Taiwan’s VP urges EU to deepen cooperation against China

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
Today 08:23

Taiwan’s Vice President urges the EU to boost ties with Taipei and counter China, as Brussels faces Beijing’s rebuke over separatist activities.

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Taiwan's Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao speaks during an event at the European Parliament in Brussels, on November 7, 2025 (AP)

Taiwan’s Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao called on the European Union on Friday to strengthen trade and security cooperation with Taipei and support its government against China, during a rare address to international lawmakers at the European Parliament.

“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 participants at a China-focused conference organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC).

Although Hsiao did not formally address the entire European Parliament, since the EU does not maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, her presence in Brussels drew an immediate rebuke from Beijing.

China’s mission to the EU condemned the parliament for allowing “Taiwan independence” figures to carry out “separatist activities", adding that it had lodged a formal protest. European Union member states and the EU at large have traditionally adhered to the One China Policy, like most governments around the world.

Understanding One China Policy

It is worth noting that the One China Policy recognizes that there is only one China, encompassing both mainland China and the island of Taiwan. Countries, such as the United States, that formally recognize the People’s Republic of China (PRC) do not maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan (Republic of China, ROC). After the Chinese Civil War, which lasted from 1945 to 1949, the PRC was established on the mainland, while the KMT-led ROC government retreated to Taiwan. The EU recognizes the PRC as the sole government of China.

Recent developments have raised questions about Brussels' commitment, which comes in a broader Western attempt to undermine Beijing's sovereignty over Taiwan. Members and vice-presidents of the European Parliament have made official visits to Taiwan, and the former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen was welcomed by MEPs and the Vice-President of the European Parliament during a visit to Brussels in October 2024.

Additionally, the EU has adopted a "new Taiwan policy," where it aims to upgrade relations with the Island's government.

Taipei bets on technology for EU support

Speaking to lawmakers from Germany, Spain, and other nations, Hsiao emphasized that closer cooperation with Taiwan on trusted supply chains, artificial intelligence, and high-tech industries would serve as a strategic counterbalance to China’s growing influence.

“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 said, receiving a standing ovation from attendees.

Hsiao tried to draw a comparison between the Russian-Ukrainian war and what Taipei officials describe as security threats from Beijing.

“Europe has defended freedom under fire, and Taiwan has built democracy under pressure,” she said.

Push for 'trusted technology ecosystem'

The Taiwanese vice president also warned that China’s recent curbs on critical exports, such as rare earths, underscored the risks of dependency on Beijing. Yet, China only placed export bans in response to wide-ranging tariffs by Washington and banned the export of Chinese Nexperia products after the Netherlands forcibly took over its headquarters in Nijmegen.

She urged the EU to develop with Taiwan “a reliable technology ecosystem rooted in trust, transparency, and democratic values,” mirroring their existing collaboration in the semiconductor sector, where both the EU and Taiwan play pivotal roles in the global supply chain and the production of advanced technologies.

China’s reaction and regional context

China routinely underlined that Taiwan’s independence is a “dead end” and continues to stage large-scale military drills near the island in response to increased Western support for Taipei. In October, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te announced plans to expand the island’s air defense network, known as the “T-dome”, and raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2030, falling in line with Washington's demands.

Analysts warn that a conflict over Taiwan could have devastating consequences for Europe, far surpassing the economic fallout of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Ben Bland, director of the Asia-Pacific Program at Chatham House, wrote last month that Europe “cannot stop Beijing from squeezing Taiwan harder,” but can help strengthen the island’s international connections and resilience.

“Any conflict over Taiwan could have a far more devastating impact on Europe than Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, given Taiwan’s leading role in semiconductor and electronics supply chains,” Bland wrote.