State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) as a Government agency Swiss who applies penalty economy, did not hesitate to adopt EU rules to China. The sanctions will be imposed by Switzerland if China is proven to have invaded Taiwan.
“I strongly believe that we will adopt such sanctions,” SECO director Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen Fleisch told the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, as reported by Reuters on Saturday (30/7).
Ineichen-Fleisch’s comments come after China reportedly stepped up military activity around Taiwan’s waters.
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During the training process, the territorial waters will be blocked or no one can enter.
Regarding this, the Taiwanese government said that 23 million Taiwanese people have the right to determine their own destiny and future.
Even though they want peace, they will defend themselves if they are attacked later.
The economic sanctions imposed on China will of course have various consequences. According to Ineichen-Fleisch, these consequences require many parties, especially neutral countries, to be more careful in implementing similar policies.
Because for him, the economic consequences that will occur will have a greater impact, even when compared to the economic sanctions that have been imposed on Russia.
“However, the sanctions in the case of China will be more drastic (than sanctions against Russia) because the economic relationship is much more important,” Ineichen-Fleisch said.
“Therefore, there will probably be bigger discussions in the European Union, the United States and in Switzerland compared to what happened with Russia,” he added.
“But I hope that will never happen,” continued Ineichen-Fleisch.
Previously, Switzerland imposed economic sanctions according to European Union rules against individuals and companies from Russia, in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion and attack on Ukraine in February.
Reported by Reuters, Switzerland has frozen Russian financial assets worth 6.7 billion Swiss francs, or equivalent to Rp. 104.24 trillion (1 swiss francs = Rp. 15.5 thousand) until today. According to Ineichen-Fleisch, the value will not change much.
“At SECO, we haven’t found any indication that there are still many assets belonging to the sanctioned people that have not been found,” he said.
Meanwhile, relations between China and Taiwan began to heat up after the discourse on the visit of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan.
A number of Chinese government sources even claimed that Beijing had prepared various steps, including military options, in response to Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan if it actually happened.
In a telephone call with President Joe Biden on Thursday (28/7), Chinese President Xi Jinping sent an ultimatum to the US not to “play with fire” on Taiwan.
Pelosi herself has refused to publicly confirm her visit to Taiwan, but has invited a number of politicians to accompany her.
(lna/one)
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