China has been exerting significant pressure on European countries, urging them to deny visas to Taiwanese officials and figures, according to more than half a dozen diplomats and officials familiar with the matter.
The Chinese government has been making “demarches” or diplomatic representations to European embassies in Beijing, as well as directly to European governments in their capital cities. They have warned the European countries not to “trample on China’s red lines” by allowing frequent visits by Taiwanese officials, including the current vice-president, foreign minister, and a former president.
Beijing has cited various EU laws and regulations, including the Schengen Border Code, which states that non-EU nationals must not be considered a “threat to the international relations of any of the member states.” The Chinese officials have suggested that allowing Taiwanese officials to enter European countries would threaten those countries’ international relations with China.
In some cases, the Chinese have also referred to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, or suggested that European countries should follow the UN’s example and bar all Taiwanese people from government buildings.
“Beijing’s application and interpretation of this regulation is bold,” said Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy, an assistant professor at Taiwan’s National Dong Hwa University. “It is Beijing’s interpretation that EU-Taiwan ties threaten EU-China ties. This is not at all the perception or reality in Europe.”
The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not respond to questions, but the diplomatic notes seen by the Guardian stated that European countries should reject any “so-called diplomatic passports” issued by Taiwan and “prohibit Taiwanese personnel from entering Europe to seek official contact and exchanges and trample on China’s red line.”
The note also cited visits by Taiwanese officials to several European countries, including Belgium, the Czech Republic, Poland, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Germany, Lithuania, Denmark, Estonia, and Ireland, saying they “seriously undermine China-EU relations.”
The foreign ministries of Norway and Finland confirmed that they were among the nations to receive the Chinese advice, though they said visa regulations with Taiwan were determined by the relevant Schengen bodies.
Analysts say this move fits with Beijing’s long-running strategy of using all possible means to deter closer cooperation with Taiwan. “Beijing is trying as much as they can to say that you should really think a little bit before letting Taiwanese officials in,” said Claus Soong, an analyst at Merics specialising in China’s global strategy. “I wouldn’t say it’s a threat, it’s more a reminder, although not necessarily gentle.”