EU divided on Taiwan as new ambassador voices support for ‘reunification’

THE European Union’s newly appointed ambassador to Beijing has stoked controversy before taking up his post by saying Taiwan should be part of China.

Jorge Toledo Albinana said the EU supports the “peaceful reunification” of Taiwan with China, a controversial ambition of Beijing that would likely involve invasion of the island.

Mr Albinana’s statement appeared to directly contradict one of the European Parliament’s vice-presidents, who yesterday warned against Chinese aggression while visiting Taipei. Mr Albinana, who takes up his post in September, told Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia: “The EU does not defend the independence of Taiwan, rather a peaceful reunification. We believe there should be one China.”

Taiwan’s foreign ministry hit back yesterday, denouncing the ambassador-designate’s remarks.

“Taiwan has never been part of the People’s Republic of China. The sovereignty of Taiwan belongs only to all the people of Taiwan, and only the people of Taiwan can decide its future,” said Joanne Ou, a spokesman. “It is also a peace-loving and mature democratic country and shares values of freedom, democracy and human rights with the European Union,” she said, adding that Taiwan was not subordinate to China.

The EU does not have a unified position on the question of Beijing’s claims to Taiwan. Nicola Beer, one of the European Parliament’s vice-presidents and the most senior MEP to officially visit Taiwan, yesterday contradicted the new ambassador. “Now is the moment to stand firm on the side of Taiwan,” Ms Beer told reporters shortly after arriving in Taipei, calling Europe and the island part of a “family of democracies”.