The European Union proposed the “Indo-Pacific Regional Cooperation Strategy” on April 19, emphasizing that the EU is looking at the increasing importance of the Indo-Pacific region, but the full text of the strategy does not mention Taiwan; EU representative in Taiwan Gao Zhev said on April 20 that, in his view, the document is full of opportunities for cooperation between the EU and Taiwan.
In an interview with Reuters after the press conference, Gao said that the EU will hold an investment forum this fall, focusing on global supply chains, digitalization and semiconductors, and use it to bring Taiwan into contact with Europe and enhance its visibility and weight in Europe.
Gao Zhefu stressed that Taiwan is a key member of the global supply chain and a major trading partner of the EU, “We now need to ensure that Taiwan makes good use of its assets. Taiwan has not only TSMC, but also other excellent semiconductor companies.
The European Union proposed the “Indo-Pacific Regional Cooperation Strategy” on the 19th, referring to the regional tensions exacerbated by geopolitical competition, and also emphasizing economic cooperation with regional countries. European Economic and Trade Office representative Gao Zhev (Filip Grzegorzewski) held a press conference on the 20th to explain to the media about the content of the cooperation strategy.
In response to questions from the media, Mr. Grzegorzewski said that according to the “Indo-Pacific Cooperation Strategy”, the EU will cooperate with partners in the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan. Although the EU and Taiwan do not have formal diplomatic relations, Taiwan and the EU are like-minded and value-sharing partners, and according to the Freedom House 2021 global report, Taiwan ranks 2nd in Asia in terms of freedom, which are the reasons for the EU’s cooperation with Taiwan.
Gao Zhefu said that although Taiwan is not mentioned throughout the strategy document, “when I read this document, all I see is Taiwan, and the EU can cooperate with Taiwan in many parts”.
He pointed out that in addition to cooperation in offshore wind power, Taiwan and Europe should also expand other economic and trade cooperation opportunities, and investment in the EU will strengthen Taiwan’s role in the global supply chain, which is a win-win situation for the EU and Taiwan.
The media is concerned about Taiwan’s role in the EU’s Indo-Pacific strategy and whether Taiwan and Europe can cooperate on maritime governance and cyber security. Taiwan is a like-minded and value-sharing partner of the EU, and the two sides are already cooperating on maritime governance, and “Taiwan cannot be excluded when discussing maritime security in Taiwan’s neighborhood. As for cyber security, Gao Zhev only said. The EU works with many partners in the region and “this (cyber security) is one of our key objectives.”
As for whether the EU conducts maritime exercises with Taiwan and mutual visits of warships and ports, Gao Zhev said that the EU is accustomed to the one-China policy, but will also pragmatically cooperate with regional partners.
Foreign media speculate that the “Indo-Pacific Regional Cooperation Strategy” shows that the EU is joining the U.S.-led anti-China lineup to defend freedom of navigation and confront Beijing’s information war. Gauthier said that the outside world should not be as
The document echoes the EU’s 2019 “EU-China-A strategic outlook” in which the EU will work with China in a pragmatic and flexible manner on climate change or issues of bilateral interest, Gauthier said. The EU will cooperate with China in a pragmatic and flexible way on climate change or issues of bilateral interest.
Regarding whether there will be more EU missions to Taiwan in the future, Gao Zhefu replied that almost every day he has friends asking about the possibility of visiting Taiwan.
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