European lawmakers are calling the European Union to “cooperate with international partners to help secure democracy in Taiwan”. That comes in a resolution passed by the European Parliament on Thursday by an overwhelming majority of 585 votes to 46. There were 41 abstentions.
The resolution, titled “Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong”, addresses Chinese policy towards Hong Kong and Lithuania. It condemns China’s “coercion and intimidation” of Lithuania, and welcomes recent statements of solidarity with Lithuania by European lawmakers and foreign officials.
Lithuanian authorities have faced intense pressure from China after Taiwan and Lithuania announced they would open representative offices in each others’ countries. In early December, reports suggest Chinese authorities deleted Lithuania from China’s customs registry, temporarily halting all imports from the Baltic state.
Thursday’s resolution urges the European Union to “defend the basic principles of the single market against Chinese intimidation”.
On Friday, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said it welcomed European lawmakers’ continuing support for action to help Lithuania to withstand pressure from China. The ministry says it will strengthen cooperation with international partners to confront the threats posed by authoritarianism to democracies around the world.