EU chief Von der Leyen cautions Beijing against taking Taiwan
- European Commission president’s speech, which comes during European Parliament debate on China policy, seeks to unite EU
- Her address follows French president’s remarks that Europe should not ‘blindly follow’ US on China and ‘crises that aren’t ours’
European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen warned China on Tuesday against using force to take Taiwan, in a speech that sought to play down divisions in the bloc’s policies towards Beijing.
“We have consistently called for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We stand strongly against any unilateral change in the status quo, in particular by the use of force,” von der Leyen, the European Commission president, said in an address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.
The speech came just over a week after French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that Europe should not “blindly follow” the United States on its policies towards China and Taiwan, and should seek to avoid “crises that aren’t ours”.
The parliament was holding a debate on China policy, with the intent of developing a more coherent approach between the EU’s institutions and member states. It came ahead of discussions on China at the European Council in May and June.
02:36
French and EU leaders urge China to ‘bring Russia to its senses’ and stop invasion of Ukraine
Von der Leyen told the parliament that China was already capitalising on divisions among the 27 member states and institutions.