China presses European nations to block entry of Taiwanese politicians: Report

In a series of diplomatic approaches, Chinese officials pressed European governments to block Taiwanese politicians from entering their countries, arguing that domestic border laws required such action and warning against crossing Beijing’s “red lines”.

The efforts, which took place in November and December, followed recent visits by senior Taiwanese figures to Europe and were conveyed through embassies in Beijing and capitals across the continent, reported The Guardian.

According to more than half a dozen diplomats and officials familiar with the matter, the approaches included written notes verbales and in-person meetings, directed either at individual countries or groups of states. European diplomats and ministries told The Guardian the messages cautioned governments not to undermine China’s core interests.

Legal arguments cited in diplomatic notes

Beijing said it “respects the sovereignty of the European side in introducing and implementing visa policy”, but claimed an “institutional loophole” had enabled frequent visits by Taiwanese politicians, according to one note verbale seen by the outlet.

Chinese officials cited several EU laws and regulations, including the Schengen Borders Code, which states that non-EU nationals may be denied entry if they are “considered to be a threat to the … international relations of any of the member states”. The suggestion, as understood by the Guardian, was that allowing Taiwanese officials to enter Europe would harm a country’s relations with China.

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In some cases, the officials also referred to the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations or suggested European countries follow the UN’s example by barring all Taiwanese people from government buildings.

Scope of visits highlighted by Beijing

The note verbale urged European countries to reject any “so-called diplomatic passports” issued by Taiwan and to “prohibit Taiwanese personnel from entering Europe to seek official contact and exchanges and trample on China’s red line”.

“China hopes the EU institutions and European countries will, out of the larger interests of China-EU relations and bilateral relations, make the political decision of refusing the entry of Taiwan’s so-called president or vice president (former ones included),” it said, listing other officials as well.

Beijing cited visits to Belgium, the Czech Republic, Poland, the Netherlands, Italy, Australia, Germany, Lithuania, Denmark, Estonia and Ireland, saying these trips “seriously undermine China-EU relations”.

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“The European side … even indulged [vice-president] Hsiao Bi-khim to speak at the building of the European parliament and promote ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist claims,” the note said, referring to her address at the annual summit of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China in Brussels.

European and UK responses

The foreign ministries of Norway and Finland confirmed they were among those to receive the advice, saying visa arrangements with Taiwan were determined by relevant Schengen bodies.

A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office said, “Permission to enter the UK is determined solely by our own laws and immigration rules, which apply equally to those travelling from Taiwan.”

Taiwan pushes back

Taiwan’s foreign ministry said its officials’ visits to Europe were “entirely unrelated to China, and China has no right to interfere”.

“On the contrary, China’s use of various coercive measures against other countries and its threats of force against Taiwan, which undermine global and Indo-Pacific peace and stability and threaten the direct interests of the EU, is the real force damaging European international relations,” a spokesperson told the Guardian.

“China’s actions should be condemned.”

“Beijing’s application and interpretation of this regulation is bold,” said Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy, 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.”

“I see this as another way to generate unease among member states that their relations with the [People’s Republic of China] might be at risk … and Beijing knows well that some EU member states are very keen to attract Chinese investment at present,” she said.