2023-04-23 16:29:00
The Spaniard calls for regular patrols in the sea area between mainland China and Taiwan. Europe must be more present there in order to defend its interests and secure peace.
Against the background of steadily increasing tensions between China and Taiwan and the West, including major maneuvers at sea and in the air, the EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell has made a delicate proposal: the Spanish-born EU foreign policy officer calls for demonstrative patrols by European warships in the Taiwan Strait the island and mainland China.
In an article in the French Sunday newspaper Journal du Dimanche, Borrell wrote that Europe must be very present on the subject of Taiwan, “which affects us economically, commercially and technologically. So I call on European navies to patrol the Taiwan Strait to demonstrate Europe’s commitment to freedom of navigation in this absolutely crucial area.”
Part of EU Zone of Interest
Only on Tuesday, Borrell said in a debate on China policy in the European Parliament: “Taiwan is clearly part of our geostrategic perimeter to secure peace and defend our interests.” China’s action against Taiwan is not only for “moral reasons”. rejected, but also because of serious economic consequences. He referred to the production of modern semiconductors in Taiwan.
Just two weeks ago, Beijing held three-day military maneuvers around Taiwan and practiced a blockade of the island in response to a meeting between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Since 1949, Beijing has viewed Taiwan as a breakaway territory that it wants to reunite with the mainland. If necessary, with military force. China regards the entire Taiwan Strait as its territorial waters.
Military experts assume that China wants to be militarily in a position to risk an invasion by 2027, even if the USA, for example, supports Taiwan militarily.
US warships, in rare cases including those from Australia, France and Great Britain, have crossed the Taiwan Strait and/or the South China Sea in recent years to fly the flag there and demonstrate the freedom of maritime traffic. In 2021/22, the German frigate Bayern was among them.
Peking rüffelt Seoul
For the time being, there was no comment on Borrell’s text from China. But on Sunday there was a complaint about statements by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who described the tensions over Taiwan as a “global issue” in an interview. Yoon also spoke of attempts to change the status quo by force.
China’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sun Weidong told South Korea’s ambassador that Yoon’s words were “completely unacceptable” and aroused “great displeasure”. The Taiwan issue is purely an internal matter for China. (wg/ag.)
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