• China slams EU for hypocrisy in human rights criticism, citing double standards.
  • Tensions rise as EU maintains de-risking strategy while Beijing pushes back on interference.
  • Both sides risk further friction over trade and tech policies.

Diplomatic Sparring Escalates

A Chinese diplomat on Thursday accused the European Union of applying “typical double standards” in its criticism of China’s human rights record, ramping up rhetoric amid growing economic and strategic tensions between the two blocs. According to people familiar with the matter, the remarks came during a closed-door session at the EU-China Strategic Dialogue in Brussels, where Beijing pushed back against Brussels’ calls for greater political freedoms and judicial independence.

“The EU habitually lectures others while turning a blind eye to its own shortcomings,” the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks. “This is textbook double standards.”

The EU has recently stepped up criticism of China over rising surveillance, restricted civil society space, and treatment of ethnic minorities. In response, China has repeatedly framed such critiques as a cover for protectionism and Western hegemony. Attempts to reach the EU’s foreign affairs spokesperson for comment were not immediately successful.

Trade and Tech Undercurrents

The accusation comes as EU officials finalize new measures to limit Chinese participation in Horizon (H) Europe grants for critical technologies, including artificial intelligence and semiconductors. The bloc’s “de-risking, not decoupling” strategy has already led to tighter investment screening and targeted tariffs, particularly on Chinese electric vehicles. Beijing has retaliated with investigations into European brandy and luxury goods imports, escalating a tit-for-tat trade dispute.

Andrea Valeri, Chairman of Blackstone (BX) in Italy, noted earlier this week that regulatory stability is key for foreign investors. But for China, the EU’s selective approach to market access and human rights feels anything but stable. As one EU diplomat put it, “We want a rules-based order, but our rules sometimes shift depending on whom we’re dealing with.”

What’s Next

Without a de-escalation in rhetoric, analysts expect further targeted sanctions and export controls that will raise compliance costs for multinationals operating in both markets. The EU is set to publish its next annual human rights report in July, likely drawing another sharp rebuke from Beijing. For now, both sides appear locked in a cycle of accusation and counter-accusation, with no clear offramp in sight.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the diplomat’s location. The remarks were made in Brussels, not Beijing.