Strasbourg, 24 October 2024
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Support the status quo in the Taiwan Strait
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UN resolution 2758 does not take a position on Taiwan
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China’s coercive measures to achieve unification contradict international law
The European Parliament condemns China’s continued military provocations against Taiwan and firmly rejects any unilateral change to the status-quo in the Taiwan Strait.
These attempts, particularly by means of force or coercion, will not be accepted and will incur a decisive and firm reaction, warn MEPs. In a resolution adopted by 432 votes in favour, 60 against and 71 abstentions on Thursday, they condemn China’s unwarranted military exercises of 14 October and continued military provocations against Taiwan, stressing that the military build-up changes the power balance in the Indo-Pacific.
Misinterpretation of the UN position
Parliament strongly rejects China’s attempts to distort history and international rules and underlines that UN resolution 2758 does not take a position on Taiwan. It opposes China’s constant efforts to block Taiwan’s participation in multilateral organisations and calls on the EU and its member states to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organisations such as the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. MEPs also urge the UN to grant Taiwanese nationals and journalists the right to access its premises.
Commitment to ‘One China’ policy
The EU remains committed to its ‘One China’ policy as the political foundation of EU-China relations, supporting initiatives that foster dialogue and confidence-building, stresses the text.MEPs strongly condemn statements by the Chinese President that the People’s Republic of China will never renounce the right to use force with respect to Taiwan, insisting that using coercive measures to achieve unification contradicts international law. They highlight that only Taiwan’s democratically elected government can represent the Taiwanese people internationally and express their concern over China’s use of hostile disinformation to undermine trust in Taiwan’s democracy and governance.
Concerns about China’s increasing military investments and capabilities
China’s increasingly aggressive behaviour, in particular in its own neighbourhood, such as the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, poses a risk to regional and global security, say MEPs. The EU and its member states should step up their own maritime capacities in the region. Parliament also voices concerns about China and Russia’s renewed commitment to further strengthen their military ties, condemning the Chinese supply of equipment to Moscow.
Further information
Source – EU Parliament
EPP Group: Taiwan should participate in WHO, Interpol, and UN climate talks
A European Parliament Resolution, set to be voted on later today, calls on China to stop distorting international rules.
The Resolution, initiated and spearheaded by the EPP Group MEP Miriam Lexmann, also calls on the EU and its Member States to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in relevant international organisations such as the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. It also calls on the UN Secretariat to grant Taiwanese nationals and journalists the right of access to UN premises for visits, meetings, and news-gathering activities, which they are currently denied due to Chinese intervention.
“Allowing the Chinese Communist Party to continue distorting UN Resolution 2758 and turning a blind eye to the increased military exercises around Taiwan threatens global peace and security. We must stand up for the truth, freedom and international law,” Lexmann insists.
By adopting the text, Members also intend to underline that Taiwan is the EU’s key partner and a like-minded democratic friend in the Indo-Pacific region. MEPs warn that any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, in particular through the use of force or coercion, will not be accepted and will be met with a firm and resolute response.
Note to editors
The EPP Group is the largest political group in the European Parliament with 188 Members from all EU Member States
Source – EPP Group
ECR Group calls for cross-strait stability after Beijing provocations
The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) welcome the adoption of a European Parliament resolution condemning the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) military provocations around Taiwan and its manipulation of UN Resolution 2758.
The ECR Group, which co-sponsored the resolution, has always been a strong advocate of Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organisations, including those dealing with pandemics, health or the security of civic aviation.
“In the 1970s, with hopes of stability and peace, the People’s Republic of China was granted a seat at the UN, opening the door to unprecedented economic and technological development. Beijing has seized this opportunity, benefiting from its close ties with the West,” said ECR MEP Mariusz Kamiński, who spoke on behalf of the Group in the debate.
“However, through its current actions, such as its support for Russia in its aggression against Ukraine and its aggressive expansion in the Indo-Pacific region, Beijing is failing to fulfil its obligations as a member of the Security Council under the UN Charter,” he stated. In Kaminski’s opinion, the European Union should continue to adhere to the EU’s One China policy, supporting peace and stability in the region while emphasising the importance of the status quo in the cross-strait relations.
“Recent Chinese military exercises encircling Taiwan undermine stability in the region. Taiwan is a reliable and proven partner that has built a relationship of trust with us over the years,” Kaminski concluded.
The resolution was adopted with 432 in favour, 60 against and 71 abstentions.
Source – ECR (by email)