China hits back at EP’s ‘outrageous’ remarks on Taiwan island

The Chinese Mission to the EU on Friday expressed the strongest opposition to and condemnation of the European Parliament (EP) and said China was “extremely shocked” by its outrageous claims challenging the one-China principle, after the EP published a report saying that “neither Taiwan nor China is subordinate to the other.”

Experts regarded the EP’s move as extremely irresponsible and crossing China’s red line, warning that if it continues on the wrong path, it could bring a heavy blow to China-Europe relations and even drag the bloc into a potential conflict in the Taiwan Straits.

The EP issued two pivotal reports on foreign policy and defense on Thursday, making unwarranted accusations against China on a number of issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and the South China Sea.

The reports boldly stated, in assertive language never used before, that Taiwan is not a subordinate of China, while encouraging official delegations from Parliament committees to visit the island.

A spokesperson with the Chinese Mission to the EU rebutted the reports on Friday, saying that they have seriously trampled on international law and the basic principles of international relations, infringed on China’s sovereignty, and grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs.

Experts suggested that the audacious remarks by the EP are in line with its hard-line stance toward China. Although the EP is an official institution of the EU, many of its resolutions do not have legal effect, thus making it prone to extreme positions on China policies, observers noted. They added that the EP’s move could become a very serious event in China-Europe relations as it has “crossed the red line,” with the phrases used in the reports suggesting a departure from the EU’s previous commitments.