《TAIPEI TIMES》 US, EU show their support for Taiwan in joint statement

/ Staff writer, with CNA

The US and the EU on Friday issued a joint statement praising Taiwan for its vibrant democracy and expressing support for its meaningful participation in international organizations.

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The statement was released following talks between US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland and the European External Action Service Secretary-General Stefano Sannino on Feb. 7 and Feb. 8.

Nuland and Sannino touched on a number of issues that included Taiwan during the sixth High-Level US-EU Dialogue on China and the fifth US-EU High-Level Consultations on the Indo-Pacific, the statement said.

The US and the EU “affirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and called for the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues,” it said.

Both sides “welcomed Taiwan’s vibrant democratic process, including the presidential and legislative elections in January” and expressed “support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations,” it said.

While the US and the EU support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations, “there is no change in their basic positions on Taiwan, including stated one China policies,” it added.

During the meeting, Nuland and Sannino also discussed US and EU diplomatic efforts with China and the trajectory of their respective bilateral relationships.

“Under Secretary Nuland and Secretary General Sannino reiterated their openness to continued substantive engagement with China, both where there are areas of common interest and on areas of difference,” the statement said.

The officials also discussed the need for further awareness and decisive action to address continued human rights abuses by China.

The US Department of State and the European External Action Service plan to hold further talks in Brussels later this year.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES