China raises sanctions against Green politician Reinhard Bütikofer

According to information from the European Parliament, China raises the sanctions imposed four years ago against the German Greens politician Reinhard Bütikofer.

As the German press agency in Brussels learned, the office of parliamentary president Roberta Metsola was informed about the step at the beginning of the week. He is therefore part of Beijing’s efforts to resume dialogue with the parliament.

With the punitive measures against Bütikofer and other persons and organizations, China reacted to EU sanctions in 2021 because of the suppression of the Muslim minority of the Uigures in the Chinese region of Xinjiang. The persons and their families were then prohibited from entering mainland china, Hong Kong and Macau. In addition, they were not allowed to do business with China, as well as companies and institutions associated with them. In the EU, the process was put on hold at the end of an already negotiated investment agreement.

In a first step of de -escalation efforts, China had already lifted the sanctions against reigning MEPs in April. However, they initially existed against the 72-year-old Bütikofer because he had left parliament in 2024 after around 15 years and had initially only negotiated the top of the parliament for current MPs.

At the request of the German Press Agency, Bütikofer confirmed that he and his family are no longer affected by punitive measures. At the same time, however, he expressed a lack of understanding that, for example, the Mercator Institute for China Studies (Merics), based in Berlin, is still affected.

“Beijing’s handling of his sanctions arbitrarily imposed in 2021 is a disoriented stumbling,” criticized the former federal chairman of the Greens. Apparently there is no political force there to simply end the “absurd embarrassment” overall.

From the office of parliamentary president Metsola, it was diplomatic that the still existing challenges were to be countered in relation to China with dialogue and commitment. In particular, this affects unfair trade practices, restrictions for European companies and questions of human rights.

It initially remained unclear whether the latest sanctions may also be in connection with an EU China summit, which is to be organized in Beijing on Thursday next week. China’s state and party leader XI Jinping President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa wants to meet him. XI currently has to fear that the EU is trying to become much more independent of its country in important economic areas. The reason is, among other things, the accusation that China supports Russia’s war against Ukraine and uses unfair subsidy and trade practices.