Amendments tabled by The Left group in the European Parliament on 1 July 2026 would fundamentally reorient the EU's strategic approach to East Asia, replacing a security-focused framework with one centered on unconditional peace, sovereign equality, and non-confrontational cooperation. The amendments, authored by MEPs João Oliveira and Danilo Della Valle, target the draft recommendation on the geopolitical situation in East Asia (A10-0189/2026) steered by rapporteur Adam Bielan. They are the only political group to have tabled amendments to the report, which is still under examination and has not yet been voted on in committee or plenary.
The most significant change, Amendment 1, inserts a new opening paragraph (-a) mandating that all EU relations with East Asian countries be based on peace, cooperation and friendship between peoples, in strict conformity with the UN Charter. This elevates a non-confrontational, multilateralist principle above any security-first logic. Amendment 2 adds a new paragraph (h-A) specifically addressing the EU's relationship with the People's Republic of China, calling for relations to be guided by mutual respect, cooperation, and the pursuit of mutually advantageous ties focused on the needs of the respective peoples. This explicitly rejects the de-risking or competitor narrative that has characterised recent EU policy documents, advocating instead for a purely cooperative partnership.
The amendments collectively shift the document's focus from geopolitical competition and strategic alliances to people-oriented diplomacy and economic cooperation. The language emphasises the interests of the respective peoples and friendship between peoples, signalling a move away from state-centric security concerns toward a broader definition of regional stability. If adopted, the changes would have a moderate impact on EU foreign policy stakeholders: EU institutions would be required to align their East Asia strategy with UN Charter principles, potentially limiting the use of economic or security tools against China; EU member states with strong security ties to the US and Japan would face pressure to soften their stance on China; Chinese authorities would likely welcome the shift as a validation of their foreign policy narrative; and EU defence and technology firms that benefit from de-risking measures could see reduced demand for security-related exports. The amendments are proposed at the committee stage and will need to be examined and voted on before the Parliament can adopt its final position for negotiations with the Council.