China’s President Xi Jinping reacts during the second plenary session of the National People's Congress in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on March 8, 2025.

EU leaders will discuss China as the first point of their summit starting on Thursday, as Brussels attempts to reduce the bloc's trade deficit and mitigate what many see ​as the risks of becoming over-dependent on Beijing in sensitive sectors.

"Because China's ​authoritarian ideology is fundamentally incompatible with Europe's democracy, dependence on China ⁠is not merely an economic risk, it's a threat to European freedom and sovereignty ​itself," Lin Chia-lung said in a speech at the Warsaw Security Forum.

"A Europe controlled ​through its supply chains would be a Europe that had surrendered part of its liberty."

The Chinese Embassy in Warsaw did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. China routinely denounces visits ​by Taiwanese officials abroad and refuses to speak to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, ​saying he is a “separatist”.

Lin said that trade with Taiwan benefits Europe.

"Taiwan and Europe share the values that ‌matter ⁠most - democracy, freedom, human rights and the rule of law," he said.

"The Taiwan model has helped power innovation and prosperity in Silicon Valley, and it can do the same for Europe too."

While Taiwan foreign ministers previously only rarely visited Europe, due to ​Beijing's objections, Lin has ​gone several times ⁠since he assumed his current position more than two years ago, including to Poland.

Taiwan has sought closer ties with Europe, especially since ​the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Europe has its own disputes ​with China, ⁠over both trade imbalances and also its criticism of what it sees as Chinese support for Russia.

Poland, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Chinese-claimed Taiwan. The ⁠democratically ​elected government in Taiwan rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, and ​says it has a right to engage with the rest of the world on equal footing.