TAIPEI — The European Union is signaling stronger interest in security cooperation with Taiwan, with the European Parliament calling for closer coordination and recognizing Taiwan as an important partner for situational awareness in the Indo-Pacific.
The latest move came as the European Parliament adopted findings and recommendations from its Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield. The document highlights the importance of working with partners, including Taiwan, to strengthen resilience against security threats and improve awareness of developments affecting Europe and its partners.
European Parliament highlights Taiwan’s security role
The European Parliament’s latest position builds on a series of measures this year calling for deeper engagement with Taiwan.
In February, Parliament adopted a report on EU strategic defense and security partnerships that called for strengthened security and defense cooperation with Taiwan. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the resolution, saying it recognized challenges affecting both European and Indo-Pacific security.
A separate European Parliament resolution adopted in July also referred repeatedly to Taiwan and called for closer cooperation with partners in East Asia. The resolution opposed unilateral changes to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait through coercion.
Security cooperation does not mean a formal alliance
The developments are significant, but they should not be interpreted as the EU establishing a military alliance with Taiwan.
The European Union continues to maintain its One China policy, while Taiwan and the EU do not have formal diplomatic relations.
Instead, the cooperation being discussed centers on areas such as security information, resilience, cybersecurity, countering hybrid threats and situational awareness.
The EU’s broader security strategy has also increasingly emphasized partnerships with countries and organizations outside the bloc. As of March 2026, the EU said it had established formal Security and Defence Partnerships with 12 partner countries.
Taiwan welcomes Europe’s growing engagement
Taiwan has welcomed the European Parliament’s moves.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said the February resolution demonstrated European support for deeper security and defense cooperation and reflected concerns about security challenges affecting both Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
Taiwan’s government has also sought to expand practical cooperation with European partners in areas including cybersecurity and emerging technologies.
The broader relationship has an important economic dimension as well. Taiwan is a major supplier in global semiconductor supply chains, making stability in the Taiwan Strait relevant not only to Asian security but also to European economic and technological interests.
The Taiwan Strait remains a major European concern
European governments have increasingly connected Indo-Pacific security with their own economic and strategic interests.
The European Parliament’s July resolution specifically rejected attempts to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait through coercion.
At the same time, Beijing continues to regard Taiwan as part of China and opposes official engagement between Taiwan and foreign governments. This creates a delicate diplomatic environment for European governments seeking closer practical cooperation with Taipei while maintaining their existing China policies.
A wider shift in Europe’s security thinking
The Taiwan discussion comes as the EU itself is reassessing its security architecture.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen used her September 2026 State of the Union address to propose stronger European security coordination, including an European Security Council and an emergency security protocol designed to improve the bloc’s response to hybrid threats such as cyberattacks and sabotage.
Against that backdrop, Taiwan’s inclusion in European discussions about security resilience reflects a broader effort to develop partnerships beyond traditional geographic boundaries.
For Taiwan, closer European engagement could provide additional channels for cooperation on cybersecurity, resilience and information sharing. For Europe, deeper ties with Taiwan are increasingly linked to the security and stability of the wider Indo-Pacific.
The next question is how far this cooperation can expand while the EU maintains its existing diplomatic framework toward Beijing — and whether practical security ties between Europe and Taiwan will continue to deepen.
WWC ONE MEDIA G,A
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