Taipei: Taiwan must first strengthen its own national defense to deter a potential invasion by China as cross-strait tensions continue to rise, multiple European lawmakers told CNA on Friday. In an interview in Taipei marking the conclusion of an eight-member European parliamentary delegation's six-day visit to Taiwan, the lawmakers urged Taipei to remain vigilant and increase defense spending.According to Focus Taiwan, Ukrainian lawmaker Serhii Soboliev highlighted the parallels between Taiwan's situation and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Soboliev warned that those claiming to protect may actually seek to conquer, describing the Kremlin as a "new fascist-Nazi regime." He emphasized the urgency of Taiwan boosting its defense spending, noting the significant increase in Ukraine's defense budget post-invasion.Soboliev further advised Taiwan to prevent third parties from transferring sensitive technologies to Russia. "Everyone must understand that in this world, you have to protect yourself first," he said, stressing self-reliance as a precursor to receiving external protection.Aleksi Jäntti, a Finnish lawmaker visiting Taiwan for the first time, expressed concern over arguments suggesting cooperation could appease aggressors. Citing former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, he underscored the risks of appeasement and warned about the potential influence of Chinese media and platforms like TikTok on Taiwanese society.German lawmaker Till Steffen added that a functioning constitutional court is crucial for national resilience. He noted the political challenges in achieving consensus in Taiwan, particularly regarding the vacancies in Taiwan's Constitutional Court due to a political stalemate since late October 2024.Lithuanian lawmaker Žygimantas Pavilionis noted the intensifying cross-strait tensions since his last visit two and a half years ago. Pavilionis stressed the importance of unity and achieving domestic consensus on defense spending, describing it as an existential issue for Taiwan. He warned that common adversaries could exploit internal divisions within Taiwan and European democracies.