Taiwan will work to maintain the rules-based international order and enhance cooperation with the EU when facing China’s military expansionism, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said on Thursday, following the release of a European defense report.
The White Paper for European Defence — Readiness 2030, published on Wednesday, said that the shifting “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait and Beijing’s increasing military activities could raise the “risk of a major disruption,” with economic and strategic consequences for Europe and its Indo-Pacific region partners.
Presented by top European Commission officials, the white paper also outlined the “ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030” defense package, which aims to spend more than 800 billion euros (US$866.6 billion) to safeguard European security in the face of a changing global situation.
Photo: Taipei Times
Taiwan is grateful for the support, and welcomes the EU monitoring developments in the Indo-Pacific region and in the Taiwan Strait, Lin said.
The minister also thanked officials for expressing concern about Beijing’s actions “intensifying its political, economic, military, cyber and cognitive measures to coerce Taiwan.”
Taiwan would deepen cooperation with like-minded countries in Europe and work together to defend freedom and democracy, Lin said.
“We will show the world that we are determined to safeguard our democratic Taiwan,” he added.
China’s escalating actions in the region were contributing to the “deteriorating strategic context” and potential flashpoints in the Taiwan Strait, which would have a large impact on Europe, due to the disruption to the supply of strategic resources and materials for European industrial production it would cause, the white paper said.
As threats of hybrid warfare and cyberattacks are challenges that transcend international borders, the EU will reinforce cooperation and security arrangement with like-minded countries, the paper said.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials said that the European Council meeting in June 2023 was the first time the joint statement included wording on the importance of reducing tensions in the Taiwan Strait, and that the EU is opposed to any military action or unilateral moves to change the “status quo.”
“Ensuring peace and security in the Taiwan Strait has become the common stance of the 27 EU member states,” the ministry said.
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