Czech Member of European Parliament Markéta Gregorová says that the European Union should have a One Taiwan Policy. She made the remark during an interview with Radio Taiwan International.
Gregorová initiated the delegation of seven MEPs visiting Taiwan last week to learn how Taiwan fights disinformation from China. She is the coordinator for the EU Parliament’s Special Committee on Foreign Interference and Disinformation (INGE). She said the MEPs learned much from Taiwan during their trip.
Gregorová noted that the European Union has been drawing closer to Taiwan due to increased aggression from China against EU lawmakers and representatives. She said the EU cannot support that type of oppression against democracy.
When asked what she meant by a “One Taiwan Policy”, she said she means that the EU should have its own Taiwan policy. It should engage Taiwan and be clear what it wants in a relationship with Taiwan. This is in contrast to the EU’s former attitude of just adhering to a One China Policy for fear of escalating tensions with China.
She said that the EU Parliament’s recent passing of a EU-Taiwan report shows some of the goals in its ties with Taiwan. This includes working towards a bilateral investment agreement. Gregorová said a free trade agreement between the EU and Taiwan could even be possible in the future.
When asked why ties between Taiwan and the Czech Republic are growing strong, she said that her country has always had a strong stance on human rights. That is due to its former Soviet occupation and their first president Václav Havel who was a former dissident and a staunch supporter of human rights.
When Czech Republic Senate President Miloš Vystrčil came to Taiwan and spoke at the legislature in 2020, he said “I am Taiwanese”. Gregorová said that what he meant is that the Czechs understand the Taiwanese and we have much in common.
Foreign Minister Joseph Wu also visited the Czech Republic and met with Vystrčil during his recent trip to Europe.
The two countries are moving forward in increasing cooperation in many fields.
Last month, a 66-member Taiwanese trade delegation visited the Czech Republic and signed five memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to strengthen cooperation in information sharing, cyber security, space technology, green energy, and smart machinery among other fields.
The stronger ties with the Czech Republic and other central and eastern European states highlight a new trend in the European Union towards closer ties with Taiwan.