Wednesday

29th Nov 2023

Mandelson warns against Olympic boycott 'grandstanding'

EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson has attacked those suggesting a boycott of the Olympics over the Chinese government's crackdown in Tibet as engaging in "grandstanding and gestures" and warned against damaging the relationship Europe has with China.

"What frightens me is the relationship breaking down,'' he said in a television interview with Bloomberg on Tuesday (15 April). "Our influence is going to be exercised more effectively by talking, rather than going in for grandstanding and gestures.''

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

  • Trade commissioner Mandelson has warned against 'direct confrontation' with China (Photo: Wikipedia)

The commissioner made the comments following a talk at the China-Britain Business Council in London.

In his speech, he warned against "direct confrontation" and said that a boycott of either the Olympic Games or even just the opening ceremonies would harm both Europe and China, while doing nothing to change China's policies.

"I do not support these [boycott calls] because, while it is easy to see how they would hurt the interests of ordinary Europeans and Chinese, it is not possible to see how they would help," he said, reports the Daily Telegraph.

He also said that Europe has "the biggest stake imaginable" in the transformation of the emerging global power.

"We can and should insist on our values and our concerns. But we must also not lose sight of the fact that we are bound to work with China, to live alongside China, to help China succeed," he continued.

Boycott of French products

Meanwhile, Chinese nationalist activists online have been whipping up support for their own boycott, but of French products.

In reaction to the interruptions to the Olympic torch relay that occurred in France and elsewhere, a message being circulated via email and mobile text message, urges a boycott of French supermarket chain Carrefour.

France is being particularly targeted, as the Chinese activists are angry over attempts by pro-Tibet protesters to grab the torch from Paralympic fencer Jin Jing, footage of which has been repeatedly played on Chinese television.

"Adding the French people's support for Tibetan separatists during the Paris leg of the torch relay, there is truly no reason to give the French money by buying their goods," the message read, according to Reuters.

A Chinese government spokesperson on Tuesday gave implicit support to such boycott calls.

"Recently, some Chinese people have expressed their views and sentiments. I think this all has a cause and a reason," foreign ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu told reporters.

"We cannot accept behaviour that, on the one hand, attaches importance to Sino-French relations, while on the other hand does things that are not understandable and acceptable to the Chinese people," she said, reports Chinese news agency Xinhua.

"We hope the French side can listen to what Chinese people say, and adopt an objective and equitable stance on a series of recent issues."

Opinion

EU diplomatic boycott of China's brutal Olympics essential

As the snow settles in Beijing ahead of the most controversial Olympics in decades, EU leaders and officials have stalled and skirted around the question of a diplomatic boycott for far too long, failing, once more, to reach a consensus.

Column

Burkinis and 'soul caps' - policing Olympic women back in fashion

There are no fixed rules. Anyone can criticise, condone and codify women's apparel. The game is inclusive, bringing together an assorted collection of voyeurs, misogynists, racists, bigots, religious fanatics and culture warriors – but also feminists and other equality campaigners.

EU parliament chief calls for Olympics protest

European Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering has called on athletes taking part in the Beijing Olympics to protest against the human rights situation in Tibet.

Opinion

'Loss and Damage' reparations still hang in balance at COP28

There is still work to be done — especially when it comes to guaranteeing the Global North's participation in financing Loss and Damage, and ensuring the Global South has representation and oversight on the World Bank's board.

Latest News

  1. The EU's 'no added sugars' fruit-juice label sleight-of-hand
  2. EU belittles Russia's Lavrov on way to Skopje talks
  3. Member states stall on EU ban on forced-labour products
  4. EU calls for increased fuel supplies into Gaza
  5. People-smuggling profits at historic high, EU concedes
  6. EU bets big on fossil hydrogen and carbon storage
  7. How centre-right conservatives capitulate to the far-right
  8. My experience trying to negotiate with Uber

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  2. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?
  3. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsThis autumn Europalia arts festival is all about GEORGIA!
  4. UNOPSFostering health system resilience in fragile and conflict-affected countries
  5. European Citizen's InitiativeThe European Commission launches the ‘ImagineEU’ competition for secondary school students in the EU.
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us