EU Parliament Vice President Nicola Beer said that only Taiwanese people can decide Taiwan’s fate. That came when Beer met with President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday morning. Beer is leading a delegation in Taiwan for a three-day visit. She is the highest-ranking member of the European Parliament to ever visit the country.
Beer says China should stop disturbing the status-quo in the Taiwan Strait. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out taking the island by force. Tensions between Taiwan and China are at an all-time high, with China increasing its military threats towards Taiwan. Beer says only the people of Taiwan can decide the country’s future.
During the meeting, President Tsai Ing-wen said Taiwan and the EU are like-minded partners. She pointed out that the EU is Taiwan’s largest investor, and she hopes both sides can continue improving relations.
Tsai says Taiwan and the EU are on a similar path. She says both are working on implementing green initiatives and adopting digital technology. The president emphasizes that she has worked to strengthen supply chain ties with the EU this year in order to create a strong foundation for future relations.
Beer lauds Taiwan’s thriving democracy. She praises Taiwan for its freedom of speech, economic prosperity, and democracy. Beer says Taiwan’s expertise in key strategic areas makes it an important global partner. She says she will continue to support Taiwan, whether that means backing the country’s bid to enter the World Health Assembly or advocating the EU to sign Bilateral Investment Agreements with the country.