EU urged not to interfere in Taiwan ties

BEIJING: China condemned a report approved by the European Parliament that calls for elevating the European Union’s political relations with Taiwan, urging the parliament to stop seeking provocation and confrontation.

Despite repeated objections from China, the European Parliament voted to back the nonbinding “EU-Taiwan Political Relations and Cooperation” report, the first of its kind, on Thursday. The report calls on the EU to deepen relations with Taiwan, work on an investment deal with the island and rename the bloc’s trade office in Taipei.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the report, which violates basic norms governing international relations and the one-China principle, goes against the commitment made by the EU on the Taiwan question.

It is vile in nature and has an egregious impact, he said at a daily news conference.

Noting that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, Wang said that the one-China principle is a universally recognised principle as well as the political foundation of China-EU ties.

The European Parliament must immediately stop its rhetoric and behaviour, which undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said. — China Daily/ANN