Post by : Badri Ariffin

On Friday, Taiwan’s Vice President Bi-Khim Hsiao delivered an impactful appeal to European officials, calling for stronger trade and security collaboration with the island. At a conference in Brussels focused on China, Hsiao stressed the need to safeguard democracy in light of increasing pressure from Beijing.

“Stability in the Taiwan Strait is crucial for global peace and economic stability,” she remarked, warning that any forceful attempt to alter the status quo would lead to significant international ramifications. Her address occurred during discussions with about 50 lawmakers from various countries, including Germany and Spain.

Despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties with the EU, Hsiao urged European nations to work together on secure supply chains and innovative technologies, particularly in artificial intelligence, underscoring Taiwan’s pivotal role in the semiconductor and electronics sectors. She drew attention to the similarities between the cyber threats faced by Taiwan and the hybrid challenges European countries have encountered since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In response to Hsiao’s visit, China condemned the European Parliament for hosting her. Beijing labeled the meeting as a breach of the “One China” principle and cautioned Europe against appearing to support “separatist movements.” China has consistently regarded Taiwan as part of its territory and has increased military maneuvers near the island.

Taiwan is enhancing its defense, with President Lai Ching-te pledging to fortify the air defense system and boost defense expenditure to 5 percent of GDP by 2030. Hsiao’s visit highlights Taiwan’s determination to maintain global ties despite existing security challenges, including past intimidation attempts by Chinese agents against Taiwanese officials internationally.

In the context of intensifying US-China rivalry, experts believe that robust EU-Taiwan partnerships could fortify global technology supply chains and promote democratic values in the region, all while avoiding unnecessary escalations.

#Global News #Politics