European Parliament report calls for Cross-Strait talks, investment agreement with Taiwan

STRASBOURG - The European Parliament has adopted a Report on EU-China Relations during a plenary session in Strasbourg, France, in part calling on the European Union and its Member States to urge China to refrain from military provocation towards Taiwan, and endangering peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

The report reiterates support for Taiwan’s “meaningful participation” in international organisations - and the launch of negotiations on a Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) between the European Union and Taiwan.

Drafted by MEP Bas Belder (Netherlands), the report won cross-group endorsement. Among the issues it discussed were EU-China relations, China’s Belt and Road Initiative and cross-strait relations.

The report warned of the danger of an escalation in cross-strait relations, and called for cross-strait disputes to be settled by peaceful means on the basis of international law. It also expressed concern over China’s unilateral decision to start new flight routes over the Taiwan Strait, and encouraged Beijing and Taipei to resume official dialogue.

It reiterated the European Parliament’s consistent support for what it referred to as Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organisations, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), where Taiwan’s continued exclusion was not in line with the EU’s interests.
 

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Taiwanese legislators and expatriates marched in New York on Saturday to promote Taiwan's ambition to join the United Nations. The march coincided with the 73rd session of the U.N. General Assembly, which opened on Tuesday.

Members of Taiwanese communities in New York, Boston and Washington marched 3.2 km from the Chinese Consulate-General to UN headquarters.

Taiwan’s Foreign Minister, Joseph Wu, has renewed Taiwan's plea to participate in UN meetings, activities and mechanisms.

Taiwan’s 23 million people had been left out of the global effort to achieve goals set by the Assembly in 2015 in its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Wu said. And Taiwan tourists, experts and professionals were denied entry to UN premises simply because the UN did not accept Taiwan passports.

“Taiwan is calling on the international community to recognise its determination to contribute to regional and global affairs,” Wu said. www.mofa.gov.tw (ATI).