China- EU sanctions: Beat grass to startle the snake

Chinese stratagem “beat grass to startle the snake” is well-known. Recently China adopted this stratagem in the sanctions game when US misled the EU to impose sanctions against China. By all means the EU sanctions are of mild in nature. China retaliated with a heavy hand. Why?

The European Union has imposed the first ever sanctions against China in more than 30 years when it imposed restrictions aimed at four Chinese officials and one entity believed to be involved in the alleged human rights violations in Uyghur.

China retaliated sanctioning five members of European Parliament including Reinhardt Butikofer & Michael Gahler (Germany) and Raphaël Glucksmann (France). Ten individuals including Scholars Adrian Zenz from Germany. Four  European entities including Political and Security Committee of the Council of the European Union and the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Germany.

You need not be a rocket scientist to find that China carefully orchestrating one of the 36 stratagem known as beat grass to startle the snake. Whereas EU sanctions are minor and do not have the real bite, China came out with a massive retaliation that sanctioned many across the members of EU but evidently targeting the ones in Germany and France the duo who technically runs the EU.

In Chinese culture this is called as warning shot of direct and brief one that intended to deflect the enemy plan at first salvo in an unusual and immensely un-proportionate counter measure. Underpinned intention is to get the enemy trot out of his safety zone. Pointedly this puts EU on a “fight or freight” mood. China succeeded in stirring the dust up so as to negotiate from the position of strength. But she exercised caution not to provoke the snake sink deep on China with venom.

The Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI), initialled by China and EU on December 30, 2021 was considered as a low hanging fruit for EU companies who seek business openings in China. This Agreement need to be ratified by all the EU member countries taking perhaps a year to complete the process. Already Spain and Italy who are the second tier companies have reservation of the usefulness of CAI.    Both Germany and France are forced to defend the CAI and do much more persuasion over the rest of EU members to ratify lest both lose lucrative commercial deals.

 

Cheers! 

 

Muthu Ashraff Rajulu

Business Strategist

Mobile: + 94 777 265677

E-mail:   cosmicgems@gmail.com

Blog:   Business Strategist