Norway–Taiwan relations explained

Norway–Taiwan relations refer to the bilateral relations between Norway and Taiwan.

Overview

Officially Norway–Taiwan relations are conducted at arms length so as not to offend China.[1] Since being strongly punished by the Chinese government the Norwegian government has been wary of taking any action which might be viewed negatively by the Chinese, even if it goes against their values.[2] China had been offended by the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Liu Xiaobo in 2010.[3]

Norway has a One China policy.[4]

History

In 2014 Gro Harlem Brundtland was awarded the Tang Prize in sustainable development.[5]

In 2010 the Norwegian government began listing "China" as the nationality of Taiwanese citizens instead of "Taiwan" on visas, identity cards, and other official documents. In 2018 a group of Taiwanese students studying in Norway sued the Norwegian government over the relabeling, the litigants said, "At the time, we did not receive a positive response from the Norwegian government through the diplomatic channel, so we decided to take legal action. For us, it is normal to defend our rights and interests by exercising litigation in a country with democracy and the rule of law."[3] In 2020 the Supreme Court of Norway rejected the lawsuit on the grounds that the claimants had not demonstrated substantial damage to their wellbeing as a result of the change.[6] The claimants then appealed the decision to the European Court of Human Rights.[7]

In November 2020 Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu publicly urged the Norwegian government to correct their mislabelling of Taiwanese nationals calling it a human rights violation and expressed support for the legal campaign.[8]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Berglund . Nina . Taiwan waits for a nod from Norway . www.newsinenglish.no . News in English . 10 June 2021 . 10 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210610161218/https://www.newsinenglish.no/2012/10/09/taiwan-waits-for-a-nod-from-norway/ . live .
  2. Web site: Berglund . Nina . Norway caught in squeeze over China . www.newsinenglish.no . News in English . 10 June 2021 . 21 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210121183719/https://www.newsinenglish.no/2020/05/22/norway-caught-in-squeeze-over-china/ . live .
  3. Web site: CREERY . JENNIFER . Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lends support to students suing Norway over 'China' visa name . hongkongfp.com . 11 August 2018 . Hong Kong Free Press . 10 June 2021 . 10 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210610215649/https://hongkongfp.com/2018/08/11/taiwans-ministry-foreign-affairs-lends-support-students-suing-norway-china-visa-name/ . live .
  4. Web site: Statement of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Norway on Normalization of Bilateral Relations. regjeringen.no . 12 June 2021. The Norwegian Government reiterates its commitment to the one-China policy, fully respects China's sovereignty and territorial integrity....
  5. Web site: Former Norway PM Brundtland wins Tang Prize . taiwantoday.tw . Taiwan Today . 10 June 2021 . 3 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180703204328/https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=10,10,23,10&post=20786 . live .
  6. Web site: Staff Writer . Oslo court rules against Taiwanese in nationality suit . taipeitimes.com . 4 May 2020 . Taipei Times . 10 June 2021 . 16 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201116034556/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2020/05/04/2003735792 . live .
  7. Web site: Chen . Kelvin . Taiwanese in Norway to file case in European Court of Human Rights after 'China' labeling . www.taiwannews.com.tw . Taiwan News . 10 June 2021 . 10 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210610161220/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4054690 . live .
  8. Web site: Chen . Kelvin . Taiwan's foreign minister presses Norway to stop mislabeling nationality as 'China' . www.taiwannews.com.tw . Taiwan News . 10 June 2021 . 21 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210121020008/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4061745 . live .

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