BEIJING (TASS): China called on the European Parliament to immediately stop actions and statements that undermine the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of the PRC. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said this on Thursday, commenting on the appeal of the European Parliament to the European Commission to strengthen cooperation with Taiwan.
“The European Parliament must immediately stop the relevant statements and actions that damage the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of China, as well as stop provocations and confrontation,” he said at a regular briefing.
As the diplomat pointed out, “there is only one China in the world, Taiwan is an integral part of the territory of China.” According to him, the “one China principle” is recognized by the international community and lies at the basis of relations between China and the EU.”
“It has a bad character and bad influence, China strongly condemns it and expresses its strong pro-test,” Wang Wenbin continued. “We seriously call on all parties concerned not to underestimate the strong determination, unshakable will and tremendous capabilities of the Chinese people to defend state sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he concluded.
Earlier, MEPs called Taiwan a key partner of the European Union in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, stressed the need for trade and economic relations between the EU and Taiwan and called on the European Commission to deepen cooperation with the island. MEPs also pointed to the need to “lay the foundation for a new bilateral investment agreement.” As follows from the press service of the European Parliament, 580 parliamentarians voted for the relevant document, 26 were against, 66 abstained.
Taiwan has been governed by its own administration since 1949, when the remnants of the Kuomintang forces led by Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) fled to the island after being defeated in the Chinese civil war.
Since then, Taiwan has retained the flag and some other attributes of the Republic of China, which existed on the mainland before the communists came to power. Beijing considers the island to be one of the provinces of the PRC, this position is shared by most countries of the world, including the Russian Federation.
