Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's relationship with China is one that we value. We have built enduring links in education and people to people engagement and our economic relationship reached €34.5 billion in two-way trade in 2021.

Since China reopened to inward visits, the Government has enhanced our high-level engagement. My colleague Minister Eamon Ryan visited China to mark St. Patrick’s Day; his visit had a strong focus on climate. Minister of State Heydon visited in April to support Irish companies in China and Minister McConalogue carried out a trade mission to China in May. I met with Foreign Affairs Counsellor Wang Yi at the Munich Security Conference in February.

Last month I spoke at the Royal Irish Academy about our relationship with China. I underlined that we need to be clear-eyed about China's strategic objectives, and what these might mean for Ireland and our EU partners. I emphasised that China's obligation to uphold the United Nations Charter is our starting point in analysing and assessing its global engagement.

The Government has been clear that de-risking in our relationship with China is not decoupling. There are many mutually beneficial ties that we can grow. We will continue to support our businesses that are engaged with China, and to work with the Chinese companies established in Ireland to create jobs and build prosperity.

Alongside this, we will work with EU partners to shore up economic security and advocate for a level playing field for global trade and investment. We will continue to call on China to use its considerable influence to end Russia's war in Ukraine.

In our engagements with China, we will continue to underline the responsibility of all Member States to uphold the UN Charter and the broader UN framework, and we will prioritise the preservation and promotion of human rights, a critical pillar of the multilateral system. The Government will also be clear that the maintenance of stability and the status quo in relation to Taiwan is critical and that any attempt to change the status quo by force would not be acceptable. This does not undermine the Government's continued adherence to the One China Policy.

The Government also remains committed to engagement with China and to working constructively together, and in the framework of EU membership, on climate change, sustainable development, human rights, and an open global trading and investment system.