Danish foreign policy experts have raised concerns that Denmark is moving closer to Beijing’s position on Taiwan, blurring the line between its long-standing One China policy and China’s One China principle.
According to Danish China researcher Andreas B. Forsby, Denmark’s approach has “eroded so far that it is virtually indistinguishable from Beijing’s.”, he states in an article for The Diplomat. The shift, he argues, reflects the growing influence of Chinese diplomacy in Europe and could weaken Taiwan’s international standing.
On the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website, Denmark’s “Trade Council in Taipei” is now listed as one of four Danish missions in China — a categorisation no other EU country uses. In addition, Danish authorities have begun registering Taiwanese citizens as Chinese nationals on residency permits and official documents, a change first reported by the newspaper Berlingske in 2024.
Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen defended the practice, stating that Denmark does not recognise Taiwan as a state. However, critics warn that this administrative change effectively aligns Copenhagen with Beijing’s terminology and undermines the EU’s traditionally cautious approach to Taiwan’s status.
While Norway previously adopted a similar registration policy, Denmark’s move marks one of the most explicit endorsements of Beijing’s position within the European Union, prompting concerns that China’s influence could pressure more European governments to follow suit.
