The European Union intends to develop relations with the countries of the Indo-Pacific region and, in particular, expand trade and investment relations with Taiwan, Nikkei Asia reports, citing a draft version of the strategy. It is noted that the document does not provide for the creation of a bilateral investment agreement, previously proposed by the President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen.
“The principles of democracy and human rights are under threat from authoritarian regimes in the region (the Taiwan Gulf and the South China Sea. – “B”)… Attempts to establish a level playing field around the world based on transparent trading rules are increasingly undermined by unfair trade practices and economic pressure, ”Nikkei quoted from the document.
The EU, according to the document, expects to establish agreements with Japan, South Korea and Singapore on digital interaction, as well as negotiate with Taiwan, Japan and South Korea on a strategic dependence on semiconductor imports. The strategy also expresses the EU’s willingness to work with Quadripartite Security Dialogue (QUAD; USA, Japan, Australia and India) countries on technology, vaccines and climate change.
Lithuania, an EU member, is in a diplomatic conflict with the PRC over plans to open Europe’s first “Taiwan office”. Similar missions, serving as de facto embassies with partially recognized Taiwan, exist in many countries, but use the name Taipei. The PRC, which considers Taiwan to be its territory, recalled its ambassador from Lithuania, and the Lithuanian authorities did the same. Today, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan supported Lithuania in a conversation with its Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte.
More details – in the material of “Kommersant” “The East is burning with a new Lithuania.”
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