“You are not alone,” the European Parliament delegation told Taiwan during its first official visit to Taiwan – EURACTIV.com

The head of the visiting European Parliament delegation said on Thursday that Taiwan’s democracy is a “treasure” that needs to be protected, and promised to stand with Taiwan when the tension between Beijing and Taipei rises to the highest level in years.

China claims to have sovereignty over Taiwan. In recent years, it has increased its efforts to isolate Taiwan on the international stage. It is angry at any attempt to treat this autonomous island as an independent country.

The recent Chinese Air Force’s invasion of Taiwan’s air defense zone has received international support from Taipei, including the United States’ reaffirmation of its long-term commitment to support Taiwan’s self-defense.

The organization is led by Raphael Glucksmann, a member of the French European Parliament, an outspoken critic of China. He was one of five lawmakers approved by Beijing in March. The organization Described as the first “official” delegation from the European Parliament to Taipei.

Glucksman called Taiwan’s democracy “a treasure that all democrats in the world should cherish and protect.”

“We came here with a very simple and very clear message-you are not alone,” he said when the delegation met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday.

“Europe stands with you in defending freedom, the rule of law and human dignity,” he said, urging the EU to strengthen cooperation with Taiwan.

“It’s time for us in the EU to show that we are in the same boat…Next we need a very specific high-level meeting agenda and high-level specific steps” to establish the EU-Taiwan partnership.

The Chinese mission in Brussels earlier warned that a visit to Taiwan by members of the European Parliament would “damage China’s core interests and undermine the healthy development of China-EU relations.”

When a group of French senators traveled to Taipei last month, and Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu recently visited Slovakia and the Czech Republic, Beijing also reacted angrily.

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Since Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, China-Taiwan relations have declined sharply because she believes that Taiwan is a de facto sovereign state and not part of Chinese territory.

Taiwan’s defense minister said that after Chinese fighter jets invaded Taiwan’s air defense zone last month, military tensions with Beijing reached the highest level in four years.

Last month, the European Parliament passed a non-binding resolution aimed at deepening relations with Taiwan, including measures such as studying investment agreements.