MEPs debated, during a plenary session in Strasbourg on Tuesday 22 October, China’s increasing military provocations near Taiwan, before voting on a resolution to be held on Thursday 24 October concerning China’s “constant distortion” of UN Resolution 2758, demanding that Taiwanese passport holders be banned from UN visits and events.
In December 2023, the European Parliament had already adopted a resolution stating that the EU’s “One China Policy” had not changed and that any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, in particular by force or coercion, was not acceptable (see EUROPE 13313/24).
At the same time, European Commissioner Nicolas Schmit reiterated during the debate, on behalf of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, that the EU had an interest in maintaining “close relations” with Taiwan.
“Taiwan’s system is based on democracy, the Rule of law and human rights. In many ways the EU and Taiwan are like-minded. In short, we engage with Taiwan in the absence of diplomatic relations”, he declared in the European Parliament’s hemicycle.
All the political families once again recognised the “One China Policy”, acknowledging the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legitimate representative of China.
Resolution 2758 of the United Nations does indeed recognise that the representatives of the government of the PRC are the only legitimate representatives of China at the United Nations, but does not indicate, according to several MEPs - from all political families - that full and complete participation by Taiwan in United Nations meetings is not allowed.
“Resolution 2758 is very short, comprising just 150 words, and among these, the word ‘Taiwan’ does not appear”, said Mr Schmit.
On the question of Taiwan becoming part of mainland China, Michael Gahler (EPP, German) said that no reunification as envisaged by the PRC was possible, given that “to my knowledge, Taiwan has never been part of the PRC since its creation in 1949”.
Bernard Guetta (Renew Europe, French) asked: “How can we, as Europeans, consider China to be a reliable partner when China is supporting Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine, and in doing so, trying to destabilise our continent?”
In its group draft resolution, The Left Group expressed its concern about the “encirclement policy” pursued by the United States in the region and the increase in US military support for Taiwan, which only increases “the risk of military escalation in the Straits”.
To see the draft resolutions from each group: https://aeur.eu/f/e09 (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)