EU must stand 'firm' with Taiwan to ease tensions with China, says Taipei's envoy

The European Union must stand "firm" with Taiwan to confront China's "intimidating and coercive" behaviour, says Taipei's envoy to the bloc.

Transcript

00:00 One of the most closely watched geopolitical events of the year, the presidential elections

00:07 in Taiwan brought to power the sitting vice president, William Lai. During the election

00:12 campaign, he advocated closer ties with democratic partners globally, like the European Union.

00:19 But Taiwan is a hot potato in Brussels that divides member states. There is fear of retaliation

00:25 from Beijing, who considers Taiwan its breakaway province.

00:29 Bowing to China, for Taiwan's diplomatic envoy to the EU, Europe can only contribute to greater

00:35 stability in the region if it allies itself with Taipei.

00:40 Standing firm with Taiwan is the best way to de-escalate the tension in the future,

00:46 because appeasement or remorderness at this moment only encourages Beijing to escalate

00:57 the situation. It's the support, the firm support from EU and member states, not only

01:04 for Taiwan, but I would say also for Europe's interest, but also at a higher level for the

01:12 global prosperity and security.

01:16 Trade ties between Taiwan and the EU were upgraded in 2022, but the plan was cancelled

01:20 in the last minute out of fear of anger in Beijing. Yet Taiwan is still Europe's 14th

01:26 largest trading partner in the world, and last year Taiwan announced to build a semiconductor

01:31 factory in Germany. Big trade agreements, bilateral with member states on the EU level,

01:36 don't seem likely under the new administration in Taiwan. But exports point at numerous existing

01:42 low-key contacts that can be developed further and create even closer cooperation.

01:50 We've had some visits, primarily from parliaments, delegations visiting Taiwan, and then we've

01:56 also seen some careful, more careful ties at the ministerial level, where, for instance,

02:03 ministries went to Taiwan to talk to their Taiwanese counterparts. And I think it's particularly

02:09 these smaller corporations establishing ties and making sure that Europe is invested in

02:18 Taiwan where I see the most benefit and the most potential for having closer ties between

02:26 Europe and Taiwan.

02:28 The official position of the EU on Taiwan is yes to bilateral ties, but no to political

02:33 recognition. A balanced and united European approach that supports Taiwan, but does not

02:38 alienate or even provoke Beijing. Getting that balance right will be a major test for

02:44 Europe's Asian strategy, no matter who is president of Taiwan.

02:48 (whooshing)

02:50 (whooshing)