The nation’s officers ought to keep away from ?oblique recognition of Taiwanese independence,? Athens reportedly instructed its diplomats
Greece has warned its public officers to not attend occasions or ceremonies hosted by Taiwan to keep away from potential diplomatic issues with its key buying and selling associate, China, a report by the Japan-based Nikkei Asia has mentioned.
While the European Union (EU) doesn’t have formal relations with Taiwan or acknowledge Taipei’s declare to independence from Beijing, relations between Taiwan and the 27 member states of the European bloc are diversified. Lithuania has been a outstanding supporter of Taiwan, whereas varied different international locations, Estonia and Latvia included, have elevated engagement with Taipei.
Greece, although, has stored its distance, and in line with the Nikkei Asia report, in latest days, Athens has warned its officers to keep away from attending any occasions hosted by Taiwan to keep away from what its authorities mentioned could possibly be “serious problems” for Greece-China relations.
In an e-mail despatched to diplomats in early October, Greece’s Foreign Ministry instructed officers to reject any invites they could have obtained to attend occasions to mark Taiwan National Day on October 10, Nikkei Asia mentioned.
“The participation of ministers, members of parliament and civil servants in receptions or events of the Representative Office must be avoided,” the e-mail, signed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexandra Papadopoulou, mentioned, in line with the publication.
It added that Greek illustration at a Taiwanese Representative Office, usually thought of de-facto embassies, could possibly be perceived by Beijing “as an indirect recognition of the independence of Taiwan” and will pose “serious problems” in ties between Greece and China.
Officials from EU states, together with France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, attended occasions to mark Taiwan’s nationwide day this 12 months, Nikkei Asia famous.
China is a key buying and selling associate for Greece and exported nearly $13 billion price of products to Athens in 2022, in line with United Nations knowledge. Greek exports to China throughout the identical interval totaled effectively over $400 million.
The warning emailed by Greece’s Foreign Ministry to its varied officers got here a few month earlier than the nation’s prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, visited Beijing, the place he met with President Xi Jinping.
In their summit, the 2 leaders mentioned increasing cooperation on delivery and clear vitality, boosting Chinese tourism to Greece, and rising the variety of Greek merchandise that enter the Chinese market, in line with a gathering abstract from Beijing officers.
Earlier this 12 months, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen underscored the EU’s dedication to the One-China coverage, which formally acknowledges Beijing because the “sole legal government of China.” However, in April, she warned Xi towards utilizing drive within the Taiwan Strait and mentioned that Europe stands “strongly against any unilateral change for the status quo” within the area.
(RT.com)