February 29, 2024
No. 076
The European Parliament (EP) on February 28 voted overwhelmingly to adopt resolutions on annual reports on the implementation of the European Union Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The resolutions reiterate concern over China’s escalation of tensions across the Taiwan Strait and express support for further deepening the comprehensive Taiwan-EU partnership. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) sincerely welcomes and appreciates these resolutions.
The CFSP resolution pointed out that China’s territorial claims over Taiwan have no basis in international law, that neither Taiwan nor China is subordinate to the other, and that only Taiwan’s democratically elected government can represent the Taiwanese people on the international stage. Reiterating that Taiwan is a key EU partner and a democratic ally in the Indo-Pacific region, the document calls for the European Union and its member states to engage in closer cooperation with Taiwan, especially in enhancing global supply chain resilience. The EP also denounced China’s continued blocking of Taiwan’s international participation and called on the European Commission and EU member states to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations and mechanisms, such as the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The EP strongly condemned statements by the Chinese leader that China will never renounce the right to use force with respect to Taiwan. It also expressed grave concern over China’s military provocations and gray-zone tactics against Taiwan, including cyberattacks and malicious disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining trust in Taiwan’s democracy and governance.
In the CSDP resolution, the EP called for the European Union and its member states to cooperate with international partners in supporting democratic Taiwan. It encourages EU member states to increase the frequency of freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait under the EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. In addition, it emphasizes leveraging Taiwan’s experience and expertise with cyber threats and deepening security exchanges and cooperation with Taiwan.
The EP has steadily strengthened support for Taiwan during its current term (2019 to 2024). Over the past five years, it has adopted more than 40 Taiwan-friendly resolutions, addressing political relations and cooperation between Taiwan and the European Union, the situation across the Taiwan Strait, and trade and investment ties. Following on a report on EU-China relations approved by the EP last December, which expressed opposition to China’s constant distortion of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, the new CFSP implementation resolution marks the first time that the EP has underscored that neither Taiwan nor China is subordinate to the other and that only Taiwan’s democratically elected government can represent the Taiwanese people. This demonstrates the EP’s strong affirmation of Taiwan’s free and democratic way of life and, as such, is of great significance to the people and government of Taiwan.
The EP organized its first official delegation to Taiwan in 2021, with a visit by members of its Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation. Delegations from the Committee on International Trade and the Committee on Foreign Affairs have since made official visits to Taiwan. Through such concrete actions, the EP has demonstrated a high regard and support for deepening the substantive partnership between Taiwan and the European Union and for safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The EP has shown itself to be a pioneer and cornerstone for expanding the partnership between Taiwan and the European Union. MOFA again expresses its deep and heartfelt appreciation for this support and looks forward to further enhancing cooperation and exchanges with the EP and jointly writing a new chapter in Taiwan-EU relations. (E)