Billy Kelleher (Renew). – Madam President, the European Union says it respects the One-China policy. Ireland stands for the One-China policy. I hope that the issues around the historical differences between Taiwan and China mainland itself can be resolved, but let us be very honest with ourselves. China’s track record, in terms of how it has addressed Hong Kong in recent years, would give grave concern to those living in Taiwan and those that want to see the issues addressed between China and Taiwan resolved in the years ahead.
We also have to call on international partners to dial down the rhetoric around the issue of Taiwan. I went there myself personally many, many years ago. I saw first-hand their genuine efforts at trying to ensure that democracy was part and parcel of their political life. Looking across the Taiwan Strait at how Hong Kong has been undermined and how democratic principles has been undermined does not give the Taiwanese comfort that, in the event of there being a One-China policy completed, their democratic values and their ways of life would be respected. So we do need to dial down the rhetoric, and we have to call on China to reduce its aggression in the Taiwan Strait as well.
President. – That concludes the oral explanations of vote.