What words are more provocative and aggressive than those of EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who called on European nations to send warships to the Taiwan Strait to "signify Europe's commitment to freedom of navigation" in an opinion piece published on Sunday?

There is no reason for such a senior diplomat as Borrell to stay ignorant of the fact that Taiwan is part of China. European warships sailing through the Taiwan Strait is not what they claim as "freedom of navigation", but a provocative move to intervene in China's internal affairs every time they commit it.

The only reason for Borrell to insist uttering such words lies in his attempt to please his US boss, which has always hypocritically tried to distort the Taiwan question into an "international issue" despite its solemn recognition of the one-China principle. To drag its allies into the muddy water so that they work for the US' plan of containing China is a trick of Washington and trap for Europe. Unfortunately and sadly, as his words expose, Borrell as the ”foreign minister of Europe" is guiding Europe into that trap.

Both Borrell and his boss in Washington should not underestimate the determination and capability of China to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Any move of any nation to play with fire on the Taiwan question will spell disaster.

Whether he admits it or not, Borrell's body lives in the 21st century but not his mind. It's high time that his mind stayed with the times.

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