European Union Foreign Minister Josep Borrell calls on member nations’ navies to patrol the Taiwan Strait in a column published in the Sunday newspaper after judging on Tuesday that Taiwan was « crucial » for Europe.
Europe must be “very present on this issue which concerns us economically, commercially and technologically”wrote Mr. Borrell for the Journal du Dimanche. “That’s why I call on European Marines to patrol the Taiwan Strait to signify Europe’s commitment to freedom of navigation in this absolutely crucial area”.
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“Taiwan is crucial for Europe”said Mr. Borrell on Tuesday at the opening of a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg devoted to China.
“It is the most strategic strait in the world, particularly in terms of trade: we must be present there through freedom of navigation operations”he had already pleaded.
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“Taiwan is resolutely part of our strategic perimeter to guarantee peace, to defend our interests”added the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
Macron’s visit to China
The remarks come two weeks after controversial statements by French President Emmanuel Macron after a visit to China denying “block-to-block logic” on the issue of Taiwan and urging Europe not to “be a follower” from the United States or China.
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China and Taiwan have been governed separately since 1949 but Beijing considers the democratic island as one of its provinces and does not rule out using force to exercise its sovereignty there.
Two days after President Macron’s visit to China in early April, a French surveillance frigate coming from Vietnam and en route to South Korea had passed through the Taiwan Strait.
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This passage “in international waters, in accordance with the freedom of navigation”was part of a long-planned mission, according to the French army general staff.
