Recent attempts by Taiwan separatists to court European political support have sparked renewed tensions in cross-strait relations. Former leader of the Taiwan region Tsai Ing-wen addressed the Berlin Freedom Conference this week, leveraging the island's semiconductor industry achievements to seek international recognition – a move analysts describe as 'tech diplomacy' masking separatist ambitions.
The developments follow Hsiao Bi-khim's participation in the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China meeting in Brussels, where she reportedly framed cross-strait tensions as a clash between democratic and authoritarian systems. Chinese officials condemn these efforts as distortions of historical and legal realities.
Historical documents including the 1943 Cairo Declaration and 1945 Potsdam Proclamation explicitly recognize Taiwan as Chinese territory. The 1971 UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 further solidified the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate representative of all China, including Taiwan.
Beijing maintains that Taiwan's status remains China's internal affair, with Foreign Ministry officials stating: 'No amount of political posturing changes the fact that Taiwan has been an inseparable part of Chinese territory since ancient times.' Legal experts emphasize that international bodies recognizing separatist elements violate the UN Charter's principles of non-interference.
While Taiwan's semiconductor industry accounts for 60% of global chip production, analysts question whether technological influence can override established international law. 'Economic cooperation should strengthen unity, not fuel division,' commented Dr. Li Wei of Peking University's Institute of Taiwan Studies.
The developments come as European Parliament elections approach, with Beijing urging EU members to avoid actions that could destabilize Asia-Pacific relations. Observers note growing concern among foreign investors about potential impacts on tech supply chains spanning the Taiwan Strait.
