02:45France: 'I am not planning to go to Taiwan' - Borrell stands by EU's 'One China' policy
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that he had no plans visit Taipei and stressed the bloc’s commitment to the 'One China' policy, as he addressed members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
"We have to continue engaging with Taiwan economically and politically but to tell the truth, I am not planning to go to Taiwan and as far as I know there is no travel foreseen at the highest political level of the European Union," he said.
It comes after weeks of heightened tensions between China, Taiwan and the United States, with as many as seven separate delegations of lawmakers from Washington visiting the island, starting with US Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the start of August.
Beijing accused the US of interfering in its internal affairs. China regards Taiwan as part of its territory under its 'One China' policy, while Taipei has never officially declared independence.
However, Borrell insists the EU’s pledge to uphold that deal wouldn’t stop links with the island.
"Our 'One China' policy does not prevent the European Union from intensifying our co-operation with Taiwan and certainly we have a strong engagement with Taiwan," he insisted. 181 countries, including the US, have diplomatic relations with Beijing under that same policy.
02:45High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that he had no plans visit Taipei and stressed the bloc’s commitment to the 'One China' policy, as he addressed members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
"We have to continue engaging with Taiwan economically and politically but to tell the truth, I am not planning to go to Taiwan and as far as I know there is no travel foreseen at the highest political level of the European Union," he said.
It comes after weeks of heightened tensions between China, Taiwan and the United States, with as many as seven separate delegations of lawmakers from Washington visiting the island, starting with US Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the start of August.
Beijing accused the US of interfering in its internal affairs. China regards Taiwan as part of its territory under its 'One China' policy, while Taipei has never officially declared independence.
However, Borrell insists the EU’s pledge to uphold that deal wouldn’t stop links with the island.
"Our 'One China' policy does not prevent the European Union from intensifying our co-operation with Taiwan and certainly we have a strong engagement with Taiwan," he insisted. 181 countries, including the US, have diplomatic relations with Beijing under that same policy.