/ world today news/ The latest remarks by the EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, who called for European navies to patrol the Taiwan Strait, sparked a huge controversy on Sunday, as some Chinese observers said the comments were “extremely dangerous” and signaled a step “backtracking” in the EU’s position on the Taiwan issue after the recent G7 meeting, during which the US tried to pressure its allies to take a tougher stance on the issue.
European navies should patrol the disputed Taiwan Strait, Borel wrote in an article published in the French newspaper Journal Du Dimanche, saying the Chinese island is troubling the EU economically, commercially and technologically, according to media reports on Sunday.
He called for European navies to patrol the Taiwan Strait to “demonstrate Europe’s commitment to freedom of navigation” in this important area.
The remarks came after Borrell addressed a European Parliament debate on EU-China relations on Tuesday, during which the EU’s foreign policy chief stressed the need for a unified EU approach to China.
In recent weeks, the EU has witnessed a wide-ranging debate following comments by French President Emmanuel Macron following his visit to China, who called for the EU to reduce its dependence on the US and avoid being drawn into a confrontation between China and the US over Taiwan.
While some European officials such as European Council leader Charles Michel welcomed Macron’s remarks, Borrell’s call for European navies to patrol the Taiwan Strait clearly pointed to the opposite sentiment, reflecting that the debate remains intense within the EU and US influence still remains. , as some experts have said.
“Borrell’s call could be seen as a way of countering Macron’s remarks, showing that the EU hopes to make its so-called single foreign policy prevail over the policies of its member states,” Cui Hongjian, director of the Department of European of China Studies at the Institute for International Studies, told the Global Times on Sunday.
Such differences point to a complex power struggle between EU institutions, particularly over who has the power to formulate the bloc’s foreign policy, Tsui said.
But he said Borrell’s remarks were unlikely to translate into actual policy given differences between the Council of Europe, the European Commission and the European Parliament over China.
“But we must remain vigilant as these remarks showed that some people in Europe are echoing the US in trying to manipulate the Taiwan issue,” Tsui said.
Some Chinese experts believe that this is a military provocation to China’s internal affairs that could lead to severe consequences.
“These remarks were made after the last G7 meeting, during which the US-led West and NATO coordinated again on security issues such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Taiwan issue,” a Chinese expert on European affairs, who preferred not to to be named, told the Global Times on Sunday.
During the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting held April 16-18 in Karuizawa, Japan, the group’s foreign ministers took a hard line on the Taiwan issue, which was then echoed by Borrell’s remarks, so it is likely that the U.S. to impose a certain influence on the general tone of the comments made, the expert said.
“This shows that the EU’s China policy is moving another step forward in a firm direction,” the expert said.
“As for the Taiwan issue, it can be seen as a clear obstacle to the EU’s one-China policy and a military provocation in China’s internal affairs that could lead to serious consequences,” he said.
The meeting of the G7 foreign ministers “confirmed” the importance of “peace and stability” in the Taiwan Strait. A senior US official also said the group “agreed” on the need to oppose any Chinese “coercion” or efforts to exert control in the Taiwan Strait, according to Reuters.
“Borrell’s remarks are very dangerous and reveal ill-intentioned attempts to turn the Taiwan issue into an international issue,” Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations at the Foreign Affairs University of China, told the Global Times on Sunday.
Europe should not worry that the so-called smooth trade routes in the Taiwan Strait are somehow obstructed by mainland China, Li said.
“In fact, the mainland is always the biggest stakeholder in ensuring lasting stability and prosperity in the Taiwan Strait, and will promote the smooth development of regional trade to the greatest extent,” the Chinese expert added.
Borrell said in the article that the Taiwan Strait “is the most strategic strait in the world, especially in terms of trade: we need to be present there through freedom of navigation operations,” according to media reports.
In fact, all ships engaged in normal trade activities are never impeded in any way, but if European fleets patrol the Straits, it will certainly escalate tensions in the region and send shock waves in trade activities between Europe and China, as well as between Asia-Pacific region. countries, Li said.
Chinese experts have stressed that the one-China policy is a political foundation for China-EU relations, and as the EU’s foreign policy official, Borrell should be cautious about his comments on whether it is necessary to draw Europe into a major strategic confrontation with China.
In recent years, the US has continued to stir up trouble in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly over the issue of Taiwan. If Europe sends troops to patrol the Taiwan Strait, it will mean that Europe is ready to serve as a servant of the US, creating crises, turmoil and division in the Asia-Pacific region, Li noted.
“In this case, Europe will be a disruptive factor in the Asia-Pacific region and will encounter widespread resistance,” adds the expert.
Translation: SM
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