The Flemish Region Council in Belgium passed a resolution in support of Taiwan on May 21st, emphasizing the crucial importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) expressed sincere gratitude for this gesture.
With a vote of 107 in favor, 0 against, and 8 abstentions, the Flemish Region Council approved the resolution to “strengthen economic cooperation with Taiwan.”
The resolution passed by the Flemish Region Council expressed concern over the ongoing increase in military threats from the Chinese Communist Party against Taiwan, warning that this could have significant impacts on global and European peace and stability, as well as on the global supply chain. It called on the Flemish government to continue advocating for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations alongside European partners.
Furthermore, the resolution highlighted Taiwan’s strategic position in global trade and the semiconductor industry, emphasizing the importance of deepening cooperation and economic ties with Taiwan. It urged the Flemish government to expand exchanges with Taiwan in areas such as culture, healthcare, economy, and education, building upon existing foundations of cooperation.
At the EU level, the resolution called for the strengthening of economic and diplomatic engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and emphasized the necessity of establishing investment protection agreements and resilient supply chain cooperation with Taiwan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) noted that Belgium has a unique constitutional system where regional governments, including the Flemish Region, can independently engage in agreements and promote bilateral relations with foreign governments, with laws enacted at the regional level holding equal weight to federal laws.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Taiwan and the Flemish Region Council had previously held a cooperation consultation meeting in 2023, engaging in exchanges across various fields including education, technology, public health, commerce and investment, employment and vocational training, and sustainable energy, fostering close and friendly bilateral cooperation.
Moreover, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentioned that the support shown by the Flemish Council through concrete actions in this resolution, following a similar resolution passed in March 2021, was highly welcomed and appreciated. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Joseph Wu, warmly welcomed this support and expressed the hope for the deepening and broadening of mutually beneficial cooperation between Taiwan and the Flemish Region on the basis of existing good foundations, while jointly safeguarding the rules-based international order.