Netherlands' House of Reps passes measure in support of Taiwan

Brussels, Oct. 8 (CNA) The Netherlands' House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a motion Tuesday calling on the country's government to support Taiwan's participation in international organizations, the first such resolution in the body's history.

The measure, which passed with a 132-18 margin, urges the government to explore feasible actions under the European Union framework to support Taiwan's participation in international organizations and global affairs, according to a statement by the Taipei Representative Office in the Netherlands.

Representative Chen Hsin-hsin (陳欣新) thanked the House for its support and said she looks forward to strengthening cooperation between the two countries in international affairs.

The bill's bipartisan sponsors noted that in light of recent diplomatic pressure from China, it is especially important that the Netherlands shows its support for like-minded nations such as Taiwan, according to the statement.

Taiwan has lost two of its diplomatic allies -- the Pacific island nations of Kiribati and the Solomon Islands -- in recent weeks amid a diplomatic pressure campaign from China, reducing its total number of allies from 17 to 15. (Tang Pei-chun and Matthew Mazzetta)

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