The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday expressed gratitude for two resolutions passed by the European Parliament on Wednesday that back deepening ties with Taiwan and voice concern about heightened tension across the Taiwan Strait.
The parliament on Wednesday adopted an annual report on the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), and an annual report on the implementation of the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP).
The CFSP report said that Taiwan is an important democratic ally of the EU in the Indo-Pacific region, urging the EU and its member states to continue to work closely with Taiwan in deepening economic, trade and investment ties.
Photo: EPA-EFE
The parliament also criticized provocative military actions taken by China against Taiwan.
China has attempted to distort UN Resolution 2758 to impede Taiwan’s international participation, the CFSP report said, adding that China’s claim to Taiwan has no grounds in international law.
Only the democratically elected government in Taiwan can represent Taiwanese, the CFSP report said, urging the EU and its member states to convey a clear message stating that any forceful attempt to unilaterally change the “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait would not be accepted.
The CSDP report condemned China’s increasing online attacks, cognitive warfare, intrusions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone and damage to Taiwan’s undersea cables.
The EU affirms its steadfast commitment to maintaining the “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait, the CSDP report said, praising Taiwan’s self-restraint while calling on China to stop its aggressive behavior.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) thanked the European Parliament for its support.
Taiwan would continue to deepen cooperation and exchanges with the parliament to boost democratic resilience and construct a mutually beneficial alliance network based on common values, Lin said.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
TRADE: A mandatory declaration of origin for manufactured goods bound for the US is to take effect on May 7 to block China from exploiting Taiwan’s trade channels All products manufactured in Taiwan and exported to the US must include a signed declaration of origin starting on May 7, the Bureau of Foreign Trade announced yesterday. US President Donald Trump on April 2 imposed a 32 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan, but one week later announced a 90-day pause on its implementation. However, a universal 10 percent tariff was immediately applied to most imports from around the world. On April 12, the Trump administration further exempted computers, smartphones and semiconductors from the new tariffs. In response, President William Lai’s (賴清德) administration has introduced a series of countermeasures to support affected
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College