EU lawmakers condemn China’s live-fire workouts in Taiwan Strait By Reuters

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Members of the European Parliament backed a decision on Thursday that condemned China’s live-fire army workouts within the Taiwan Strait and referred to as for nearer ties between the European Union and Taipei.

The EU meeting mentioned in an announcement that the decision, backed in a vote by 424 lawmakers with 14 towards and 46 abstentions, additionally demanded that Beijing chorus from measures that would destabilise the Taiwan Strait and regional safety.

China deployed scores of planes and fired stay missiles close to Taiwan final month after U.S. Home of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a solidarity journey to the self-ruled island.

Taiwan’s Overseas Ministry welcomed the decision and expressed its thanks for the assist, saying the transfer demonstrated high-level and cross-party concern for peace and stability within the Taiwan Strait.

China, which sees Taiwan as one in every of its provinces and has lengthy mentioned it reserves the precise to take the island by power, says its variations with Taipei are an inside affair.

Taiwan’s democratically-elected authorities strongly objects to China’s sovereignty claims, and says solely the island’s 23 million folks can determine its future.

Noting Taiwan’s strategic commerce place and its main function within the international provide chain of key high-tech sectors, together with for semiconductors, the European Parliament decision referred to as on the EU to strengthen its relations with the island.

It welcomed Lithuania’s plan to open a commerce illustration workplace in Taipei and mentioned EU international locations and not using a commerce workplace there ought to comply with its instance.

With the addition of Lithuania, 16 EU member states now have places of work in Taiwan.

The EU additionally has illustration in Taipei by the European Financial and Commerce Workplace which operates as a de facto embassy within the absence of formal diplomatic ties.