
Concern remains, however, over whether the recent developments signal a permanent resolution.
Some affected sources said they were concerned that Beijing’s pronouncements had only mentioned “restrictions” and the absence of a statement on the foreign ministry’s website meant sanctions were not fully lifted.
As well as Merics, sanctions remain on researchers from Germany, Sweden and Denmark, as well as some national-level lawmakers and diplomats from the EU’s political security committee of ambassadors.
EU sanctions on Chinese officials remain in place, with the bloc saying that human rights conditions would need to meaningfully improve in Xinjiang before they were removed.


Trump claims US Greenland security deal, China reportedly among adversaries being kept out

Are the doors to German universities closing for China’s STEM researchers?

Pascal Lamy says Europe at ‘moment of truth’ on China trade

Brussels announces dates for second round of China-EU trade talks in Beijing next month

China-EU relations

Sanctioned German China expert visits Beijing in sign of easing restrictions

There are hopes that travel restrictions placed on notable EU political figures by Beijing may be easing. Photo: Shutterstock

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas meet for talks in Brussels, Belgium, earlier this month. Photo: Xinhua

Can China get the US out of the way of better ties with Europe?

Illustration: Henry Wong

China slams EU banking sanctions as tensions rise ahead of key summit

China has urged the European Union to “immediately cease” its sanctions against two Chinese banks accused of violating the bloc’s trade embargo on Russia. Photo: Shutterstock

European Union sanctions 2 Chinese banks over aid to Russia

The EU has blacklisted two regional Chinese banks over links to Russia. Photo: Shutterstock

China lifts its sanctions on retired EU lawmaker Reinhard Buetikofer

China has dropped sanctions it imposed on a retired member of the European Parliament to clear the way for new rounds of engagement. Illustration: Reuters

China has confirmed it has lifted the sanctions it imposed on Reinhard Buetikofer. Photo: AFP

EU share of China’s rare earth magnet shipments jumps in June

China’s near-monopoly control over the supply of rare earth elements has created some unease among European policymakers. Photo: AP

China’s near-monopoly control over the supply of rare earth elements has created some unease among European policymakers. Photo: Reuters

News

China

Diplomacy

World

Europe

Development comes on the eve of a high-stakes EU-China summit, an event that has been mired in negativity


Development comes on the eve of a high-stakes EU-China summit, an event that has been mired in negativity.


European Union

China-EU investment deal

Belgium

Sanctioned German China expert visits Beijing in sign of easing restrictions

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Development comes on the eve of a high-stakes EU-China summit, an event that has been mired in negativity

Development comes on the eve of a high-stakes EU-China summit, an event that has been mired in negativity