US, EU show interest in bolstering collaboration with Taiwan based on 'one-China' policy

On Friday, December 3, United States and European Union (EU) expressed ir interest in strengning collaboration with Taiwan based on "one-China" policy and maintaining status quo in Taiwan Strait. In Washington, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and European External Action Service Secretary-General Stefano Sannino released a joint statement following second high-level meeting of US-EU dialogue on China. Both leers emphasised importance of Association of Souast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Indo-Pacific region, news agency Sputnik reported. 

two senior officials discussed human rights breaches in China and indicated a common desire to continue working toger on human rights issues in country. y also emphasised significance of diversifying and improving supply networks as well as dealing with economic coercion. Both leers underlined ir willingness to expand US-EU information sharing on disinformation supported by China, citing negative impacts of disinformation on democratic countries, according to joint statement. y reiterated need for robust US-EU cooperation in maintaining rules-based international order, including ensuring that all countries have a level playing field. 

Moreover, US and EU also expressed "grave concern" over China's growing assertiveness in South and East China Seas, as well as towards Taiwan. y claimed that Beijing's actions directly harm regional peace and security. Sherman and Sannino reiterated need of promoting international law-abiding freedom of navigation and overflight. Earlier on Wednesday, December 1, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe h warned that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would pose a severe threat to Japan's security and Japan-United States alliance and urged China to think twice before initiating any military action. 

Next US-EU dialogue to be held in 2022

It is pertinent to mention here that Sherman and Sannino also emphasised necessity of diplomacy with China in areas where cooperation is possible, such as North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, as well as climate change. US and EU decided to have next high-level conference in middle of 2022. first was held in Brussels in May. According to a US State Department official, who previewed dialogue, latest joint statement is "robust," dressing subjects far larger and more extensive than joint document released after first meeting in month of May, as per KYODO News. 

Image: Twitter/@DeputySecState/AP