China Warns European Union Not to Get Too Friendly With Taiwan as Delegation Visits Island
China's Foreign Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminded the European Union not to get too amiable with Taiwan as lawmakers from the bloc's legislative branch visited the East Asian island, the Associated Press reported. Though Taiwan is self-ruled, China claims it as part of its territory and has been increasingly assertive in recent months about establishing its dominance over the island.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a warning for the EU while voicing opposition to the delegation's visit, saying that it "urges the European side to correct its mistakes and not to send any wrong signals to the separatist forces of Taiwan independence, so as to avoid serious impact on China-EU relations."
Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin also commented during a daily briefing that "the fact that Taiwan is part of China cannot be changed," the AP reported.
It was the European Parliament's first official visit to Taiwan, according to the AP. Though Taiwan does not have any official diplomatic ties with any European nations apart from Vatican City, the island has been looking to deepen its relationship with the EU, Reuters reported.
For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below.
Thirteen lawmakers from the Parliament's committee on foreign interference in democratic processes met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on the second day of their three-day visit.
"We came here with a very simple, very clear message. You are not alone," said Raphael Glucksmann, the French chair of the committee. "Europe is standing with you, by you, in the defense of freedom and the defense of rule of law and human dignity."
"It is high time for the European Union to step up its cooperation with Taiwan," she said.
Tsai kept her welcome remarks short, calling the visit "highly significant" and saying Taiwan was willing to share its experience in combating disinformation and that it wants to build a "democratic alliance" against disinformation.
Last month, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling for the body to "intensify EU-Taiwan political relations." The non-binding resolution also called for changing the name of the representative office in Taiwan to the European Union Office in Taiwan, and to establish a bilateral investment agreement with the island.
The visit comes amid growing support among Western countries for the democratic-ruled island, which China claims as part of its territory to be annexed by force if necessary, and rising negative perceptions toward Beijing.
China has sent an increasing number of fighter jets toward the island in a prolonged campaign of military harassment since at least last year, when Taiwan began publicly releasing the data.
