On 8 May 2025, the Taiwanese government held its first official commemorative event marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Representatives from 17 countries and the European Union attended, underscoring Taiwan’s intention to send a clear message to the international community.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te stated, “As we commemorate the peace brought about by the end of the war in Europe, we must not forget the lessons of history.” He emphasised that the outbreak of WWII was largely due to complacency and appeasement toward the aggressors’ ambitions. The speech sent a strategic signal to the international community to remain vigilant in the face of contemporary authoritarian threats.
Several Taiwanese political scientists interpret the move as serving two purposes. First, in light of the uncertainty surrounding foreign policy under a second Trump Administration, Taiwan is strengthening its security by actively constructing a multilateral diplomatic network. While the Biden administration framed foreign policy around democratic values and unity against authoritarianism, President Trump’s approach is expected to refocus on burden-sharing on defence, and reducing the US’ trade deficits. Under a Trump 2.0 framework, Washington launched a “global tariff war” and opened negotiations with major economic partners—Taiwan, Canada, Japan, the UK, and the EU—covering not only trade and tariffs but also defence spending, technology cooperation, and foreign direct investment. These developments could accelerate a reshaping of the global strategic landscape.
Secondly, hosting such commemorative events also signals President Lai’s intention to deepen relations with Europe in order to garner broader international support and mitigate pressure from China. Given that Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping is expected to seek a fourth term in 2027, many believe the risk of Beijing taking military action against Taiwan will increase during this period. As Lai’s presidency extends until 2028, his administration must engage in forward-looking strategic planning to enhance diplomatic resilience and national security.
Democracy and Human Rights: A Shared Language Between the EU & Taiwan
The Economist has been closely monitoring the Taiwan Strait situation. In 2021, it featured a cover titled “The Most Dangerous Place on Earth”, and in its latest May 2025 issue, the headline “The Taiwan Test: It’s closer than you think!” underscored rising international concern. President Lai’s rhetoric clearly reflects a strong orientation toward external communication.
Europeans’ own public trust in the EU waned significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting EU institutions to rebuild confidence through tangible action. Against this backdrop, EU foreign policy has increasingly centred around “values-based” diplomacy. President Lai’s speech explicitly resonated with Europe’s collective memory of WWII, invoking democracy, human rights, and a rules-based international order as shared values. In doing so, Taiwan aims to strengthen the political foundation for its partnership with Europe as like-minded allies, contributing to the stability of the global order through closer cooperation.
Notably, Lai avoided direct references to China or Russia, but alluded to “a new authoritarian bloc” threatening both Taiwan and Europe. He highlighted shared concerns such as cybersecurity, threats to undersea cables, disinformation campaigns targeting democratic elections, and efforts to sow division in free societies. He further noted the authoritarian challenge to international norms and open markets through coercion, dumping, and grey-zone tactics, stressing the joint responsibility of Taiwan and Europe in safeguarding the rules-based order.
Taiwan’s messaging during the commemorative ceremony invoked the principle of “peace through strength,” reaffirming its commitment to self-defence. This also serves as a strategic alignment with Trump-era Republican values—echoing Reagan’s doctrine—underscoring Taiwan’s consistency with a strength-based diplomacy that may appeal to the Trump administration. Ultimately, the commemoration sends a message to Europe: Taiwan seeks to be seen as part of the solution to global issues, not a source of conflict.
European Poll: the Endorsement of Values-Based Foreign Policy
A 2021 policy brief by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) revealed that European citizens generally view shared values—especially human rights, democracy, and the rule of law—as key to European unity. The report advised that, post-pandemic, the EU must assert its influence by upholding these values. While 37% of respondents considered China a “rival” or “adversary”, 36% viewed it as a “necessary partner” and 5% as an “ally”. This suggests Europeans prefer cooperation over confrontation and do not support automatic alignment with the US in Sino-American strategic competition.
The ECFR’s 2023 report confirmed strong public support for values-based diplomacy. Europeans continue to see the EU as a “beacon of democracy and human rights” and expect it to “ensure that the rule of law and strong democratic values are upheld among its own ranks.” Moreover, 60% of respondents believed their governments failed to sufficiently consider public opinion in foreign policy decisions—highlighting the demand for greater democratic participation in diplomacy.
Only 29% of respondents believed a military conflict between the US and China was likely in the next two years, while 61% disagreed. This indicates that European views on foreign policy are shaped more by present realities than by hypothetical future risks. The ECFR recommended that both leaders of EU and member states proactively engage citizens in dialogue about geopolitical developments and the implications of inaction, to ensure better preparedness for future shocks.
