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.
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.
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.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old