Jorge Toledo Albina said the EU supports Taiwan’s “peaceful reunification” with China, a controversial ambition by Beijing that would likely involve an invasion of the prized island. Mr. Albiñana’s statement appeared to be in direct contrast to one of the vice-presidents of the European Parliament, who warned against Chinese aggression during his visit to Taipei on Tuesday. Mr Albiñana, who takes up his post in September, told Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia: “The EU is not defending Taiwan’s independence, but a peaceful reunification. We believe there should be one China.” Taiwan’s foreign ministry hit back on Tuesday, denouncing the ambassador-designate’s remarks. “Taiwan has never been part of the People’s Republic of China. Taiwan’s sovereignty belongs only to all the people of Taiwan, and only the people of Taiwan can decide the future of Taiwan,” spokeswoman Joan Wu said. “It is also a peaceful and mature democratic country and shares values of freedom, democracy and human rights with the European Union,” he said, adding that Taiwan is not subservient to China. The EU does not have a unified position on the issue of Beijing’s claims to Taiwan. The Chinese Communist Party claims territorial control of the republic of 23.5 million, even though it never ruled there.
