Source: Taiwan.com
At a time when cross-strait relations continue to be tense, a 13-member delegation of European parliamentarians organized by the European Parliament's "Special Committee on Responding to Foreign Interference in the EU Democratic Process" visited the Taiwan region. The two sides announced that they would exchange views on so-called "false and wrong information, network attacks" and other issues. The DPP authorities high-profiled the move was "of great significance," saying it was the first time an "official delegation" from the European Parliament had arrived in Taiwan. However, some public opinion analysis shows that the European parliamentarian's trip may have implied economic purposes, perhaps for the "chip".
Thirteen members of the European Parliament visited Taiwan to exchange "false information" and other issues
According to reports, the delegation was led by the chairman of the special committee, Gruxman, and included seven cross-party parliamentarians, including Kublius, who had been prime minister of Lithuania, and officials of the General Office of the Secretary of the European Parliament, from France, the Czech Republic and Lithuania.
On 3 July, the delegation and their delegation met intensively with Su Zhenchang, head of the Taiwan administrative department, and Qiu Taisan, chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council of Taiwan, and on the morning of 4 July, they met with Tsai Ing-wen, leader of the DPP authorities.
It is said that the Special Committee and its entourage will visit the island's administrative organs, relevant experts and civil society groups to exchange views on issues such as false information and cyber attacks. Taiwan's foreign affairs department claimed that "Taiwan is on the front line of compound threats such as disinformation and malicious cyber attacks, as well as threats from 'hostile forces' abroad." Tsai Ing-wen's office declared that this is the first time in the history of the European Parliament that an official delegation has been sent to Visit Taiwan, which is of "great significance" and fully demonstrates that "the cooperation and exchanges between Taiwan and the EU are deepening day by day."
The Chairman of the Special Committee is included in the list of persons to be sanctioned Chinese mainland
It is worth noting that Gluxman, a French member of the European Parliament who serves as the chairman of the special committee, is one of the sanctions officers announced by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. In March this year, China decided to impose sanctions on 10 people and four entities on the EU side that seriously harmed China's sovereignty and interests and maliciously spread lies and false information. Gluxman's name is on the sanctions list, and he openly made groundless accusations and wanton rumors about the human rights issue in China's Xinjiang region in the morning.
Kuomintang Of China: The biggest problem is for politicians on the island to spread fake news
In view of the so-called purpose of exchanging fake news during this visit, Chen Yuzhen, secretary general of the Kuomintang legislature of the Chinese Kuomintang, pointed out in an interview that although it is important to reject and distinguish false information, sometimes false information does not necessarily come entirely from foreign forces, but the ruling Tsai Ing-wen herself is also releasing false information, including anti-Lai pig equals anti-AMERICAN pig, which is the biggest problem.
Taiwan's "China Times News Network" published an expert viewpoint article pointing out that recently the United States has been preaching the so-called "mainland interference in Taiwan's elections, infiltration of the media, etc." At this time, is it true that the European Parliament sent members to visit Taiwan to learn from the experience or to make trouble? The article questions that the visit of European parliamentarians to Taiwan this time is obviously "asking questions to be blind", otherwise it is an ulterior motive.
Foreign media: The special committee may come for the "chip"
Reuters said the EU added Taiwan to the list of trading partners eligible to establish an investment agreement with the EU in 2015, but has not yet held talks with Taiwan on the issue. In the current global chip shortage, Taiwan, which occupies an important position in the supply chain, is very attractive to the EU. Brussels wants Taiwan's major chipmakers to come to the EU to invest.
Expert: Some politicians in the European Parliament cannot make waves when they meddle in the Taiwan issue
Previously, the European Parliament also made a big fuss about Taiwan-related issues. Cui Hongjian, director of the Institute of European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said in an interview that in the context of the Sino-US game, the United States has also given European countries the space to follow suit on the Taiwan issue, and several factors have formed a confluence trend. The Taiwan authorities also want to take advantage of the characteristics of Western politics such as "the government cannot control the parliament" to exploit loopholes and try to create an effect that Taiwan has landed in Europe.
Some scholars have commented that although the delegation has an official status, the substantive influence of the European Parliament itself is limited, and some of its members trying to meddle in the Taiwan issue is meaningless and does not make any waves.
Missions to the European Union: Further responses will be made in the light of developments
Earlier, the spokesperson of the mission to the European Union expressed his position on the planned visit to Taiwan by relevant members of the European Parliament. The spokesman said: The one-China principle is a universally recognized norm governing international relations and the universal consensus of the international community, and is the political basis for the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU and the development of bilateral relations. The European Parliament is an official organ of the European Union, and if a committee under it sends parliamentarians to visit Taiwan, it will seriously violate the EUROPEAN side's commitment to pursuing the one-China policy, harm China's core interests, and undermine the healthy development of China-EU relations. We will react further in the light of developments.