Premier Su Zhenchang received a delegation from the "European Parliament International Trade Committee" this afternoon.

(Reprinted from the Politburo)

[Reporter Lu Yixuan/Taipei Report] Premier Su Zhenchang received the delegation of the "European Parliament International Trade Committee" this afternoon. During the meeting, he warned that the stronger China is, the more it wants to control the world, and it is accustomed to interfering with other democratic countries through economic power, including violating Intellectual property rights, trade bans, and the recent penetration of Douyin into Taiwan to spread false information are also examples. Democratic countries need mutual assistance and cooperation.

Su Zhenchang hopes that the economic and trade relations between Europe and Taiwan will continue to develop, including the negotiation and signing of the Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA).

The delegation also responded by expressing their support. After returning to Europe, they will continue to advocate the EU-Taiwan BIA. They also expressed their hope that Taiwan will increase investment in Europe and gradually eliminate existing trade obstacles.

Su Zhenchang warmly welcomed the visiting delegation and thanked the congressmen for speaking out for Taiwan on various occasions for many years.

Su also pointed out that many of the visitors are coming to Taiwan for the first time, and they can witness Taiwan's democratic and open society, the sustainable economic development under the epidemic situation, and the key position of the semiconductor industry in the world supply chain.

I believe that seeing such a beautiful country and peace-loving people, they will realize how unreasonable and contrary to universal values ​​China has been using force to undermine regional peace and even annex Taiwan.

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The head of the delegation, Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou, a Greek vice-chairman of the International Trade Commission, said in her speech that the high standard of this visit proves that Europe attaches great importance to its relations with Taiwan.

She praised Taiwan for supporting Ukraine and "standing on the right side of history." She also thanked Taiwan for being cautious and restrained in the face of China's threats.

Asimaco Poirot reiterated the resolution of the European Parliament that "the people of a democratic Taiwan have the right to decide the way of life they want", and emphasized that in the post-epidemic era, trade has become a weapon, and Europe deeply understands that geopolitical security and stability are important. How important it is, and therefore very supportive of the continued deepening of trade relations between Europe and Taiwan. We hope to deepen cooperation with Taiwan on supply chain resilience, promote the signing and negotiation of Taiwan-EU Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA), increase Taiwan’s investment in the EU, and hope that Taiwan’s investment in China will increase. The trade volume can be reduced to less than 40% and transferred to Europe.

German Member of Parliament Reinhard Bütikofer, head of the European Parliament delegation to China, emphasized that for us, Taiwan is not just a remote island, but also a partner of the Democratic Front.

The European Parliament's policy toward Taiwan has four main priorities: opposing unilateral changes to the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, cooperating against foreign interference, supporting Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations, and supporting the deepening of economic and trade relations between Taiwan and the EU to negotiate a BIA.

In response, Su Zhenchang further explained how China interferes with other democratic countries through economic power, does not abide by international trade norms, including infringement of intellectual property rights, suddenly bans pineapple and aquatic products from Taiwan, and bans red wine lobster from Australia.

Or, for example, China uses pure language and cultural exchanges as a medium for political penetration, such as the Confucius Institute.

Another example is that Douyin has recently infiltrated Taiwan, undermining social stability and spreading false information.

Su Zhenchang warned that the stronger China is, the more it wants to control the world, which is completely different from the perspective of a democratic country, and its behavior is due to the authoritarian totalitarianism behind which one person makes decisions, and is accustomed to using force and economic power to achieve the goal of interfering with other countries.

If there is a better trade agreement cooperation between the EU and Taiwan, strengthen the close relationship between each other.

Only in this way will he not be allowed to do whatever he wants, and finally regional peace, world peace, and prosperous economy will all be gone.

Asima Coppolo echoed that they are well aware of the differences between Taiwan and China, and they also oppose any form of threatening violence and economic coercion. Lithuania has also suffered the same experience. The EU is working on countermeasures against coercion.

Asimaco Polo also mentioned in his talk that he hopes that the existing trade barriers between Taiwan and Europe can be further eliminated, such as the requirements for the self-made rate of offshore wind power and the regulations on animal and plant quarantine. I am very glad to have learned from the morning meeting with the Ministry of Economic Affairs that These barriers are being removed step by step.

Su also agreed that efforts in this area are indeed being made, and these problems will definitely get better and better if they are resolved with sincerity.

Su Zhenchang said that although Europe and Taiwan are far apart, there is no distance between them because of universal values.

Today's world is one. Just as the Russo-Ukraine war affected energy supplies in Europe and Taiwan, and the epidemic in China has affected the whole world, the drug rush has also affected Taiwan and Australia, which makes us quite nervous.

Taiwan's key position in the semiconductor industry, just imagine that if it is destroyed by China's force, the whole world, from airplanes to mobile phones, will be greatly affected.

Su emphasized that any decision made by China will not only affect Taiwan, but also affect the whole world. What we must defend is not only Taiwan's sovereignty, but also regional and world peace.

Members of the delegation include Swedish MP Jörgen Warborn, Belgian MP Kathleen Van Brempt, French MP Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, Swedish MP Karin Karlsbro, Dutch MP Hu Xifan (Michiel Hoogeveen) and others also took turns expressing their views during the talks.

Luo Bingcheng, Political Commissar and Spokesperson of the Executive Yuan, Wu Zhengzhong, Chairman of the National Science and Technology Council, Gong Mingxin, Chairman of the National Development Council, Huang Zhida, Political Commissar, Wang Meihua, Minister of Economic Affairs, Tang Feng, Minister of Digital Development, Cai Mingyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ma Weijie, Deputy Director of the European Economic and Trade Office (Guillermo Martinez) accompanied the interview.