Why EU stance on Taiwan is a growing cause of concern for mainland China - SCMP

'From Europe's perspective, the Taiwan issue has already become "one of the most important factors" shaping EU-China relations, according to Frans-Paul van der Putten, a China expert based in the Netherlands. He warned that a potential future conflict between Beijing and Washington over Taiwan – one that could draw in most EU member states as Nato allies – could not be ruled out. "This means the EU has to view its current economic relations with China in light of the possibility that it could one day face China as a military adversary. As a result, the EU's de-risking efforts won't remain confined to peacetime national security concerns," van der Putten said. 

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Despite glaring differences, China and the EU share a fundamental interest in maintaining cross-strait stability, according to Van der Putten, author of China Resurrected: A Modern Geopolitical History. "China could signal its intention not to provide military support to Russia, while the EU could state more explicitly than it has done so far that it will not support potential future Taiwanese initiatives aimed at gaining independence," he said.' 

Article by Shi Jiangtao. Click here to go to the article on the website of South China Morning Post.