Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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157. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade following the joint UK-US naval transit of the Taiwan Strait and China's subsequent condemnation, if he will outline Ireland's official position on freedom of navigation operations in contested waters; the discussions which have taken place at EU level; and the way in which Ireland intends to balance its trade and diplomatic priorities in future EU/China relations. [49512/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Ireland, together with our EU partners, is committed to maintaining the legal order for the oceans and seas based upon international law, as reflected notably in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. This includes the maintenance of freedom of navigation.

Officials in my Department follow developments in the Taiwan Strait closely. The Government has been clear that any attempt to change the status quo by force would not be acceptable, and we continue to encourage restraint in this regard. Any escalation or confrontation in the Strait is deeply worrying, and has the potential to impact regional and global security, as well as the free flow of trade.

I am in regular contact with my EU counterparts on matters of foreign policy significance, including in relation to tensions in the Taiwan Strait. This year the 25th EU-China Summit took place in Beijing on 24 July. During this Summit the EU reaffirmed its consistent One China policy and expressed concerns about increased tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

Ireland and China share an overall constructive relationship, marked by significant growth in economic ties and expanding people-to-people contacts over the last decade. Ireland takes a holistic approach to the relationship: trade with China: the economic relationship is not considered separately from our values and other priorities. We are interested in strengthening engagement with China where it is in our interests to do so. We are committed to working with our EU partners in support of a productive EU-China relationship, one which is balanced, reciprocal, and mutually beneficial, and where differences are managed constructively.