Taiwan – Analysts: Common interest, shared values cement EU-Taiwan ties

Location: Taipei City – Taiwan

Language: English + Mandarin

Duration: 00:06:19

Source: A24 subscribers

Restrictions: A24 clients

Dateline: 19/01/2022

Storyline:

EU countries have turned their eyes to Taiwan for cooperation on public health, economic cooperation and the promotion of human rights. An analyst of the European Union Centre in Taiwan said the reason for the stronger ties is not contributed to an “anti-China” policy; nevertheless, it stems from shared values and common interest. He explained that the COVID-19 pandemic has encouraged many European countries to close ranks with Taiwan. European parliaments have been passing resolutions to spur their countries to adopt stronger relations with Taiwan, not the least of which is the Irish parliament’s “Taiwan-friendly” resolutions, a spokesperson for the Taiwan government said.

Shot list:

– (Soundbite) Marc Cheng, Executive Director for EUTW:

“Of course, this is all under the so-called EU One-China Policy. So, under this framework, the EU tries to have better relations with Taiwan. This is again not anti-China. But this is based on their own interests. The industrial cooperation, public health considerations, human rights, promoting human rights in the regions, or the new Indo-Pacific strategy, all these issues, you can find that there is a shadow of Taiwan within this. But again, if you talk about climate change, you cannot bypass China, and if you want to talk about the recovery of the pandemic’s impact on the economy, you cannot bypass China.”

– (Soundbite) Marc Cheng, Executive Director for EUTW:

“So, I think Taiwan has always been trying to echo the good initiatives from the international society. For some reasons we’ve been turned down, even though we have good will, we’ve been turned down. But now, because of the COVID, it gives other countries better excuses, or better ways to justify themselves to accept the help from Taiwan. So, I think that makes Taiwan’s initiative different than before. Because now, the proposals from Taiwan are much easier seen or accepted by the international organizations.”

– (Soundbite) Marc Cheng, Executive Director for EUTW:

“So, I think now, the EU-Taiwan relations are experiencing a very good window of opportunity. The US-China relation is a positive factor for the EU to push forward cooperation with Taiwan. Then based on their own interests, the strategy of revival of the recovery of the economy or the rebuilding of the industrial supply chain, also make Taiwan appear in the priority of the EU. And the EU’s own strategy on the Indo-Pacific region actually is also ruling out the roadmap of the EU priorities in the region. And Taiwan happens to be a good partner in all those priorities.”

– (Soundbite) Joanne Ou, Spokesperson of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

“In December last year, the senate of Ireland has passed a resolution to support Taiwan. It is in favor of enhancing ties with Taiwan. It also supports Taiwan to take part in international organizations. In 2013 and 2015, after Ireland’s senate passed Taiwan-friendly resolutions, this is again an attempt from the senate to adopt resolutions to encourage the Irish government to enhance relations with Taiwan. We all know that Europe is a like-minded entity for Taiwan. Both sides have shared values in matters related with freedom, democracy and human rights. We have witnessed European countries’ parliaments passing resolutions in solidarity for Taiwan, including having Taiwan take part in international organizations and affairs. Taiwan is grateful for that.”

– (Soundbite) Joanne Ou, Spokesperson of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

“We have also seen the National Assembly of France adopting a resolution on November 29 (in 2021) that supports Taiwan taking part in international organizations. This is an act of the French government’s lasting stance of supporting Taiwan taking part in the World Health Association (WHA), or International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), or the Interpol or the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This has set a record of France’s Senate and National Assembly both adopting resolutions in favor of Taiwan within six months. This is a historical record.”

– (Soundbite) Joanne Ou, Spokesperson of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

“The Netherland’s House of Representatives passed two pro-Taiwan resolutions on November 30 with an absolute majority. One of them suggests the Netherland government not to accept the Chinese government’s intentions to unilaterally alter the status-quo over the Taiwan Strait. The other motion encourages the European Union to support Lithuania develop relations with Taiwan.”

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