Tweede Kamer delegation goes to Taiwan

A delegation of the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of parliament, begins a week-long working visit to Taiwan on Sunday. Such events are a thorn in the side of the Chinese government, which regards the island as a renegade province. This year marks 400 years since the Dutch settled in Taiwan, then called Formosa.

“The working visit aims to gather knowledge and information about Taiwan and the economic and trade relations between the Netherlands and Taiwan. The delegation also aims to gain a better understanding of social and political developments, including relations between China and Taiwan, and the situation in the region,” a statement said.

In September, the House of Representatives recently commented on the relationship with Taiwan and demanded that Taiwan should be included in more international organizations. As a result, a large majority called on Foreign Minister Veldkamp to work towards this, NOS reported.

The 10-member delegation will visit the government and parliament, among other places. It will also meet with representatives of civil society and business organizations. The latter include both Dutch companies in Taiwan and major Taiwanese investors in the Netherlands. Like the Netherlands, Taiwan is also a very important player in the semiconductor industry.

The Foreign Trade Committee is the driving force behind the trip, but several members of the Foreign Affairs Committee are also coming along. It is expected that Beijing will take the visit less seriously because it is primarily based on the Foreign Trade Committee. A visit last summer was canceled because the Cabinet collapsed at the time.

In recent years, the Tweede Kamer has strengthened relations with Taiwan. Two years ago, MPs called on the Cabinet to strengthen relations with Taiwan “by all means”. Last year, a delegation from the Taiwanese parliament visited the Tweede Kamer for the first time, and Taiwanese parliamentarians visited again in September.

For a long time, the main focus of the Tweede Kame was on China and trade relations in particular. But that has since changed. In 2021, the chamber incurred the wrath of the Chinese authorities when it passed a motion accusing Beijing of genocide against the Uyghurs in the western region of Xinjiang.

Tensions over Taiwan have increased in recent years. China regularly conducts military exercises around the island and frequently violates its airspace. Taiwan has been an independent country since 1949, but few countries recognize this status. The communist government wants Taiwan to become part of China again and does not rule out violence.