The EU parliament has said the ratification of the China treaty is “frozen”

The European Parliament has expressed strong opposition to the move forward with a market entry deal with China, saying it is “frozen,” a sign that tensions between the bloc and Beijing are rising.

MEPs voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to halt ratification of the controversial treaty over the retaliatory sanctions imposed by Beijing on European parliamentarians, diplomats, academics and thought groups. Thursday’s resolution was passed with 599 votes in favor, 30 against and 58 abstentions.

While it has no legal force, the vote shows an obstacle to the implementation of an agreement that requires the approval of the EU parliament. It also reflects the change in the capitals of the EU against the agreement, which was agreed only at the political level in December.

Beijing imposed sanctions on EU travel bans and asset freezes in response to harassment imposed on four Chinese officials and a security agency and the massive incarceration of Uighur Muslims. China’s measures are aimed at major criticisms of its policies, but it also includes EU institutional bodies, such as the bloc’s Policy and Security Committee, made up of ambassadors from the bloc’s 27 member states.

Reinhard Bütikofer, a German green MEP who heads the Chinese delegation to the EU parliament and was one of the punishments, said the legislature “will not change”. He said Beijing made efforts to conduct a police interview on China “as ridiculous as they are surprising and will fail.”

“With sanctions, China has made a miscalculation,” he said. “They should learn from their mistakes and think again.”

Pedro Marques, a Socialist MEP from Portugalete, said China was to blame for an “attack on European democracy” and said: “We will not accept it.”

The line of investment agreements underscores the growing EU debate over Chinese policy, as the US seeks to create international alliances to work against Beijing in areas such as trade and security. The European bloc is expanding its arsenal of economic weapons, including proposals to ban some state-subsidized foreign companies from the EU single market.

Sigrid Kaag, the Dutch trade minister, said his country had “strongly” supported the move by the EU parliament on the investment deal.

China has noted growing “political pressure,” including the addition of its Dutch Liberal Party deputy D66 to the list of sanctions.

Kaag also called for better coordination between EU institutions to implement a coherent policy for China.

“It’s an example of the more difficult relationships we have to find our way through before,” he said Thursday. “We can’t build nice modules, check boxes and not connect points.”

The investment deal has long been sought by the EU and would open up opportunities for EU companies operating in the Chinese market, trying to address long-standing complaints of unfair treatment.

Industries that would improve paper access include the automotive sector, private healthcare, cloud computing and additional services for air transportation.

His political deal was pushed to Germany in the last days of the rotating EU presidency in December, with strong support from Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Armin Laschet, his center-right party’s candidate for German chancellor in the September election, said on Wednesday that the agreement could not be ratified unless sanctions were lifted. “If you want [our] partner, you have to show mutual respect, “he said.” So I would like to see the Chinese movement on this issue. “

Beijing’s mission to the EU said: “The decision to take action against China is a legal response to unilateral sanctions and confrontations by the EU. China always has the honesty to promote cooperation with the EU. We hope the EU will work with us in the same direction.”