EU leaders voice their support for Taiwan at National Day reception

European lawmakers voiced strong support for Taiwan at a National Day reception Wednesday, September 30, calling the self-governing island a reliable democratic partner and rejecting Beijing's intimidation. Speakers said cooperation among democracies strengthens resilience, comparing Taiwan and its partners to a school of fish that is stronger together.

The Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium hosted the reception at the Autoworld Brussels museum. Hundreds of guests attended, including European Union and Belgian officials, diplomats, and Taiwanese residents. Michael Gahler, chairperson of the European Parliament’s Taiwan Friendship Group, said Taiwan and the EU share commitments to democracy, freedom, the rule of law, and human rights.

Gahler said European engagement with China would not change the European Parliament’s position on Taiwan. He also condemned what he called Beijing’s increasingly assertive provocations. Representative to the European Union and Belgium Shieh Jhy-wey (謝志偉) said China’s repeated use of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to claim Taiwan as part of China was misleading, noting that the resolution does not mention Taiwan. “Taiwan is not part of China. Taiwan is part of the world,” he said.

Els Van Hoof, co-chair of the Belgian parliament’s Taiwan Friendship Group, said cooperation between Belgium and Taiwan could produce meaningful change. She said parliamentary exchanges require dialogue and should not be portrayed as attacks on the status quo. Shieh also highlighted Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, describing its advanced chips as products forged through intense pressure and cooperation with partners including the United States, Japan, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand.

Taiwanese fruit steals the spotlight at Double Ten Day reception in Brussels

A Double Ten Day reception hosted by the Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium this past Wednesday featured pineapples, guavas, and dragonfruit from Taiwan, which attracted considerable attention from guests and quickly became one of the event's highlights. Taiwanese fruit has gained increasing popularity in European markets in recent years. Many local government leaders have led delegations to Europe to promote Taiwanese fruit and processed products, while Taiwanese fruit can also be found in some high-end supermarkets. Despite relatively high prices, European consumers remain willing to pay for the fruit’s quality and flavor. European representative of the Taiwanese exporter Natural House Group Huang Sheng-hsien (黃勝賢) told CNA that he hoped such exchanges would introduce Taiwanese fruit to more Europeans and create more market opportunities for Taiwanese farmers. Huang said preparations for the event were quite fastidious, with special attention paid to each type of fruit’s ideal ripeness, preservation requirements, and presentation. Taiwanese expatriates in Belgium attending the reception also took the opportunity to enjoy the fruit from home. Many said they hoped Taiwanese fruit would eventually become available through retail channels in Belgium, allowing them to enjoy a taste of home while abroad.

2026-10-02

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Taiwanese fruit steals the spotlight at Double Ten Day reception in Brussels