《TAIPEI TIMES》 The European Parliament backs Taiwan in measure

EU flags flutter in front of a the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, France, in an undated photograph. Photo: EPA-EFE

SENDING A MESSAGE: The measure called on EU member states and institutions to make it known that there would be significant costs to unilaterally altering the ‘status quo’

/ Staff writer, with CNA The European Parliament this week passed a resolution calling for closer cooperation with partners in East Asia, which mentioned Taiwan 44 times and pledged to reject “any coercive unilateral change of the status quo” in the Taiwan Strait, a Taiwanese diplomat said yesterday.

The “Recommendation on the changing geopolitical situation in East Asia and the need for closer cooperation with like-minded partners in the region,” passed on Tuesday with 542 votes in favor, 37 against and 79 abstentions.

The measure described Taiwan as a “reliable key democratic partner” that shares “common values” with the EU, including democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and a commitment to upholding multilateralism and a rules-based international order.

It also cited another resolution adopted on Oct. 24, 2024, which states that the European Parliament “opposes” China’s “constant distortion” of UN Resolution 2758 to justify its claim over Taiwan and “strongly condemns” Beijing’s military exercises near the nation.

The measure called on the European Council, the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to “reaffirm the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait by rejecting any coercive unilateral change of the status quo.”

It also urged the institutions, EU member states and like-minded partners, to deliver clear and coordinated messaging that coercive unilateral actions to alter the “status quo” would incur “significant political and economic costs.”

“Any differences must be resolved peacefully through dialogue,” in accordance with international law and with respect for the will of Taiwanese, it added.

The measure called on them to “strongly recall that freedom of navigation and overflight, as guaranteed by international law, must be respected in the Indo-Pacific, including in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.”

It also urged the institutions to engage in diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation in the Taiwan Strait, and the East and South China Seas, as well as to develop contingency plans and mitigation measures based on plausible escalation scenarios, including a blockade of Taiwan by the Chinese navy.

Representative to the EU Shieh Jhy-wey （謝志偉） wrote on social media that the measure underscored the importance of the EU expanding cooperation with Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, adding that such cooperation is in the interests of the EU and global security.

The document also called for the establishment of a comprehensive Taiwan-EU cooperation framework in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, supply chain security, cybersecurity, and social and energy resilience, Shieh said.

It also supports Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations such as the WHO, the International Civil Aviation Organization and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, he said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday expressed its gratitude to the European Parliament for taking “concrete actions” in support of Taiwan by adopting the resolution.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES