Taiwan's Growing Engagement With Europe

TaiwanPlus News

Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao has just become the first ranking Taiwanese statesperson to speak in the European Parliament. And former President Tsai Ing-wen is heading to Berlin. Some analysts see a chance for closer engagement with Europe as countries there grow frustrated with Beijing's position on the Ukraine War and the dumping of Chinese goods on the European market.

Transcript

00:00Vice President Bi Kim Xiao is back from a high-profile trip to Europe.

00:06There she spoke at a summit of the Interparliamentary Alliance on China, or IPAC, a forum of lawmakers

00:11concerned about China's threats to human rights and the rules-based global order.

00:16The location of the meeting, inside the European Parliament, has special significance.

00:22No EU member recognizes Taiwan.

00:25And so, Xiao's address in the European Parliament marks the first time any ranking

00:29Taiwanese statesperson has been able to speak in a European legislature.

00:33Xiao's message was one of working towards democracy's future.

00:37We don't just want to survive, we want democracies to thrive.

00:42We're not just defending what we have, but building what we want the future to look like.

00:50On arrival home, she said Taiwan deserves its place in the global order.

00:55Taiwan人民, as well as the world citizens, should be able to participate in the international

01:00society.

01:01Because of all countries'努力 and support, we should be able to develop our path forward.

01:15The US has welcomed Xiao's speech, with the State Department saying it backs Taiwan's

01:21meaningful inclusion in international organizations.

01:25But China, which claims Taiwan and seeks to keep it diplomatically isolated, is not happy.

01:31Its EU commission responded by saying that Beijing strongly opposes Xiao's speech.

01:37President Lai Qingde has thanked IPAC for inviting Xiao to showcase Taiwan's values and convictions.

01:42But the Vice President isn't the only political figure from Taiwan engaging with Europe.

01:47Former President Tsai Ing-wen is headed to Berlin, where she'll address this year's Berlin

01:51Freedom Conference on Monday.

01:55Some analysts say recent engagement with Europe, topped with Xiao's speech at the European

01:59Parliament, is not a coincidence.

02:01This may have its limits.

02:14The Vatican is still the only European state to maintain full diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

02:19But some analysts see signs of shifting European attitudes towards Beijing that Taiwan can benefit

02:24from if it takes the chance.

02:27Kevin Tsai and John Van Trieste for Taiwan Plus.

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