Jake Saunders, Manila
The European Union will continue to oppose any attempt to alter the “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait through force, European Parliament Committee on Security and Defence Chair Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann said during a meeting with President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday. Her remarks underscored the EU’s commitment to stability, dialogue, and cooperation in the region.
Strack-Zimmermann is leading an 11-member delegation on a four-day visit to Taiwan, marking the committee’s first trip since its elevation to full committee status last year, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During talks at the Presidential Office in Taipei, Strack-Zimmermann emphasized that while the delegation represents diverse nations and political parties, its members share a common goal: strengthening EU-Taiwan ties, listening to Taiwan’s priorities, and deepening cooperation. She noted that Europe is increasingly alert to security threats posed by geopolitical risks, citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a stark reminder of global instability.
“Taiwan’s stability is not only a regional matter but of particular importance to the EU,” she said, highlighting Taiwan’s role as a democratic partner and a leader in trade and technology. She called for closer collaboration in areas such as secure supply chains, semiconductors, information security, critical infrastructure, and resilient defense industries.
President Lai welcomed the delegation’s visit, stressing that cooperation among democracies is about safeguarding universal values including freedom, human rights, and democracy. He expressed Taiwan’s readiness to work with the EU on strategic industries such as drones, aerospace, and semiconductors to build a secure and reliable democratic supply chain.
Lai also thanked the European Parliament for reaffirming its opposition to China’s distortion of UN Resolution 2758 and its rejection of coercive attempts to change the cross-strait status quo in its January adoption of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. He noted Taiwan’s ongoing investment in domestic defense industries and drone technologies to bolster regional peace and stability.
“Taiwan stands at the forefront of resisting authoritarian expansion and is willing to share its experience with the EU and other partners to jointly uphold peace and democratic values,” Lai said.
The delegation includes Spanish MEPs Nicolas Pascual de la Parte and Jose Cepeda, Estonian MEP Urmas Paet, Latvian MEP Martins Stakis, and Greek MEP Nikolas Farantouris. Their visit coincides with a separate European Parliament delegation’s trip to China—the first in eight years—focused on digital and e-commerce challenges, fair competition, and engagement with major firms such as Shein, Alibaba, and Temu.
