Taiwan minister kicks off Europe trip with stop in Brussels

BRUSSELS - Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung started his week-long trip to Europe with a stop in Brussels, a visit that illustrates Taipei’s efforts to connect with fellow democracies. 

Mr Lin said in a Facebook post on the evening of Nov 19 that he visited the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (Imec), a hub for nanoelectronics research and development, and discussed semiconductor supply chains with Imec chief executive Luc Van den hove.

Mr Lin also met Belgian lawmaker Els Van Hoof and a group of European Parliament members, Taiwan’s semi-official Central News Agency reported. 

Ms Van Hoof is a member of Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, an organisation made up of lawmakers from around the world that aims to counter China’s influence. Earlier in 2024, she said Chinese spies had hacked her laptop.

Mr Lin’s trip to Europe is part of Taipei’s efforts to counter Beijing as it strives to isolate Taiwan diplomatically.

Former Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen made raising the archipelago’s profile globally a focus of her eight years in power, especially by enhancing links with Japan and the US, Taipei’s main military backer.

In 2023, she sent her foreign minister at the time, Mr Joseph Wu, on a trip to Europe that also included a stop in Brussels.

By dispatching Mr Lin to Europe, President Lai Ching-te is building on Ms Tsai’s legacy.

The strategy becomes even more important for Taiwan because China is working to convince Taipei’s few remaining allies to recognise Beijing instead.

Right after Mr Lai won election in January, the Pacific island nation Nauru did just that, leaving Taiwan with just 12 official friends on the world stage.

China’s strategy to diminish Taipei’s diplomatic clout means the archipelago of 23 million people has fewer countries that can take up issues on its behalf in international forums like the United Nations, where it lacks a seat.

After the stop in Brussels, Mr Lin will lead a delegation of representatives from 20 drone companies to Lithuania.

The group is expected to meet government officials and attend a forum in Vilnius focused on drone technologies, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing the sensitive matter.

The Lithuania visit dovetails with Mr Lai’s plans to advance Taiwan’s drone manufacturing, partly to offset China’s military advantage in the technology.

Beijing sees Taiwan as a province that must be brought under its control, by force if necessary.

Because it opposes nations it has diplomatic ties with from having contact with officials from Taiwan, China may file diplomatic complaints with Lithuania and Belgium, and possibly to retaliate somehow against Taiwan.

Among Beijing’s possible responses aimed at Taipei are harsh rhetoric, economic punishments and stepped-up military activity around the archipelago.

There was no sign of increased activity by the People’s Liberation Army as at early Nov 20. 

When asked about Mr Lin’s visit to Europe at a regular press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that “the Taiwan question is at the very core of China’s core interests”.

Mr Lin Jian called on the European Union to “stop any form of official interaction with the Taiwan authorities and stop sending wrong signals to Taiwan independence separatists”. BLOOMBERG