Sat, Oct 19, 2024 page1

• MEP urges democratic protections as Tsai visits

  DISTANCE NO FACTOR: Czech Senator Pavel Fischer said what happens to Taiwan is important, because it affects security and prosperity in the Euro-Atlantic area

  • Staff writer, with CNA, BRUSSELS
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  A member of the European Parliament (MEP) on Thursday called for international cooperation to protect democratic institutions during a visit by former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) to the parliament complex in Brussels.

  “It is the sovereign right of every European country to develop relations with Taiwan,” Slovakian MEP Miriam Lexmann told a reception for Tsai attended by about 50 members of the European Parliament.

  China is “the biggest threat to the global peace and security,” Lexmann said, calling for cooperation among partners in the increasingly complex global geopolitical landscape to protect democratic institutions and boost economic development.

  

  Slovakian Member of the European Parliament Miriam Lexmann, left, and former president Tsai Ing-wen shake hands at an event in Brussels on Thursday.

  Photo: CNA

  She later told the Central News Agency that the EU could not let Beijing “abuse the one China policy” and thus hamper the bloc from developing its own cooperation with Taiwan.

  Lexmann is a member of the Slovakian Christian Democratic Movement and affiliated with the European People’s Party, the largest party in the European Parliament.

  She was one of the MEPs sanctioned by the Chinese government in 2021 in a tit-for-tat response to the EU’s restrictive measures against four Chinese officials for human rights abuses against Uighurs.

  German MEP Engin Eroglu, who heads the European Parliament’s China Delegation, said on social media after the reception that Taiwan is “a true partner to the EU” and that the EU “must do everything in its power” to prevent a military conflict in the region.

  “The EU will continue to support Taiwan and further strengthen our friendship-based partnership,” Eroglu said, adding that by working together, the two sides can “face the challenges ahead and promote shared values of democracy and freedom.”

  During her address, Tsai said that compromising sovereignty and yielding to authoritarian aggression will not bring about peace.

  “Peace cannot be achieved by yielding to authoritarian aggression or by compromising our sovereignty and democratic way of life,” she said. “To uphold peace, one needs to be strong and determined.”

  Tsai urged the global democratic community to continue to stand together in opposing and deterring Beijing’s “maritime and airspace incursions,” which she said were aimed at altering the “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait and jeopardizing regional stability.

  At the same time, Taiwan is “eager” to deepen its connections with the world, and stands ready to share its best practices in areas such as economic and technological development, public health and the fight against disinformation, she said.

  Taiwan is also “a crucial and trusted partner” in efforts to improve global supply chains and economic security, she added.

  “I hope the European Parliament and the national parliaments of the EU member states will continue to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations,” Tsai said.

  Tsai arrived in Brussels on Thursday, the last stop of her week-long European tour.

  It was the first visit to the European Parliament branch in the Belgian capital by a former Taiwanese president.

  The European tour, which has also included stops in the Czech Republic and France, is Tsai’s first overseas trip after leaving office in May.

  After meeting with Tsai earlier this week, Czech Republic Senator Pavel Fischer called on his government to take a tougher stance on China.

  Fischer wrote on Facebook on Wednesday that he, his colleagues and Tsai discussed bilateral cooperation in trade and economics and education between Taiwan and the Czech Republic.

  “Despite Taiwan being on the other side of the globe, we must care about what happens in its vicinity. Security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific directly influence the Euro-Atlantic area and vice versa. Our security and prosperity are closely linked,” Fischer added.

  The senator urged his government to take a tougher stance against China at the UN over its “unacceptable behavior” targeting Taiwan, including, for instance, summoning China’s ambassador to express concern.

  The Czech government has promised to review relations with China, but provided no further updates on the efforts, saying only that the review process is ongoing, he said.
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