Taiwan Photo: Unsplash

Chinese Mission to the EU on Thursday expressed strong opposition to the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs’ (AFET) adoption of the EU-Taiwan Political Relations and Cooperation report, which called for elevating “political relations” with the island of Taiwan.

The spokesperson of the Chinese mission said that despite China’s repeated objections, the European Parliament’s AFET adopted the report, blatantly advocating for elevating EU-Taiwan relations. 

These moves exceed far beyond the scope of normal nonofficial economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges between the EU, its member states and the Taiwan island. It constitute serious violations of the one-China principle and undercut mutual trust and cooperation between China and the EU, said the spokesperson. “We express our strong opposition to this,” the spokesperson said.

On Wednesday, the European Parliament’s AFET adopted the report, not only calling for elevating EU-Taiwan“political relations,” but  also changing the name of “the European Economic and Trade Office” in Taiwan to “European Union Office in Taiwan,” including Taiwan into the Indo-Pacific Strategy, and advocating for Taiwan’s full participation as an observer in international bodies. 

In response, the spokesperson stressed there is only one China in the world and the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. This is a universally acknowledged norm in international relations and the common consensus of the international community. It also serves as the political foundation of the establishment and development of diplomatic relations between China and the EU. 

The commitment to the one-China principle was reiterated by the EU in all documents and statements it jointly issued with China. The EU always talks about international rules. In this connection, the European Parliament, as an important organ of the EU, should stick to the commitment and follow it through with concrete actions, noted the spokesperson.

We urge the relevant committee and relevant members of the European Parliament to appreciate the sensitivity of the Taiwan question, immediately correct their wrong words and actions, and play a positive and constructive role in upholding the political foundation of China-EU relations, said the spokesperson.

Global Times