Resolution on the misinterpretation of UN resolution 2758 by the People’s Republic of China and its continuous military provocations around Taiwan

The European Parliament adopted by 432 votes to 60, with 71 abstentions, a resolution on the misinterpretation of UN resolution 2758 by the People’s Republic of China and its continuous military provocations around Taiwan.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, Renew and Greens/EFA groups.

Misinterpretation of UN resolution 2758

In this resolution, Parliament denounced China’s distortion of UN Resolution 2758 to exclude Taiwan's participation in the international community. Moreover, Parliament strongly rejected China’s attempts to distort history and international rules and underlined that UN resolution 2758 does not take a position on Taiwan. Members oppose China’s constant efforts to block Taiwan’s participation in multilateral organisations.

‘One China’ policy

Parliament reiterated the EU’s commitment to its ‘One China’ policy as the political foundation of EU-China relations. It recalled that the EU’s China strategy emphasises that constructive cross-strait relations are part of promoting peace and security in the whole Asia-Pacific region and that the EU supports initiatives aimed at dialogue and confidence-building. Members underlined that in Taiwan it is up to the people to democratically decide how they want to live and that the status quo in the Taiwan Strait must not be unilaterally changed by the use or threat of force. They stressed that China’s use of force or threats or other highly coercive measures to achieve unification is incompatible with international law.

The resolution condemned China’s systematic grey-zone military actions, including cyber and disinformation campaigns against Taiwan, and urged it to halt these activities immediately. In this regard, enhanced cooperation between the EU and Taiwan is needed to strengthen structural cooperation on countering disinformation and foreign interference.

Increased military investments and capabilities

Highlighting grave concern about China’s increasing military investments and capabilities, Parliament welcomed the Council decision to impose sanctions on Chinese companies for supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine. It called once again for a coordinated approach to deepening EU-US cooperation on security matters, including through transatlantic parliamentary dialogue.

China’s increasingly aggressive behaviour, in particular in its own neighbourhood, such as the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, poses a risk to regional and global security, according to Members. The EU and its Member States should step up their own maritime capacities in the region.

Investment cooperation

The resolution highlighted the importance of Taiwan in securing global supply chains, especially in the high-tech sector and called, in this regard, for the EU and its Member States to engage in closer cooperation with Taiwan. The Commission is called on to launch, without delay, preparatory measures for negotiations on a bilateral investment agreement, or other kinds of agreement, with Taiwan.