<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/08/taiwan-vice-president-presses-case-at-eu-parliament-for-joint-efforts-to-counter-china>
"Taiwan’s vice-president, Bi-Khim Hsiao, urged the EU to boost security and
trade ties with the self-governing island and support its democracy in the face
of growing threats by China in a rare address to a group of international
lawmakers in Brussels.
“Peace in the Taiwan Strait is essential to global stability and economic
continuity, and international opposition against unilateral changes to the
status quo by force cannot be overstated,” Hsiao told lawmakers assembled for a
China-focused conference in the European parliament building.
While Hsiao did not formally address the whole EU parliament – the European
trade bloc does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan – her visit
drew ire from China.
“In an era marked by increasing fragmentation, volatility and rising
authoritarianism, this gathering affirms something vital – that democracies,
even when far apart, are not alone,” she added, to a standing ovation in a
small chamber of the parliament.
Hsiao called on the lawmakers from countries including Germany and Spain to
collaborate more on trusted supply chains and AI technology with Taiwan, the
island off China’s east coast that Beijing claims as part of its territory and
says must come under its rule.
EU members, like most countries including the US, have no formal diplomatic
ties with Taiwan and follow a “one China” policy. But the EU and Taiwan share
common democratic values as well as close trade ties, and the bloc opposes any
use of military force by China to settle its dispute with Taiwan.
Hsiao also drew parallels between Taiwan suffering cyber-attacks and having its
undersea internet cables cut by China, and hybrid attacks faced by European
nations since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Europe has defended freedom under fire, and Taiwan has built democracy under
pressure,” she said."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
