An op-ed urging more EU support for Taiwan published on media outlets in France and Germany by academics, lawmakers and political figures was deeply appreciated, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sept. 15.
Initiated by Nathalie Loiseau, chair of Subcommittee on Security and Defence under the European Parliament, the op-ed was co-written by MEPs including Petras Austrevicius, chair of Delegation for relations with Afghanistan; Radoslaw Sikorski, chair of Delegation for relations with the U.S.; Raphael Glucksmann, vice-chair of Subcommittee on Human Rights; Reinhard Butikofer, chair of Delegation for relations with China; and Elmar Brok, former chair of Committee on Foreign Affairs; as well as academics and political figures such as Francois Godement, senior advisor for Asia at Paris-headquartered Institut Montaigne; Hanns Maull, senior associate fellow at Berlin-based Mercator Institute for China Studies; and Volker Stanzel, Germany’s former ambassador to China.
In the op-ed, signatories called for the EU to expand high-level dialogue with Taiwan and strengthen cooperation between the two sides in areas spanning public health, trade, regional security and supply chains. They additionally expressed support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and endorsed greater exposure for programs produced by Taiwan media outlets on European TV networks.
Signatories emphasized the importance of boosting Taiwan-EU exchanges in the face of China’s ongoing campaign of coercion as a means of maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
According to the MOFA, the op-ed reflects the growing chorus across Europe advocating for closer relationships between Taiwan and EU member states following a statement released by 70 global legislators backing the Czech senate delegation’s visit to Taiwan last month.
The MOFA said Taiwan will continue deepening ties with EU member states built on ongoing bilateral collaboration in fields like 5G networks, biological and medical technology and green economy, while sparing no effort to restructure supply chains of strategic industries and stabilize global political and economic sentiment in the post-pandemic era. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw