MOFA thanks Belgian parliament for resolution supporting Taiwan

2020/07/21

A resolution adopted by the Belgian Chamber of Representatives in support of Taiwan’s international participation was welcomed July 17 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
 
 Passed the day before in a 130-0 vote, with 13 abstentions, the resolution was introduced by Georges Dallemagne, a lawmaker from the Humanist Democratic Centre party and co-chair of the Belgium-Taiwan Friendship Group, and Els Van Hoof of the Christian Democratic and Flemish party and chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
 
 According to the MOFA, Dallemagne said Taiwan should not be excluded from international organizations given its success in fighting COVID-19 as well as the military threat and disinformation it faces from China, while van Hoof said the resolution is in line with EU policy and conducive to protecting the cross-strait status quo.
 
 The resolution urges the Belgian government to advocate for the resumption of dialogue between Taipei and Beijing and to support all diplomatic initiatives aimed at reducing tension in the Asia Pacific. Recognizing Taiwan’s hard-earned freedom and democracy, the motion calls for expanded bilateral cooperation and high-level exchanges, while urging Beijing to release Taiwan activist Lee Ming-che, who has been serving a five-year-prison term since 2017 on charges of subversion of state power.
 
 The Belgian parliament also called on the EU to strengthen ties with Taiwan and support its meaningful participation in international organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization, U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change and World Health Organization.
 
 At a time of geopolitical uncertainty, such support is sincerely appreciated, the MOFA said, adding the government will continue to deepen relations with its European partner.

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)