Sun, Apr 30, 2023 page3

• Taiwan envoy in France urges European firms to boost cooperation with Taipei

  • Bloomberg
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  French businesses should be more aware of the risks linked to tensions around Taiwan that could damage their interests, Representative to France Francois Wu (吳志中) said, urging firms to promote more collaboration with Taipei.

  “If you look at the example of Russia and the Ukraine war, having important interests in Russia doesn’t mean that you can split the two and abandon Ukraine to protect interests in Russia,” Wu said in an interview on Friday.

  “If there were to be a war, their interests in China would be threatened,” he said.

  

  President Tsai Ing-wen, left, and French Senator Alain Richard eat Taiwanese food at the Huaxi Street Tourist Night Market in Taipei on Friday.

  Photo: CNA

  Escalating tensions between the US and China are putting European countries in a delicate position between the two superpowers as they seek to retain economic relations with Beijing.

  “Half of the world’s containers go through the Taiwan Strait. These would be at risk. So businesses have an interest to help everyone maintain peace,” Wu said.

  During a separate interview on Bloomberg Television, Wu also pushed for boosting Taiwan’s cooperation on the production of semiconductors, not just with France.

  “We need Air Liquide from France, BASF from Germany, chemical production from Japan for the precision of the production of semiconductors,” he said. “So France is already playing a role. I do believe we can reinforce our cooperation, not only between Taiwan and France, but with Europe and all democratic countries.”

  Taiwan makes 90 percent of the world’s advanced semiconductors, which power everything from smartphones to artificial intelligence chatbots, while also trying to attract the military and diplomatic support needed to deter an invasion.

  Wu said he receives many e-mails from French lawmakers seeking opportunities, adding that bolstering ties on semiconductors between France and Taiwan is a “very important” part of his job.

  Earlier this month, Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye (盧沙野) triggered furious reactions in Europe after he questioned the sovereignty of ex-Soviet states, including Ukraine. France joined the chorus of nations that condemned the remarks, and Beijing distanced itself from the comments.

  Wu said the remarks reflected China’s outlook.

  “China is trying to use an old concept to try and change the world order. So the declaration of ambassador Lu Shaye just reflects” how “they see the world,” he said.

  “It’s putting us in a very difficult problem, without the intention, they just make the problem of Taiwan the same problem with other ex-Soviet countries,” Wu said.

  Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) telephone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday diverted attention from the uproar.

  However, Lu’s statements undermined Xi’s quest to portray China as a neutral broker — particularly given his tight relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During a trip to China earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron urged Xi to make the call.

  Macron also said that Europe should make its own decisions regarding Taiwan rather than follow the US or China.

  The backlash that followed Macron’s statement pushed France and European allies to reaffirm their position on Taiwan, Wu said.

  “I’m happy — perhaps not satisfied as things can always get better, but happy” with Europe’s and France’s reaction, he added.

  Eric Bothorel, the head of a delegation of French lawmakers who recently traveled to Taiwan to reassure its authorities, said he wants more economic cooperation with Taiwan.

  Taipei and Paris recently signed a deal to develop drones for Taiwan, Wu said.
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