The Belgian government’s new coalition agreement includes rhetoric supportive of Taiwan for the first time, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace, stability, and the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. The agreement also indicated plans to promote investment agreements with countries in the region.
Belgium has publicly supported Taiwan’s inclusion as an observer in the World Health Assembly (WHA) for four consecutive years, and when acting as the rotating president of the European Union last year, expressed support again on behalf of the EU. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) also met with parliamentarians in Belgium in November last year during his Europe trip largely dedicated to developing business relationships with European companies.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry expressed gratitude for Belgium’s support and said it hopes the two sides will continue to build on their friendly relations on the basis of shared values of democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law.