By
N. Peter Kramer
China’s strong man President Xi-Jinping’s verbal attitude towards Taiwan becomes more and more aggressive and causes unrest in the South-East Asian region.
During a recent European Parliament (EP) debate on these developments, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said that the EU has a strong interest in peace and security in S.E. Asia and believes Taiwan and China should engage constructively and restart dialogue.
According to Commissioner Stylianides, the EU supports all initiatives aimed at promoting cooperation and confidence-building between the two sides. The EU and Taiwan are like-minded and the EU has always engaged with Taiwan on a broad range of issues and encouraged it to be an active player in international affairs.
The EU is a like-minded partner of Taiwan and respects its system of governance based on democracy, the rule of law and human rights, he said.
Around 20 members of the EP also spoke up for Taiwan during the debate. Among these, Member of European Parliament (MEP) Werner Langen, chairman of the EP-Taiwan Friendship Group, urged the EU to stand up to Chinese efforts to exclude Taiwan from international treaties and negotiations.
Echoing President Tsai Ing-wen’s requirements for the positive development of cross-strait ties, MEP Laima Liucija Andrikiene said the wish and rights of the Taiwan people to freedom and democracy must be respected, while China must face the reality of the existence of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and must handle cross-strait disputes peacefully on the basis of equality and nonconditionality.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) welcomed the support for Taiwan and the cross-strait status quo by the EP and the European Commission. The plenary debate in the EP reflects the importance the EU attaches to cross-strait relations.
The European Union’s firm and long-standing friendship is sincerely appreciated, the ministry said and added, that Taiwan’s government will continue working with like-minded partners as the EU to safeguard the shared values of freedom and democracy while promoting peace, stability and prosperity in SE Asia.
