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In the Report on Commission Communication on Europe and Asia: A Strategic Framework for Enhanced Partnerships passed by the European Parliament (EP) last Thursday, Taiwan was named as a "country."
Moreover, the report advocated support for Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) and involving Taiwan in the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in the name of so-called multilateral cooperation with Asia. It also called on European Union (EU) states to issue travel visas to Chen Shui-bian and other high-ranking officials from Taiwan.
The EP's above-mentioned recommendations and comments, not only seriously violate the EU's commitment to the one-China policy, but could also have a negative impact upon the regional security and stability of East Asia.
Furthermore it will send the wrong message to separatist forces in Taiwan, particularly in the light of Chen's recently made, divisive "one country on each side" remark.
Regarding the report as a signal of encouragement, the separatist forces might slide further towards the dead end road to independence.
There is only one China, and Taiwan has always been part of China, a fact which is generally recognized by the UN and international community, including EU states. For that reason the island is not entitled to participate in international organizations such as WHO and ASEM whose memberships are only open to sovereign states.
Taiwan has made repeated attempts to squeeze into those international organizations, to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" in the world. It is widely known that the so-called "vacation diplomacy," "travel diplomacy" are means used by the Taiwan leaders to attempt to separate China's sovereignty. Chen Shui-bian's separatist ambitions have been thoroughly exposed by his own remarks.
Hence, calling for the issuing of visas to Chen and his ilk would encourage the Taiwan separatist forces to seek "Taiwan independence."
Since China began to implement its reform and opening-up policy, Sino-European relations have been developing both rapidly and positively. China and the EU have many interests in common in areas such as economy and security.
This is also acknowledged by the EP, as it suggested in this report, to strengthen the cooperation between China and the EU on international and regional issues and, to support Sino-EU high-level dialogue in trade and inter-parliamentary and political party exchanges.
However, the EP contradicted itself by adopting such an extremely erroneous position on the critical issue of Taiwan, which would do harm, not only to the Sino-EU relations, but East Asia's regional security and prosperity. This, in turn, would be detrimental to the EU's own interests.
(China Daily September 12, 2002)
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