The EU has accused China of censoring a letter co-signed by EU27 ambassadors and published on Chinese media on May 6, that called for greater cooperation with Beijing, but also made a reference to the Coronavirus outbreak starting in the country.
The initial version of the letter, that was co-signed by Nicolas Chapuis, EU’s ambassador to China, reads that “the outbreak of the coronavirus in China, and its subsequent spread to the rest of the world over the past three months, has meant that our pre-existing plans have been temporarily side-tracked as both the EU and China are fully mobilised to tackle what has now become a challenge of truly global proportions.”
As there is no reference to the virus outbreak in the version published on China Daily, the Beijing embassies of France, Germany and Italy published the uncensored letter, expressing their disapproval towards China’s move.
“It is now clear that the only way out of it is together. And that is also true of the many other areas in which the world needs the cooperation of Europe and China, such as climate action, peace and security, sustainable development and upholding the multilateral global order. The EU and China can push forward all of these and more, together,” another part of the letter reads.
China, EU and the US have indulged themselves in a battle of narratives over the virus’ outbreak and China’s handling of the pandemic. The US President, Donald Trump supports that the virus leaked from a lab in Wuhan, while Chinese diplomats promote the idea that the CIA planted the virus in Wuhan last year.
In April, media reports unveiled that the EU had to soften a report on Chinese Covid-19 disinformation, following pressure from Beijing. The bloc’s top diplomat was requested to provide explanations on the matter, admitting that Europe’s approach towards China has been “a little naive.”
Yet, Josep Borrell said that “no changes had been introduced to the report published last week to align the concerns of a third party, in this case, China. There is no watering down of our findings. We haven’t bowed to anyone.”
