BRUSSELS — The European Union should be ready to develop measures to guard commerce and funding that China may exploit for its personal safety and navy functions, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen warned on Thursday.

Talking earlier than a visit to China deliberate for subsequent week, von der Leyen mentioned that it is essential to cease “delicate applied sciences” that could possibly be utilized in safety crackdowns or to limit human rights from falling into Beijing’s fingers.

“China’s altering insurance policies might require us to develop new defensive instruments for some essential sectors,” she mentioned. “The place dual-use functions can’t be excluded or human rights is perhaps implicated, there’ll must be a transparent line on whether or not investments or exports are in our personal safety pursuits.”

The fee, the EU’s govt department, manages worldwide commerce on behalf of the 27 member nations and defends their pursuits on the World Commerce Group.

Von der Leyen mentioned that the EU ought to focus its defenses on “delicate high-tech areas” like microelectronics, quantum computing, robotics, synthetic intelligence and the biotech sector.

“We have to be sure that our firms’ capital, experience, and data are usually not used to reinforce the navy and intelligence capabilities of those that are additionally systemic rivals,” she informed teachers at an occasion run by the European Coverage Centre suppose tank and the Mercator Institute for China Research.

“We’ve to have a look at the place there are gaps in our toolbox which permit the leakage of rising and delicate applied sciences by way of investments in different nations,” von der Leyen mentioned. The main target, she mentioned, must be on tech that “can result in the event of navy capabilities that pose dangers to nationwide safety.”

The fee president’s speech comes because the EU reconsiders its incessantly testy relations with China, notably in gentle of Beijing’s help for Russia’s warfare on Ukraine. Von der Leyen mentioned, although, that it’s essential to not minimize political, financial or scientific ties with such a “very important buying and selling accomplice.”

French President Emmanuel Macron can also be as a consequence of journey to China subsequent week and can participate in some occasions involving von der Leyen. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was set to go to Beijing on Thursday and Friday on the invitation of Chinese language President Xi Jinping.