The European Parliament says it wants to work closer with partners in the Indo-Pacific amid “increasing competition and rivalry in EU-China relations”. Those words come as part of two annual reports on the implementation of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defense Policy.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that Europe’s stance towards security in the Taiwan Strait and Chinese military provocations has become firmer. The ministry has thanked the European Parliament and says that these kinds of concrete measures show that Europe supports and values its democratic ally Taiwan.
The report comes as a growing number of EU countries voice concern that China is employing coercive economic measures against Lithuania. Relations between China and Lithuania have soured over Lithuania’s decision to allow the Taiwanese Representative Office in Vilnius to use the name “Taiwan”. Similar offices in other countries typically use “Taipei” instead.