President Lai Ching-te said March 31 that Taiwan is committed to deepening cooperation with the EU in key strategic industries and working together to protect the universal values of democracy, freedom and respect for human rights.
Lai made the remarks while receiving a delegation from the European Parliament Committee on Security and Defence led by its chair Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann. The current trip is the group’s first official visit to Taiwan since the body’s transformation into a full committee last year.
The president thanked the EP’s support of Taiwan, citing the resolutions concerning the annual reports on the implementation of the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defense Policy passed in January. The resolutions included wording that voiced opposition to China’s misinterpretation of the U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 and its attempt to unilaterally change the cross-strait status quo by force or coercion.
According to Lai, in the face of authoritarian expansion, Taiwan can only safeguard regional peace and stability by strengthening self-defense capability, enhancing whole-of-society resilience and deepening cooperation with like-minded partners. He said that the government is advancing key technology R&D such as domestically made aircraft, vessels and drones, as well as proposed a US$40 billion budget special defense bill, adding that the national defense budget will reach 3.32 percent of the country’s gross domestic product this year.
The Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee was established after Lai took office to improve Taiwan’s ability to respond to risks and crises, the president said. He added that Taiwan is willing to share its experience on countering authoritarian expansion with the EU and other partners to jointly safeguard regional peace.
Lai concluded by saying that he looks forward to closer collaboration between Taiwan and the EU on key strategic industries including drones, semiconductors, cybersecurity and space, pledging to jointly build a reliable, resilient and secure domestic supply chain.
In response, Strack-Zimmermann expressed similar sentiments on expanding cooperation on these sectors. She said the committee aims to strengthen collaboration and described Taiwan as an important EU economic and technological partner and a key member of the global trading system.
Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are directly relevant to Europe’s security and prosperity, she said, adding that European countries support stability and dialogue and oppose coercion and unilateral change to the status quo by force. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
Lai made the remarks while receiving a delegation from the European Parliament Committee on Security and Defence led by its chair Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann. The current trip is the group’s first official visit to Taiwan since the body’s transformation into a full committee last year.
The president thanked the EP’s support of Taiwan, citing the resolutions concerning the annual reports on the implementation of the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defense Policy passed in January. The resolutions included wording that voiced opposition to China’s misinterpretation of the U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 and its attempt to unilaterally change the cross-strait status quo by force or coercion.
According to Lai, in the face of authoritarian expansion, Taiwan can only safeguard regional peace and stability by strengthening self-defense capability, enhancing whole-of-society resilience and deepening cooperation with like-minded partners. He said that the government is advancing key technology R&D such as domestically made aircraft, vessels and drones, as well as proposed a US$40 billion budget special defense bill, adding that the national defense budget will reach 3.32 percent of the country’s gross domestic product this year.
The Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee was established after Lai took office to improve Taiwan’s ability to respond to risks and crises, the president said. He added that Taiwan is willing to share its experience on countering authoritarian expansion with the EU and other partners to jointly safeguard regional peace.
Lai concluded by saying that he looks forward to closer collaboration between Taiwan and the EU on key strategic industries including drones, semiconductors, cybersecurity and space, pledging to jointly build a reliable, resilient and secure domestic supply chain.
In response, Strack-Zimmermann expressed similar sentiments on expanding cooperation on these sectors. She said the committee aims to strengthen collaboration and described Taiwan as an important EU economic and technological partner and a key member of the global trading system.
Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are directly relevant to Europe’s security and prosperity, she said, adding that European countries support stability and dialogue and oppose coercion and unilateral change to the status quo by force. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
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