Dissidents fear impact of Europe going cap in hand to China

AS a cash-strapped Europe scrambles to woo China’s support for a financial rescue package, human rights groups and dissidents are warning that in taking such help, the West will sacrifice some leverage over China.

To clinch a deal, Chinese negotiators will insist on safeguards for their money, possibly including preferential creditor terms or guarantees should the crisis worsen.

More than that, however, Europe’s desire for China’s foreign reserves to calm markets and normalise sovereign borrowing costs could see China push hard for concessions, including market economy status and easing restrictions on high-tech imports.