Wed, Dec 21, 2022 page1

• EU politician backs investment treaty

  MEETING WITH TSAI: ‘An impact assessment, a public consultation and a scoping exercise’ with an eye to a bilateral deal should be launched, an EU lawmaker said

  • Staff writer, with CNA
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  Steps should be taken toward establishing a bilateral investment agreement between the EU and Taiwan, European Member of Parliament Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou said in Taipei yesterday.

  Asimakopoulou, a Greek politician who is vice chair of the parliament’s International Trade Committee, is part of a delegation that met with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) at the Presidential Office.

  The EU recognizes its trade and investment partnership with Taiwan as a “strategic relationship with geopolitical implications,” Asimakopoulou said.

  

  President Tsai Ing-wen, center, greets members of a delegation from the European Parliament at the Presidential Office in Taipei yesterday.

  Photo: CNA

  Further bilateral cooperation on global supply chains would be mutually beneficial in light of the leading role that Taiwan plays with respect to semiconductors, she said.

  Given the circumstances, the European Parliament calls on the EU to launch “an impact assessment, a public consultation and a scoping exercise” related to a bilateral investment agreement with Taiwan, she said.

  Those assessments and consultations are part of the preparations needed before the two sides can officially begin negotiations on the issue.

  

  President Tsai Ing-wen, center, US Representative John Curtis, third left, and other members of the US House of Representatives pose for a photograph at the Presidential Office in Taipei yesterday.

  Photo courtesy of the Presidential Office

  Taiwan and the EU are like-minded partners, with their friendship built on the common values of democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights, she said.

  It is in that spirit that the delegation expresses its gratitude to Taiwan for being “on the right side of history” in supporting the EU’s efforts to help Ukraine defend itself in response to “the unconscionable war of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin,” Asimakopoulou said.

  She also praised Taiwan for its “measured and responsible reaction to unprovoked and increasing aggression and provocation from China,” referring to military drills launched by Beijing after US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in early August.

  Asimakopoulou reiterated the EU’s stance that even though it diplomatically recognizes Beijing and not Taipei, it believes the “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait “cannot be changed unilaterally,” as it opposes “the use or threat of force or economic coercion against Taiwan from China.”

  Tsai earlier welcomed the delegation, the first official visit to Taiwan by a delegation representing the trade committee.

  She also thanked the European Parliament and its committees for this year passing more than 10 resolutions in support of Taiwan, including measures backing the nation’s international participation, and calling for peace and security across the Taiwan Strait.

  The 13-member delegation also met with Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and other senior officials from the National Development Council, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Office of Trade Negotiations and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during their stay, which began Sunday and ends today.

  Also yesterday, Tsai welcomed a group of visiting US lawmakers at the Presidential Office.

  The all-Republican group led by US Representative John Curtis and including US representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Burgess Owens and Michelle Steel is in Taiwan from Saturday through tomorrow.

  The US group’s visit means that 36 US representatives and senators have visited Taiwan this year, reflecting strong bipartisan support for Taiwan, the foreign ministry said.

  During their meeting with Tsai, Curtis, who lived in Taiwan in 1979 and 1980 as a missionary, told the president that he has since then witnessed Taiwan’s dramatic change into a vibrant democracy.

  “I arrived just after the end of the defense treaty and the switch of diplomatic recognition [Washington recognizing Beijing] and the passage of the Taiwan Relations Act,” he said.

  He said that although it was a difficult time for Taiwan, he appreciated how warmly he was welcomed by the people of Taichung, Miaoli County and Taipei’s Neihu District (內湖), places he lived at the time.

  The delegation’s visit was to be a testament to the US Congress’ strong support for Taiwan, Curtis said.
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