By Martin Banks - 29th September 2009
It is for that reason that I would call for the removal of these missiles
Crescenzio Rivellini
The chairman of parliament's new China delegation has called on Beijing to remove missiles currently targeting Taiwan.
Italian deputy Crescenzio Rivellini, speaking at a news conference in parliament on Tuesday, said the threat of possible military force was harmful and that removing the missiles would help further improve cross-strait relations between China and Taiwan.
Beijing claims Taiwan is an integral part of China and has in the past threatened to use force if necessary against its small neighbour.
EPP member Rivellini, recently appointed chairman of parliament's key delegation for relations with China, also defended Taiwan's "right" to claim membership of specialised agencies of the United Nations and to be allowed greater involvement in international organisations.
Taiwan is lobbying for support for membership of two UN agencies, the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Rivellini, who replaces Belgian Liberal Dirk Sterckx as delegation head, accepted that relations between the two countries were "sensitive" but said, "Having well over 1,000 missiles targeting Taiwan is clearly not good for cross-strait relations.
"It is for that reason that I would call for the removal of these missiles."
Addressing his first news conference since his election to the post, he said parliament's delegation had limited powers in influencing a major power such as China but went onto to say that he hoped the cross-party body would "apply pressure" on China on this issue during his term in office.He also reaffirmed his support for Taiwan to be allowed to play a greater role in international bodies such as the UN and its specialised agencies.
He told journalists that he raised a range of current EU-China issues, including trade matters, when he met the Chinese ambassador to the EU in parliament earlier this week.
He said the meeting was "cordial" and that he hoped relations between China and parliament would benefit from such talks.
However, Rivellini, who has wide experience of business between the EU and China, is likely to incur the displeasure of senior Chinese officials with a planned meeting in parliament on Wednesday with a representative of the Dalai Lama. The meeting is likely to focus on human rights issues in China.
MEPs incurred Beijing's wrath last year in inviting the Dalai Lama to address a parliamentary plenary. The Chinese regime was also angered by parliament's response to the military action taken to quell civil unrest in Tibet.
Rivellini, who sits on the budgetary control committee, will join a delegation of senior MEPs when they visit Beijing later this month.
His comments come in the wake of calls this week by Taiwan's foreign affairs minister Timothy Yang for China "not to ignore Taiwan's desire for a global presence."
Yang reminded Chinese leaders that if Beijing wants to enhance the affection of Taiwan's people for China, it should not "disregard their desire for participation in international activities."
Yang, recently appointed to his new post, added, "If Beijing fails to make the necessary adjustment, cross-strait rapprochement could be limited."
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