Legislative Yuan Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang, accompanied by KMT Legislator Lai Shyh-Bao, DPP Legislator Kuo Yu-Ching, TPP Caucus Convener Huang Kuo-Chang, and International Affairs Department Director Kevin C.F. Lin, received a seven-member delegation led by British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Co-Chair MP Sarah Champion on the afternoon of February 17. Eric Jiun-Yaw Huang, Director-General of the Department of European Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Leon Man, Head of the Political Section at the British Office Taipei, were also in attendance. Vice President Chiang specially prepared Taichung’s famous sun cakes as a treat for the visiting delegation, allowing them to not only experience the warmth and hospitality of the Taiwanese people but also enjoy a rare taste of sunshine during the British winter.
Vice President Chiang warmly welcomed the visiting delegation and presented an old photograph from his 2017 meeting with delegation member Lord Purvis of Tweed, much to Lord Purvis’s surprise and delight. Vice President Chiang stated that during his eight-year tenure (2016-2024) as President of the Taiwan-UK Inter-Parliamentary Amity Association in the Legislative Yuan, he actively promoted bilateral parliamentary exchanges between Taiwan and the UK. He visited the UK five times and held multiple meetings with former APPG Co-Chair Rt Hon Lord Steel of Aikwood. He came to deeply understand that parliamentary interactions between Taiwan and the UK play a significant role in strengthening friendly bilateral relations. Vice President Chiang further stated that as a democratic nation, Taiwan is committed to promoting international cooperation. Given its challenging diplomatic circumstances, parliamentary exchanges have become a crucial channel for Taiwan’s external engagement. Vice President Chiang expressed his sincere gratitude to Co-Chair Sarah Champion for her longstanding support of Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Health Assembly (WHA). He emphasized that this steadfast support not only helps Taiwan make its voice heard on the international stage but also further strengthens cooperation among the global democratic alliance.
Vice President Chiang also noted that Taiwan and the UK share a common focus on regional security and economic development. He congratulated the UK on officially becoming a member of the CPTPP on December 15, 2024. Noting that Taiwan, which meets the CPTPP’s high accession standards, submitted its application in September 2022, he expressed hope that the UK, as a member state, would leverage its influence and take concrete actions to support Taiwan’s accession, fostering regional economic prosperity together. Vice President Chiang further emphasized that Taiwan and the UK can continue expanding cooperation in trade, culture, education, technology, and security to further enhance bilateral relations and deepen democratic values and global partnerships.
Co-Chair Sarah Champion stated that this was her fifth visit to Taiwan, and her deep affinity for Taiwan stems from a steadfast commitment to democratic values. Although the APPG delegation primarily consisted of Members of Parliament from the ruling Labour Party, it also included members from other parties, fully demonstrating the UK Parliament’s bipartisan support for Taiwan. She noted that although the visit coincided with the UK Parliament’s recess, delegation members still eagerly participated in the trip to Taiwan, underscoring their strong interest in Taiwan-related issues and their support for deepening Taiwan-UK exchanges. Chair Champion agreed with Vice President Chiang’s remarks on the vital role of parliamentary diplomacy in Taiwan-UK relations. She emphasized that pro-Taiwan forces within the UK Parliament remain strong and that in recent years, parliamentary support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and engagement through visits has become increasingly active and positive. Chair Champion further stated that during this visit to Taiwan, the delegation had the opportunity to meet with several key Taiwanese officials, gaining valuable insights and a deeper understanding of Taiwan. However, she expressed concern that over the past 20 years, the proportion of the global population living under democratic systems has sharply declined from 50% to 32%. Additionally, regional security and defense were also among the delegation's key concerns. She stressed that only through collaboration among democratic nations can we achieve lasting peace and sustainable development. This delegation's visit aimed to strengthen Taiwan-UK friendship and promote cooperation in trade and strategic security, with the hope that both sides will work together to achieve mutual prosperity and shared benefits.
Legislator Lai Shyh-Bao stated that Taiwan is actively seeking accession to the CPTPP. Despite being the world's 16th-largest economy, Taiwan faces significant hurdles in joining the agreement. He expressed hope that the UK government would support Taiwan’s accession and asked the delegation to provide expert advice, allowing Taiwan to draw on the UK’s successful accession experience. This, he noted, would help accelerate Taiwan’s CPTPP membership process, further deepening multilateral economic and trade cooperation and fostering regional prosperity.
Legislator Kuo Yu-Ching emphasized that security in the Taiwan Strait is one of the most critical issues at present. She expressed gratitude to the UK for its continued vocal support as Taiwan faces escalating threats from China. She emphasized that Taiwan is a trustworthy partner of the Western democratic bloc, and safeguarding Taiwan’s security is essential to maintaining global order.
TPP Caucus Convener Huang Kuo-Chang stated that fostering mutual understanding and bilateral cooperation between Taiwan and the UK serves the common interests of both nations' peoples. Taiwan deeply appreciates the UK's support for its participation in relevant international organizations. He acknowledged the UK government's official stance on Taiwan but emphasized that this does not hinder the deepening of Taiwan-UK cooperation in other areas. He expressed hope for even closer bilateral relations in the future and wished the delegation a successful visit.
The two sides also engaged in extensive discussions on various topics, including possible approaches for Taiwan’s accession to the CPTPP, the current state of cross-strait relations, the situation in the South China Sea, Taiwan’s defense budget as a percentage of GDP and public defense awareness, the proportion of female legislators in the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan’s electoral system, and the number of constituents represented by regional legislators. The meeting lasted for approximately one hour in a warm and cordial atmosphere. The two sides exchanged commemorative gifts to bring the discussion to a successful conclusion.
