September 16, 2022
No. 246
During a plenary meeting in Strasbourg on September 15, the European Parliament overwhelmingly adopted a resolution on the situation in the Strait of Taiwan with 424 votes in favor, 14 against, and 46 abstentions. The resolution strongly condemns China’s military exercises in areas around Taiwan, reiterating that the status quo across the Taiwan Strait must not be unilaterally changed and opposing the use or threat of force. It also emphasizes that it must be the people of democratic Taiwan who decide how they want to live. Moreover, it calls on China to completely respect the median line of the Taiwan Strait and immediately halt intrusions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone and all other gray-zone military actions. The resolution also staunchly rejects China’s economic coercion against Taiwan, other democracies in the region, and EU member states, as well as clearly stating that mutual parliamentary visits and exchanges with Taiwan will continue to be strengthened.
Against the backdrop of China’s recent relentless military exercises and other provocative actions against Taiwan, the European Parliament included the resolution on the situation in the Strait of Taiwan as an individual topic of discussion in the first meeting of the current plenary session. Its adoption by parliamentarians from different parties demonstrates the European Parliament’s deep concern over peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, as well as its condemnation of China’s irresponsible and provocative military actions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) greatly welcomes this development and expresses sincere appreciation.
Last October, the European Parliament overwhelmingly passed a report on Taiwan-EU political relations and cooperation for the first time. In the most recent resolution, the European Parliament listed 26 recommendations to address China’s provocative military actions across the Taiwan Strait and to strengthen Taiwan-EU relations. The recommendations call for bolstering cooperation in domains such as trade, the economy, culture, and politics, as well as negotiating the signing of a resilient supply chain agreement and deepening systematic cooperation to counter disinformation. The resolution also welcomes the establishment of a Lithuanian trade representative office in Taiwan and encourages other member states to follow suit. Moreover, it continues to urge the European Commission to change the name of the European Economic and Trade Office in Taipei and calls on the European Union to begin preparations for negotiating a Taiwan-EU bilateral investment agreement. The resolution also strongly reiterates the European Parliament’s steadfast support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the World Health Organization and other international organizations.
During a European Parliament debate on the resolution held the afternoon of September 13, Vice-President of the European Commission and European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell emphasized that the European Union must strengthen cooperation with Taiwan and reiterated the importance of maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. In addition, 16 parliamentarians from different parties also urged the European Union to support democratic Taiwan and called on China to cease military intimidation against Taiwan. This demonstrates the high degree of consensus among the European Union’s executive and legislative branches in support of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
The resolution on the situation in the Strait of Taiwan is the eighth text friendly to Taiwan passed by the European Parliament this year. In addition to focusing on how China has undermined the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, the resolution continues to encourage Taiwan and the European Union to deepen exchanges and cooperation in a wide range of domains. As a responsible member of the Indo-Pacific region, Taiwan will continue to work closely and proactively with the European Union, EU member states, and like-minded partners to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific, as well as jointly countering threats posed by authoritarian regimes to the international order. Taiwan will also continue to staunchly defend common values such as democracy, freedom, the rule of law, and human rights, working with countries worldwide to safeguard the rules-based international order and a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. (E)