December 13, 2023
No. 441
In its plenary session on December 13, the European Parliament (EP) passed three resolutions on the European Union’s relations with China, the United States, and Japan. The texts call for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo by force. They also support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the World Health Organization and other international institutions.
The resolution on EU-China relations for the first time strongly opposes China’s constant distortion of UN Resolution 2758 to bar Taiwanese passport holders from accessing tours and events in the United Nations. This sets a significant precedent. The text on EU-US relations urges the EU to foster close partnerships and security and economic cooperation with the United States and other like-minded countries in the Indo-Pacific region—including Taiwan—to jointly counter challenges, ensure freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait and the South and East China Seas, and uphold regional and global trade, security, and prosperity.
With the three resolutions, the EP has once again demonstrated its strong backing of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and across the Taiwan Strait and underscored its staunch support for democratic Taiwan. At a time when China continues to suppress Taiwan and attempt to interfere in Taiwan’s elections, the EP has expressed grave concerns on a cross-party basis over China’s military threats against Taiwan and the expansion of China’s regional and global influence. The resolutions reiterate that Taiwan is an indispensable and trustworthy partner of the EU in the fields of technology and trade and urge the EU to deepen ties with Taiwan. This is of great significance for Taiwan’s government and people. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes and appreciates this support.
The three resolutions were adopted after the EP passed a text on EU-Taiwan trade and investment relations. This sets a record for the EP in voting through four resolutions about Taiwan on the same day, and demonstrates the EP’s high regard for the situation across the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific. The resolutions underline the EP’s firm commitment to continuing to urge the EU to deepen substantive partnerships with Taiwan and support Taiwan’s international participation. (E)