China on Saturday expressed its displeasure and lodged a formal protest following Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Pei-chim’s visit to the European Parliament. She delivered a speech at a meeting with members of parliament in Brussels. The move was deemed “support for Taiwanese separatists and a violation of the One China principle.”
The Chinese mission to the European Union said in a statement that the International Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), an anti-China organization, hosted separatist figures during its annual summit at the European Parliament in Brussels on Friday.
The Chinese mission stated that the European Parliament “allowed pro-Taiwan independence separatist figures, such as Hsiao Pei-chim, to enter the Parliament building and participate in the annual meeting. These figures engaged in separatist activities, despite strong opposition and official protests from China.”
Violation of the One China principle and interference in internal affairs
The mission added that this action seriously harms China’s core interests. It also violates the One China principle, grossly interferes in China’s internal affairs, and undermines mutual political trust between China and the European Union.
The Taiwan issue is a “red line that cannot be crossed”.
The Chinese statement emphasized that the Taiwan issue “concerns China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” It is at the core of China’s vital interests and a red line that cannot be crossed.
The statement also noted that the One China principle is “a general international consensus and a basic norm in international relations. It is also considered the prerequisite for establishing and developing diplomatic relations between China and the European Union.”
