By Martin Banks - 15th June 2010
I dearly hope the EU will waive its visa restrictions for our citizens
Taiwan's new ambassador to the EU and Belgium, David Lin
A cross-party group of MEPs have reiterated their support for Taiwan to be allowed to join international organisations such as the UN.
The members were speaking at a special event in parliament to mark the arrival of David Lin, Taiwan's new ambassador to the EU and Belgium.
UK Tory MEP Charles Tannock, chairman of the Taiwan friendship group in parliament, also expressed support for the signing of a proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) between Taiwan and China.
Tannock said his group supported any initiative to improve the cross-Taiwan strait relationship, including the talks between Taiwan and China on the trade pact.
Tannock said the group also commended the two sides for expanding their mutual economic and trade exchanges to boost interactions between the peoples of the two sides.
He also reiterated parliament's support for Taiwan's bid to participate in international organisations, such as the United Nations framework convention on climate change, and he urged the EU to offer similar support.
As for Taiwan's bid to get visa exemption from the EU, Tannock said he believes the European commission will deliver a proposal on the issue to parliament within the next few weeks.
Lin thanked his host for the friendship group's support and stressed that links between the EU and Taiwan are "close and important."
He pointed out that Taiwan is the EU's fourth largest trade partner in Asia and that the EU has invested €22bn in Taiwan.
Lin, the country's top diplomat in the EU, also expressed hope that Taiwanese citizens will be able to travel to EU countries without the need for a visa before the end of the year.
"I dearly hope the EU will waive its visa restrictions for our citizens," said Lin, who was previously deputy foreign affairs minister in Taiwan.
Other MEPs present at the event included Italian deputy Gabriele Albertini, chairman of parliament's committee on foreign affairs, Wolfgang Kreissl-Doerfler and Laima Liucija Andrikiene.
Meanwhile, Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou has called on mainland China to not block Taiwan from signing free trade agreements (FTAs).
His comments come after Ma Chaoxu, a spokesman for mainland China’s foreign ministry, voiced Beijing’s opposition to Taiwan signing official agreements with other countries,
In an interview with the BBC on June 2 Ma said that Taiwan and mainland China are both members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and that under WTO rules, both have the right to sign free trade agreements (FTAs) with other WTO members.
He went on to say that trade is Taiwan’s lifeline, and without it "there would be no Taiwan."
He called on the mainland to not block Taiwan from signing FTAs with other countries.
Ma stated that all agreements signed by the Republic of China (ROC) government with foreign governments are official.
"However, if the other signatory party happened to not be one of Taiwan’s diplomatic partners, it might regard such an agreement as something otherwise."
Nevertheless, he continued, the real crux of the matter was whether or not these agreements were binding upon both of the signatory parties.
"Taiwan has signed hundreds of agreements over the past several decades with many countries that are not diplomatic partners, including agreements regarding the reduction or elimination of double taxation, expedited customs clearance, as well as cultural or technical assistance."
"Thus, all such agreements signed by the ROC government were official.
"However, if the other signatory party was not one of Taiwan’s diplomatic partners, it might hold a different view of the agreement, which Taiwan would respect."
Taiwanese politician Wu Den-yih said that Taiwan’s stance is clear: Taiwan is a member of the WTO and has the right to sign trade and investment agreements with any trading partner.
He reiterated that trade is Taiwan’s lifeline, and negotiating the signing of FTAs is a major initiative to secure the survival and development of Taiwan’s economy. It is also existing policy, he continued, which will not be halted due to objections from mainland China.
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