UNPO Conference on China and Taiwan: BBC Report Emphasizes the Role of the EU
A leading Chinese human rights activist has warned that the recent Chinese Anti-Secession Law sends worrying signals - not only for Taiwan and East Asia, but for Europe and beyond. Wei Jing Sheng was speaking at a conference in the Netherlands on Friday, hosted by the UNPO - the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, which is based in The Hague. Participants said Europe is reluctant to face up to human rights questions in China.
Wei Jing Sheng spent eighteen years in jail in China. Now he heads the Overseas Chinese Democracy Coordination based in Washington. He warned that many people in the world don't recognise the possibility of a war between China and Taiwan.
"I know many people in the world don't recognise that there will be a war between China and Taiwan. However, the big countries in the world - such as United States and Japan - have recognised such a threat and we have seen clearly such a war might happen in the near future" Wei Jing Sheng said.
Wei Jing Sheng said Europe isn't fully aware of the problem. Germany is reconsidering its support in favour of lifting the arms embargo against China. The German-French lobby has been opposed by smaller countries including the Netherlands and Austria. Dutch Liberal MP Hans van Baalen, accused Europe of taking a back-seat position on Taiwan. He said the EU should not be afraid to burn its hands by encouraging dialogue between Beijing and Taipei.
"There is a clear need for cross straight talks and Europe should really help facilitating those talks - only things can be arranged in a peaceful manner - and Taiwan again is a security interest of both US, Japan and European Union" he observed.
Dutch MP van Baalen said individual countries won't risk acting alone on the Taiwan issue. They urged the EU to act en masse with regard to human rights in China, and to push for Taiwan's observer status at the World Health Organisation.