They were just one of many bones of contention between the European Union and China: tit-for-tat Chinese sanctions targeting members of the European Parliament first imposed in 2021 after the EU slapped restrictions on Chinese officials the bloc held responsible rights abuses in Xinjiang.

The blacklist included sitting MEPs whom China accused of "maliciously spread[ing] lies and disinformation." The sanctions were the nail in the coffin for ill-fated trade and investment deal inked by the EU and China in late 2020.

But, with US President Donald Trump rewriting the global order and China appearing keen to capitalize on the fallout, changes were made.

"It has always been the European Parliament's intention to have sanctions lifted and resume relations with China," a European Parliament spokesperson told DW.

On Wednesday, the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, told members that Chinese sanctions on five members of the European Parliament and on the Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights had been lifted.

However,

© Deutsche Welle