European Parliament to strengthen ties with Taiwan China's opposition

Brussels/Taipei/Beijing – The European Parliament has decided to strengthen ties with Taiwan in the face of repeated opposition and threats from China. The report on Taiwan was approved by a majority vote at the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee meeting in Brussels. The report recommends that the European Union work for a bilateral investment agreement with Taiwan, as well as change the name of the Union’s office. The European Union’s latest blow is a sign that tensions between Europe and China may deteriorate further.

The European Parliament‘s Foreign Affairs Committee recently met in Brussels. At the meeting, the committee announced its acceptance of the EU-Taiwan Relations and Cooperation report. The proposal was approved by a vote of 60 to 4. It also called for strengthening economic and trade ties with Taiwan. At the same time, it is recommended to increase cooperation in technologies like 5G and semiconductors. The report mentions the military and other pressures exerted by the Chinese regime on Taiwan.

The report also suggested that the Union ensure no unilateral changes in relations between China and Taiwan. It recommended that emphasis be placed on the bilateral investment agreement between the European Union and Taiwan to improve ties with Taiwan. An amendment was also passed while approving the report. According to the amendment, the Union’s representative office in Taiwan will be renamed the ‘European Union Office in Taiwan’. Earlier, the name of the office mentioned Taipei. At the same time, the parliamentary committee suggested that Taiwan’s inclusion in other international organisations, including the World Health Organisation, should be supported.

The European Parliament’s decision on Taiwan is a major blow to China. China has repeatedly said that the One China Policy has been ratified by all countries in the world, and according to that, Taiwan should not be recognised as an independent state. But the world’s major powers, including the United States, have begun to challenge China’s claims openly. The United States has taken diplomatic relations to a new level by launching a ‘de facto embassy’ in Taiwan, as well as by organising visits by senior officials and ministers. Recent developments show that the European Union has decided to follow suit.

A few days ago, Lithuania, a member of the European Union, announced that it would take steps to improve relations with Taiwan. At the time, China had threatened Lithuania. On this issue, the Union had taken a stand against China by standing firmly behind Lithuania. The report, which the parliament approved, and its recommendations indicate that the Union will continue to focus on developing independent relations with Taiwan in the future.

China has reacted angrily to the issue, saying that the Taiwan issue is an internal matter. China has strongly opposed the intervention and has warned that the European Union should understand that Taiwan is a highly sensitive issue.