The EU–China Strategic Partnership: Opportunity, Reality, and Euphemism Cover Image

Strategické partnerství EU – ČLR: Příležitost, skutečnost a eufemismus
The EU–China Strategic Partnership: Opportunity, Reality, and Euphemism

Author(s): Rudolf Fürst
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: Ústav mezinárodních vztahů
Keywords: European Union; People’s Republic of China; strategic partnership; trade; investment; technology; human rights; arms embargo; intellectual property protection

Summary/Abstract: Relationship between European Union and The People’s Republic of China declared in 2003 as the “strategic partnership” attracts attention as a new and remarkable phenomenon within post-bipolar international framework. This article reviews essentials and motives of both partners’ mutual and deepening relations by pointing at their growing economic interdependence, upgrading political relations, and further developing their cultural, science and technology, academic, environmental etc. cooperation. However, while critically analysing EU–China basic agenda of the strategic partnership and its real outcomes, this article points at poor Chinese human rights record, persistence of EU arms embargo, mutual trade disputes, Chinese failure at obtaining the EU’s Market Economy Status, as well as insufficient intellectual property and trade mark protection in China. This study concludes with finding an attaining the real EU–China strategic partnership questionable, considering that as a mere term of official-level politeness, lacking behind expectations and potential.

  • Issue Year: 42/2007
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 7-24
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Czech