TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The foreign ministry said Thursday that the European Parliament passed a report Tuesday calling for stronger EU ties with Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and other democratic partners in East Asia.
The report said peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea are important to the EU, regional security, and global trade. It also opposed any attempt to change the status quo by force or pressure.
Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) thanked the European Parliament for its continued support for Taiwan. The ministry said the report showed Europe’s growing concern over security in East Asia.
The report described Taiwan as a “reliable key democratic partner” for the EU in East Asia. It said Taiwan and the EU share values such as democracy, rule of law, human rights, and support for the rules-based international order.
Lawmakers recommended a more structured EU-Taiwan cooperation framework. They said it could build on existing trade talks and cover semiconductors, artificial intelligence, supply chains, cybersecurity, public health, clean technology, and disaster response.
The report also supported Taiwan’s participation in international bodies and technical forums. It named groups such as the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Lawmakers urged the EU to deepen trade and investment ties with Taiwan. They also called on the EU to consider talks on a bilateral investment agreement or other trade-related arrangements.
The report said freedom of navigation and overflight must be respected in the Indo-Pacific, including in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. It also urged the EU to prepare for possible risks in the region, including a Chinese naval blockade of Taiwan.
The ministry said the report follows earlier European Parliament resolutions supporting Taiwan. It said Taiwan will continue to work with the EU and like-minded partners to protect peace, stability, and the rules-based international order.
