Too Afraid to Trade ? Ireland's Caution on Taiwan

Authoritarian regimes have become more effective at co-opting or circumventing the norms and institutions established to support basic liberties, and at subsidizing others who wish to do the same. They have succeeded in shifting global incentives, jeopardizing the consensus that democracy is the only viable path to prosperity and security, while encouraging more totalitarian approaches to governance.


In particular, the regimes of China and Russia have gained enormous power in the international system, and freer countries have seen their established norms challenged and fractured. Many international organizations including Freedom House say the current state of global freedom should raise alarm among all who value their own rights and those of their fellow human beings. 


One of the countries on the very frontline in this fight to maintain freedom and democracy is Taiwan. 


Located just 150km off the coast of China in the Western Pacific, Taiwan has been a democracy since the 1990s. In fact it is frequently referred to as a beacon of democracy in Asia and ranks just as high as many European countries in democracy indices.


Taiwan faces cyber attacks, disinformation campaigns and every shade of grey warfare you can imagine on a daily basis. The source of these attacks is the People's Republic of China (PRC) which is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party or CCP.  They claim Taiwan as their sovereign territory and seek to annex it, but have never occupied or controlled Taiwan for even a second in their entire existence.


The CCP have for years tried to weaken international support for Taiwan to further isolate the country, coercing its diplomatic allies and trading partners as well as interfering in international organizations to block Taiwan’s membership. 


Thankfully the EU’s engagements with Taiwan have remained relatively strong and although the EU and Taiwan do not have diplomatic relations, trade and cultural links are very active. 


The EU considers Taiwan a reliable and valued like-minded partner in Asia and is Taiwan's largest foreign investor and third largest trading partner. Bilateral trade in goods runs at around 50 billion Euros annually and the EU operates a Trade Office in Taipei along with 17 EU member states.

As Ireland prepares to assume the presidency of the European Union in the second half of 2026, questions are emerging about Dublin’s cautious approach to Taiwan. Why does Ireland remain an outlier among EU member states in its engagement with Taipei — and to what extent does China’s influence in Ireland and fear of offending China shape this stance?

In this episode of Perspectives with Neilo, we speak with John McGuinness, Fianna Fáil TD for Carlow–Kilkenny, Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann, and Chairman of the Ireland–Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Association. He joins us to discuss Ireland’s evolving relationship with Taiwan and his recent visit to the island.

Deputy McGuinness shares insights from his meeting with President William Lai (賴清德), who welcomed Ireland’s National Semiconductor Strategy and suggested that Taiwan and Ireland could deepen cooperation in this strategically important sector. We also explore other areas of potential partnership — from trade and agri-food exports to education and innovation — and ask whether Ireland is missing valuable opportunities by keeping its distance, particularly at a time when many countries in the world are diversifying trade links.

Finally, we discuss Micheál Martin’s leadership of Fianna Fáil, examining how his top-down style may be influencing government policy on Taiwan. And we look at how the Ireland–Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Association is working to raise awareness of Beijing’s ongoing efforts to isolate Taiwan — despite unwarranted objections from the Chinese Communist Party.

Date of Recording: November 7th, 2025




President of Taiwan, William Lai (賴清德) meets with Deputy Speaker John McGuinness TD, leader of a cross-party delegation from Ireland's parliament in Taipei on July 22nd, 2025. 
[Photo courtesy of Office of the President, Republic of China, Taiwan]


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Additional Information on the topics covered in this episode:

  • European Economic Trade Office in Taiwan - website


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