Taiwan as a Key Democratic Partner in the Indo-Pacific
On 2 April 2025, the European Parliament adopted its annual resolutions on the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The CFSP resolution recognised the Indo-Pacific’s growing strategic importance and the need for the EU to enhance its presence there to maintain peace, freedom, and stability. Taiwan was explicitly identified as a “key democratic partner” in the region.
The European Parliament condemned China’s continued military provocations against Taiwan and criticised its distortion of UN General Assembly’s Resolution 2758 to block Taiwan’s participation in international affairs. It reaffirmed that only Taiwan’s democratically elected government can represent its people and rejected China’s territorial claims over Taiwan as lacking a basis in international law.
The CSDP resolution similarly expressed concern over China’s malign activities targeting Taiwan. It urged China to show restraint and praised Taiwan for its measured response. The resolution stressed Taiwan’s growing strategic relevance to the EU’s defence planning in the Indo-Pacific. Given Taiwan’s strengths in high-tech industries and its frontline experience with information warfare and foreign interference (FIMI), the EU should intensify regular dialogue with Taiwan on security matters, particularly around undersea infrastructure and digital threats.
The Next Decade of Taiwan– EU Relations: A Democratic and Prosperous Partnership
While the European Parliament’s support to Taiwan is symbolically significant, it should not be interpreted as a guarantee of military intervention should China use force against the island democracy. Nevertheless, the EU’s consistent advocacy for values-based foreign policy provides legitimacy as well as a pragmatic window for deepening cooperation with Taiwan.
Taiwan should work towards establishing intelligence-sharing mechanisms with EU institutions on grey-zone threats and disinformation, and collaborate with Europe on creating indicators and protocols to detect and counter foreign interference. Taiwan can promote greater European involvement in the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF)—an initiative co-founded by Taiwan and the US and later joined by Japan, Australia, and Canada. With Japan and Australia already recognised as EU Indo-Pacific partners, the GCTF could serve as a platform for democratic cooperation in the region.
On the economic front, Taiwan should continue advocating for a Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) with the EU. The EU is Taiwan’s fourth-largest trading partner and largest source of foreign investment, while Taiwan ranks as the EU’s 13th largest trade partner. In 2024, EU–Taiwan trade reached €71.9 billion, with the EU facing a €14.7 billion trade deficit. Despite persistent Taiwanese lobbying for a BIA since President Tsai Ing-wen’s tenure, the European Commission remains cautious, concerned about Beijing’s likely response and adherence to the “One China” policy.
Still, multiple European Parliament resolutions have emphasised that authoritarian regimes should not be allowed to obstruct the development of Taiwan–EU relations. This provides a degree of political legitimacy. Taiwan should seek to convince EU leaders and European civil society that deepening ties with Taiwan does not equate hostility toward China, but rather strengthens European interests and democratic resilience in the Indo-Pacific. As President Lai stated, the key to victory in WWII was the unity of anti-aggression forces—Taiwan–EU cooperation is now a pillar of Indo-Pacific and global democratic stability.
In less politically sensitive areas, Taiwan can expand cooperation with the EU in science and human rights. For example, Taiwan could explore participation in EU space programmes such as the IRIS2 Satellite Constellation. In renewable energy sectors like offshore wind, smart grids, and electric vehicles, Taiwan and the EU could also promote joint research, investment, and the establishment of R&D hubs.
Finally, a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) could serve as a vital policy tool to deepen economic ties. Former EU representative to Taiwan, Filip Grzegorzewski, suggested Taiwan’s robust economy and foreign reserves could support strategic investments in Europe. In his May 2025 inaugural anniversary address, President Lai announced plans to establish a Taiwanese sovereign fund, widely expected to emulate Singapore’s Temasek Holdings. This fund is likely to focus on semiconductors and AI, and may be drawn from Taiwan’s US$582.8 billion foreign exchange reserves, to counter Beijing’s economic and diplomatic pressure.
Conclusion
As geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific intensify, the Taiwan–EU relationship is no longer a peripheral issue—it is central to the defense of the democratic international order. For policymakers and opinion leaders in Europe, Taiwan represents more than a trade partner; it is a front-line democracy with strategic significance in global supply chains, technological innovation, and regional stability. The coming decade demands more than symbolic gestures. It calls for actionable policies: institutionalized intelligence sharing, expanded participation in multilateral frameworks such as the GCTF, and targeted investment through tools such as a sovereign fund.
European governments should recognise that deepening engagement with Taiwan is not an act of provocation but a reaffirmation of Europe’s core values and long-term interests. Media and civil society also have a role to play in shaping public understanding—framing Taiwan not solely through the lens of cross-Strait tensions, but as a vital partner in defending democratic norms and economic resilience. Strategic ambiguity must give way to strategic clarity. The EU has a unique opportunity to shape a democratic and prosperous Indo-Pacific, and Taiwan should be a key pillar of that vision.
(Featured photo by Bruno on Pixabay)
