President Lai Ching-te said Jan. 6 that Taiwan is committed to working with Europe to create a mutually beneficial future while jointly fostering regional and global stability and prosperity.
Lai made the remarks while receiving a European Parliament delegation at the Presidential Office in Taipei City. Led by Michael Gahler, chair of the European Taiwan Friendship Group, the delegation comprises European People’s Party members.
Taiwan-Europe cooperation across the board has gone from strength to strength in recent years, Lai said. He cited the Formosa Club’s annual conference being held in Taiwan last year, during which participants discussed topics such as safeguarding undersea cables, and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim’s speech at the EP at the invitation of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China last November, which enhanced backing for Taiwan among friends in national parliaments.
The president went on to thank the EP for passing resolutions in support of Taiwan over the years, paying close attention to cross-strait peace and stability and staunchly advocating for the country’s international participation. Taiwan faces ongoing hybrid challenges posed by China, Lai said, stressing the need for democracies to jointly resist authoritarian expansion, safeguard the values of freedom and democracy and uphold the rules-based international order.
Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are also key to European security and global economic prosperity, Lai said. He added that Taiwan is willing and able to be one of Europe’s most trustworthy partners, especially in the semiconductor and other high-tech industries, and stands ready to contribute more to global democratic supply chains to further strengthen international economic resilience.
In response, Gahler said group members back a peaceful status quo across the Taiwan Strait, noting that the EP and several national governments have stressed the importance of maintaining the status quo in political statements.
The Taiwan Strait is an international waterway, and countries should enjoy freedom of navigation rights, the chair said, strongly criticizing China’s latest belligerent actions around Taiwan. He concluded by looking forward to upcoming talks about health, science and trade in addition to security issues. (YCH-E)
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Lai made the remarks while receiving a European Parliament delegation at the Presidential Office in Taipei City. Led by Michael Gahler, chair of the European Taiwan Friendship Group, the delegation comprises European People’s Party members.
Taiwan-Europe cooperation across the board has gone from strength to strength in recent years, Lai said. He cited the Formosa Club’s annual conference being held in Taiwan last year, during which participants discussed topics such as safeguarding undersea cables, and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim’s speech at the EP at the invitation of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China last November, which enhanced backing for Taiwan among friends in national parliaments.
The president went on to thank the EP for passing resolutions in support of Taiwan over the years, paying close attention to cross-strait peace and stability and staunchly advocating for the country’s international participation. Taiwan faces ongoing hybrid challenges posed by China, Lai said, stressing the need for democracies to jointly resist authoritarian expansion, safeguard the values of freedom and democracy and uphold the rules-based international order.
Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are also key to European security and global economic prosperity, Lai said. He added that Taiwan is willing and able to be one of Europe’s most trustworthy partners, especially in the semiconductor and other high-tech industries, and stands ready to contribute more to global democratic supply chains to further strengthen international economic resilience.
In response, Gahler said group members back a peaceful status quo across the Taiwan Strait, noting that the EP and several national governments have stressed the importance of maintaining the status quo in political statements.
The Taiwan Strait is an international waterway, and countries should enjoy freedom of navigation rights, the chair said, strongly criticizing China’s latest belligerent actions around Taiwan. He concluded by looking forward to upcoming talks about health, science and trade in addition to security issues. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
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