January 19, 2023
No. 021
The European Parliament (EP) on January 18 adopted resolutions on annual implementation reports on the European Union Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) with votes of 407 in favor to 92 against and 459 to 93, respectively. In the reports, the EP strongly condemns China’s continued military provocations against Taiwan, reiterates its firm rejection of any unilateral change to the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, and urges China to halt all actions that pose a threat to regional stability. It also expresses firm solidarity with the people of Taiwan and recognizes Taiwan as a partner that shares the values of democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law.
Furthermore, the EP calls on the European Commission to establish strategic cooperation with Taiwan to facilitate a comprehensive enhanced partnership between the EU and Taiwan, including through high-level economic, scientific, cultural, and political interactions; the speedy initiation of preparatory work for a Taiwan-EU bilateral investment agreement; the strengthening of resilient supply chains; and joint efforts on tackling disinformation and external interference. In addition, the resolutions call on the EU and its member states to cooperate with international partners in helping sustain democracy and freedom in Taiwan and supporting Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.
These two resolutions again demonstrate the EP’s staunch backing for democratic Taiwan and the preservation of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The EP’s strong solidarity is of immense significance to the government and people of Taiwan, particularly at a time when China is continuing to suppress and intimidate Taiwan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) sincerely welcomes and appreciates the resolutions.
In the past two years, the EP has passed 25 Taiwan-friendly resolutions. It has incorporated text reaffirming support for Taiwan in its resolutions on the annual implementation reports on the CFSP and CSDP several times. In addition to focusing on regional developments involving China’s military threats against Taiwan, it has also reiterated on multiple occasions its solid commitment to backing Taiwan’s international participation. The latest resolutions urge the European Commission to enhance comprehensive cooperation between Taiwan and the EU, echoing the historic EU-Taiwan Political Relations and Cooperation report adopted by the EP in October 2021 and indicating the EP’s support for deepening Taiwan-EU collaboration. The government of Taiwan will continue to pursue peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, maintain the cross-strait status quo, and promote meaningful participation in international organizations while steadily advancing cooperation and exchanges with the EU so as to further develop bilateral partnerships at all levels. (E)