China has been pushing European countries to bar entry to Taiwanese politicians, warning them that allowing such visits could cross "red lines" and damage relations between China and the EU.
The move comes as Chinese officials have been delivering "legal advice" to European diplomats and governments, citing European border laws as a justification for banning Taiwanese politicians from entering. The advice has taken the form of semi-formal diplomatic communications, including written notes verbale and in-person meetings, with some countries receiving warnings directly while others received them through local embassies.
China's foreign ministry says that allowing Taiwanese officials to enter EU countries would threaten those countries' international relations with China, but diplomats and experts are skeptical of this claim. "Beijing's application and interpretation of this regulation is bold," said Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy, an assistant professor at Taiwan's National Dong Hwa University. "It is Beijing's interpretation that EU-Taiwan ties threaten EU-China ties. This is not at all the perception or reality in Europe."
The move has been seen as a way for China to exert pressure on European countries and undermine their relations with Taiwan. However, many EU countries have responded by saying they are independent in their visa policies, including those related to Taiwanese politicians.
Some European diplomats and governments have taken China's warnings seriously, while others have dismissed them as attempts to intimidate and isolate Taiwan from the international community. The EU itself does not take a position on Taiwan's status, but maintains "solid" unofficial relations with Taipei through parliamentary diplomacy and trade.
The move is part of Beijing's long-running strategy of using all possible means to deter closer cooperation with Taiwan, including diplomatic pressure and economic coercion. Analysts say that China's goal is to make it seem like EU countries are being forced to choose between their ties with China and their relations with Taiwan, in order to isolate Taipei from the international community.
However, many experts believe that this strategy is unlikely to succeed, as EU countries have shown a willingness to maintain their own diplomatic channels with Taiwan despite Beijing's efforts to pressure them.
The move comes as Chinese officials have been delivering "legal advice" to European diplomats and governments, citing European border laws as a justification for banning Taiwanese politicians from entering. The advice has taken the form of semi-formal diplomatic communications, including written notes verbale and in-person meetings, with some countries receiving warnings directly while others received them through local embassies.
China's foreign ministry says that allowing Taiwanese officials to enter EU countries would threaten those countries' international relations with China, but diplomats and experts are skeptical of this claim. "Beijing's application and interpretation of this regulation is bold," said Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy, an assistant professor at Taiwan's National Dong Hwa University. "It is Beijing's interpretation that EU-Taiwan ties threaten EU-China ties. This is not at all the perception or reality in Europe."
The move has been seen as a way for China to exert pressure on European countries and undermine their relations with Taiwan. However, many EU countries have responded by saying they are independent in their visa policies, including those related to Taiwanese politicians.
Some European diplomats and governments have taken China's warnings seriously, while others have dismissed them as attempts to intimidate and isolate Taiwan from the international community. The EU itself does not take a position on Taiwan's status, but maintains "solid" unofficial relations with Taipei through parliamentary diplomacy and trade.
The move is part of Beijing's long-running strategy of using all possible means to deter closer cooperation with Taiwan, including diplomatic pressure and economic coercion. Analysts say that China's goal is to make it seem like EU countries are being forced to choose between their ties with China and their relations with Taiwan, in order to isolate Taipei from the international community.
However, many experts believe that this strategy is unlikely to succeed, as EU countries have shown a willingness to maintain their own diplomatic channels with Taiwan despite Beijing's efforts to pressure them.
they're just trying to exert pressure on eu countries and isolate taiwan from the world. but honestly, it's not gonna work. eu countries are all about being independent with their visa policies and stuff. china can try to send them 'legal advice' and warnings, but at the end of the day, eu countries know what they're doing. 
and let's be real, china's strategy is just gonna make taiwan more popular among people in europe who actually care about human rights and democracy. so, good luck with that, china... you'll just end up looking like a giant bully trying to silence other countries' opinions 
... China's trying to bully Europe into cutting ties with Taiwan, but I think they're just gonna end up isolated themselves 
. It's like they're playing this game of "choose between us or lose" - like, EU countries are already super cool with having their own diplomatic channels with Taiwan, and now they're just gonna cave in to China's demands? 
.
so china thinks it can strong arm eu into not letting taiwanese politicians visit? like, newsflash china: if you're so concerned about your "red lines", maybe take a look at your own human rights record instead of trying to dictate to others 
". anyway, i'm sure eu countries are just thrilled to be part of china's game of "choose between us and taiwan" 
China's all up in Europe's grill about Taiwanese politicians and it's just getting out of hand... 
They're basically saying that if EU countries let those Taiwanese folks enter, then they'll ruin their friendship with China. But, like, newsflash: EU countries are all about being independent and doing their own thing. They're not gonna get bullied into changing their visa policies just because China is breathing down their necks.
Like, do they really think we believe they're worried about EU-China relations? 
It's all just a big power play and EU countries aren't having it.
. But like others say, I dont think it will work. EU countries have shown time and time again that they wont be swayed by Beijing's attempts to pressure them.