PLENARY EP DEBATE ON CHINA AND TAIWAN, CONTRIBUTION HANS VAN BAALEN MEP ALDE - Hoofdinhoud

ACCORDING TO INTERNATIONAL LAW, ONE CAN ARGUE THAT THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA, REFERRED TO AS TAIWAN, HAS NEVER BEEN PART OF THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA. THIS WOULD MEAN THAT PRC CLAIMS THAT IT HAS THE SOVEREIGNTY OVER TAIWAN ARE INVALID.

HOWEVER, BOTH THE PRC AND THE ROC HAVE MAINTAINED A STATUS QUO WHICH MADE CROSS STRAIT RELATIONS POSSIBLE. THIS HAS SECURED THE PEACE IN THE REGION.

THIS STATUS QUO HAS BEEN BROKEN BY THE CHINESE LEADERS. CHINESE LEADER XI JINPIN HAS SAID ON JANUARY 2ND, THAT THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE IS AN OPTION FOR THE SO-CALLED REUNIFICATION OF TAIWAN WITH THE MOTHERLAND. OTHER PRESSURE INCLUDES ECONOMIC SANCTIONS, POLITIC PRESSURE, INTERNATIONAL ISOLATION, ETC.

ALDE DOES NOT ACCEPT THE USE OF MILITARY, THE THREAT OF THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE AND OTHER FORMS OF BLACKMAIL. THE TAIWANESE PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THEIR FUTURE.

THE EU, TOGETHER WITH THE USA, SHOULD PROTECT TAIWAN AND ITS DEMOCRACY. CHINA SHOULD KNOW THAT THE USE OF FORCE, THE THREAT TO USE MILITARY FORCE AND OTHER PRESSURE WITH HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR CHINA ITSELF.