Europe Asia News

According to more than half a dozen diplomats and officials familiar with the matter, Chinese officials are offering European countries “legal advice,” saying China’s own border laws require them to bar Taiwanese politicians from entry.

European diplomats and ministries told the Guardian that officials approached European embassies in Beijing or, via local embassies, directly contacted European governments in their capitals, warning European countries “not to cross China’s red lines.”

European diplomats said these warnings were delivered in various ways: some to individual countries, some to groups; some through semi-official diplomatic channels, and some in person.

These approaches took place in November and December and were, at least in part, a response to recent trips to Europe by Taiwanese officials, including Taiwan’s current vice president, foreign minister, and a former president.

Beijing said it “respects the European side’s sovereignty in implementing visa policy,” but according to a note seen by the Guardian, an “institutional gap” allows Taiwanese politicians to make frequent visits.

China cited a number of EU laws and regulations, including the Schengen Borders Code, which states that one of the conditions for entry for non-EU nationals is that they “not be considered a threat to the international relations of the member states.”

As the Guardian understands it, officials’ argument was that allowing Taiwanese officials to enter a European country would threaten that country’s international relations with China.

According to information provided to the Guardian, in some cases the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations was also referenced, or European countries were urged to follow the UN’s example and ban all Taiwanese from entering state buildings.