Beijing raised objections to the actions done by the European Parliament to build closer trade ties with Taiwan. China had long considered Taiwan as a renegade province after the Maoist revolution, where the Kuomintang government fled to the islands on the Formosa strait.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Beijing considers Taiwan as part of its domestic affairs and that this matter should be free from interference from foreign parties. Hua said China did not object to nongovernmental discusiions between the European Union and Taiwan. It opposes the development of official ties between the European Union and Taiwan.

The European Parliament passed a resolution for the formalization of trade relations between the European Union and Taiwan. The resolution urged its executive body to begin formal bilateral discussions on an agreement on investment protection and market access. 

The European Union is the fourth largest trading partner of Taiwan while Taiwan is the seventh largest trading partner in Asia.