EU urged to review its 'One-China' policy

The EU has been urged to review is support for the so-called ‘One-China’ policy which it is claimed effectively excludes Taiwan from international organisations.

The call, by Portuguese MEP Paulo Casaca, comes at the start of the 63rd general assembly of the United Nations where Taiwan’s application for ‘meaningful participation’ in the UN’s specialised agencies will be considered.

In the past, Taiwan has applied for full membership of the global body but this year’s bid reflects what it calls a more ‘pragmatic’ approach.

Socialist deputy, Casaca said, “Taiwan has a very strong case for membership of the UN, let alone one or more of its 16 specialised agencies so I would hope the UN members will look kindly on its bid.

“Taiwan is now a fully-fledged democracy and does not represent a threat to anyone yet it continues to be excluded from organisations like the World Health Organisation and the International Maritime Organisation.

“The reason for this, as we all know, is that China opposes Taiwan’s inclusion in such organisations purely for political reasons."

He added, “This is a preposterous situation, makes absolute no sense and cannot continue.”

“As well as depriving Taiwan's 23 million population of their rights this merely serves to illustrate the fact that several international issues, not least the EU’s continued support for the so-called ‘One-China’ policy which effectively continues to exclude Taiwan from the international community, should be reviewed as a matter of urgency.”

His comments were rebuffed by the European commission whose spokesman Christiane Hohmann said, “The One-China policy remains unchanged but I should point out that some pragmatic cooperation between the WHO and Taiwan has already taken place.

"Any change to the One China policy would have to approved by all 27 EU members," added Hohmann, spokesman for external affairs commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

Casaca’s comments come in the wake of revelations in the Financial Times at the weekend that China last year used funds from its foreign exchange reserves to help convince Costa Rica, one of only 24 countries which have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, to sever ties with Taipei and establish relations with Beijing.

Taiwan says that China has for years used aid payments and infrastructure projects for small countries like Costa Rica to take their side in the long-running dispute between Taiwan and China.

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