What changed

B100132/2024

B100130/2024

European Parliament resolution on the People’s Republic of China’s misinterpretation of the UN resolution 2758 and its continuous military provocations around Taiwan

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previousthe resolutionsTreaty on EU-ChinaEuropean relations,Union,

– having regard to UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 of 25 October 1971 entitled ‘Restoration of the lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations’,

– having regard to the Charter of the United Nations,

– having regard to the three joint communiqués by the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC), adopted in 1972, 1979 and 1982,

– having regard to UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 of 25 October 1971,

– having regard to the Taiwan Relations Act enacted by the US Congress on 10EU’s AprilIndo-Pacific 1979,strategy,

– having regard to the One China policy, as recognised by the EU and its Member States,

– having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 recognises the representatives of the Government of the PRC as ‘the only lawful representatives of China’;

A. whereas the Asia-Pacific region is of strategic and growing importance for peace, security, political stability and global trade; whereas it is home to more than half of the world’s population and accounts for 60 % of global GDP and two thirds of global economic growth;

B. whereas, after 50 years of consistent state practice, UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 is widely considered to have acquired the character of customary international law;

B. whereas the EU’s policy of engagement in the Asia-Pacific region is based on the principles of peace, cooperation and respect for international law;

C. whereas the EU lacks the legal authority to intervene in a territorial dispute in East Asia between two former parties to a civil war, and has no political interest in doing so;

C. whereas UN Resolution 2758, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 25 October 1971, addresses the representation of China at the UN; whereas with this resolution, the UN recognised the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the only legitimate representative of China in the UN and decided ‘to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it’; whereas UN Resolution 2758 is the basis of the One China principle;

D. whereas it is in the EU’s economic interest to maintain stability in the Taiwan Strait, given the importance of the region for international trade and supply chains;

D. whereas 181 of the UN’s 193 member states recognise the One China principle and maintain relations with the PRC;

1. Calls on all actors, including the PRC, Taiwan and external parties, to refrain from attempts to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait;

E. whereas the One China policy is a long-standing position of the EU, under which it recognises the PRC as the sole legitimate representative of China;

2. Underlines the need for calm and prudent actions to avoid further escalation; emphasises the importance of diplomatic dialogue between the conflicting parties to ensure a peaceful resolution of tensions in the Taiwan Strait;

F. whereas on 14 October 2024, the PRC launched a new series of military drills off the coast of Taiwan, ‘Joint Sword-2024 B’, describing these as a ‘strong warning’, a ‘powerful deterrent to the separatist activities of “Taiwan independence” elements’ and ‘legitimate and necessary actions to safeguard national sovereignty’; whereas the drills are considered to be a reaction to a speech by the Taiwanese President; whereas the Taiwanese authorities have denounced the drills as ‘irrational provocations’ and have asked Beijing to ‘respect the choices of the Taiwanese people’; whereas the PRC has significantly increased its military activities in the Taiwan Strait in recent years;

3. Encourages all external actors, particularly those outside of East Asia, to avoid any provocative actions that may destabilise the situation; opposes any actions that may provoke political tensions, such as high-level visits by foreign political figures to the disputed areas;

G. whereas the United States has increased its military presence in the Indo-Pacific region in recent years, including by carrying out large-scale military exercises with allies such as Australia, Japan, South Korea and other regional partners; whereas this includes exercises such as the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), Talisman Sabre (with Australia), Malabar (with India, Japan and Australia) and Vigilant Storm (with South Korea), and the creation of the AUKUS alliance between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, all of which further intensify a strategy of encirclement against the PRC;

4. Condemns all provocative military activities that threaten the status quo, including large-scale military exercises and military passages through disputed territories;

H. whereas the increase in US military support to Taiwan, including the sale of advanced weaponry and enhanced military relations with Taiwan, heighten the risk of military escalation in the Taiwan Strait;

5. Stresses the EU’s limited capacity to provide military support or security commitments in the Indo-Pacific, highlighting the need to focus on diplomatic and economic engagement;

I. whereas stability in the region is essential for global trade and for maritime routes that are critical to the EU’s economy, such as those passing through the South China Sea;

6. Calls for a balanced approach to foreign policy that prioritises stability and the EU’s strategic interests over ideological considerations in an increasingly multipolar world;

J. whereas the EU advocates the peaceful resolution of disputes, dialogue, and respect for international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;

7. Highlights the need to prevent any potential humanitarian crises that could arise from escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait, emphasising the protection of civilian lives and regional stability;

1. Reaffirms its commitment to the One China policy, recognising the PRC as the sole legitimate representative of China; reiterates, in this regard, its full support for UN Resolution 2758 as a core principle of international law;

8. Stresses the importance of maintaining the resilience of global supply chains, particularly in sectors such as semiconductor production, and the strategic significance of the Taiwan Strait for international trade;

2. Expresses its deep concern over the increasing tensions in the Taiwan Strait and calls on all parties to moderate their tone and to rule out any unilateral move to change the status quo or any military solution to the dispute;

9. Emphasises its respect for the principles of economic neutrality and connectivity;

3. Deplores the use of military threats by the PRC and reiterates its support for a peaceful solution to the Taiwan question, in line with international law and the UN Charter;

10. Calls for cooperation with regional bodies, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, in order to work alongside East Asian partners in promoting stability and ensuring that diplomatic efforts are coordinated effectively;

4. Express concern over the encirclement policy pursued by the United States, which is manifested through the strengthening of military alliances in the region, such as the AUKUS alliance, the Quad alliance (with India, Japan and Australia) and the JAPHUS alliance (with Japan and the Philippines), and through joint military exercises, such as RIMPAC, Talisman Sabre, Malabar and Vigilant Storm, all of which escalate tensions and undermine regional stability;

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the President of China and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

5. Deplores the increased military support given to Taiwan by the United States, including the provision of advanced weapons and military cooperation, actions that risk provoking a dangerous arms race and military escalation in the Taiwan Strait and the broader Indo-Pacific region;

6. Stresses that unilateral actions by any party risk further destabilising the Asia-Pacific region, thus reducing the chances that territorial and political disputes will be resolved peacefully;

7. Calls on all parties to cease militarisation policies in the region and to pursue diplomatic dialogue that respects international law and the One China principle; urges all parties in the Asia-Pacific region to engage in constructive dialogue with the aim of reducing tensions and promoting stability through peaceful and negotiated solutions;

8. Calls for the EU to adopt a more independent and autonomous foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific region, while fully respecting the UN Charter and international law; calls for the EU to play a more active diplomatic role in promoting peace and preventing the further militarisation of the region;

9. Calls for the EU and its Member States to intensify their diplomatic engagement with both the PRC and the United States in order to contribute to the de-escalation of tensions around Taiwan and to promote peace and stability in the region;

10. Reaffirms that any resolution of disputes in the Indo-Pacific region, including of disputes concerning Taiwan, must be based on respect for state sovereignty, international law and the One China principle, and must be achieved through a peaceful negotiation process, without the use of force or militarisation;

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the European Council, the Council, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Government of the United States, the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the Taiwanese authorities, the governments of Australia, Japan and South Korea and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.