On the afternoon of January 8, President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜) of the Legislative Yuan met with a delegation of ten Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). The meeting was attended by KMT Legislator Adm. Chen Yeong-Kang, DPP Legislator Wu Pei-Yi, TPP Legislator Mai Yu-Chen, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Ming-Chi.
President Han extended a warm welcome to the visiting MEPs from the European People’s Party (EPP) Group. He noted that this marked the fourth visit to Taiwan by Chair Michael Gahler of the European Taiwan Friendship Group since assuming the chairmanship. President Han stated that Chair Gahler has long been a steadfast supporter of Taiwan and was awarded the Legislative Yuan’s Second-Class Medal of Honor for Parliamentary Diplomacy in 2024 to convey the gratitude and respect of both the Legislative Yuan and the people of Taiwan. President Han remarked that this face-to-face exchange at the parliamentary level reflects the depth and maturity of Taiwan–Europe relations. Drawing a metaphor from Greek mythology, he likened the role of legislators to Cerberus, the three-headed watchdog, illustrating that they must simultaneously manage three distinct duties: legislative oversight, constituency service, and family life. This comparison, he noted, reflects the demanding reality of legislative work and the multiple expectations placed upon elected representatives.
President Han also expressed appreciation for the European Parliament’s longstanding support for Taiwan, emphasizing that Taiwan and Europe have consistently stood together on shared values such as democracy, freedom, and human rights. He added that the people of Taiwan hold in high regard Europe’s profound contributions over the past five centuries to world civilization in culture, the arts, science and technology, and democratic development. President Han concluded by expressing his hope that continued exchanges would further strengthen mutual friendship and promote the sustained deepening of Taiwan–Europe relations and substantive cooperation.
Chair Gahler stated that it was of great importance to lead a delegation to Taiwan at this critical juncture. He noted that while Taiwan has long faced pressure from across the Taiwan Strait, Europe is also standing at a crossroads, confronting not only the impact of the Russia–Ukraine war but also challenges arising from shifting international situations and policy uncertainties in the United States. Both Europe and Taiwan, he said, are committed to defending their respective ways of life and democratic values. Chair Gahler emphasized that in the face of external challenges, countries should build consensus through dialogue and cooperation and strengthen their overall defense capacity. He added that the global democratic community must deepen alliances and expand cooperation. During this visit, the delegation held intensive exchanges on issues including security, defense, digitalization, and economic development to explore how Taiwan and Europe can continue to work together.
Chair Gahler further stressed that Europe is an important investment partner for Taiwan, and expressed hope that more Taiwanese enterprises would invest in Europe to strengthen economic and trade ties. He noted that Taiwan’s importance is not limited to key industries such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence, and that both sides possess strong potential for mutually beneficial cooperation across diverse fields. He reaffirmed that Europe firmly supports maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and will not ignore the threat posed by China. Chair Gahler stated that Europe’s position is clear and consistent, expressing hope that parliamentary diplomacy will continue to deepen Taiwan–Europe relations and foster long-term cooperation.
Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang (江啟臣) of the Legislative Yuan expressed sincere appreciation for the European Parliament’s steadfast support for Taiwan over the years. He noted that through the efforts of friendly MEPs in recent years, support for Taiwan within the European Parliament has surged, leading to a continuous deepening of bilateral relations. Vice President Chiang stated that over the past two years, he and cross-party colleagues from the Legislative Yuan have visited Europe on multiple occasions, traveling to Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands. He highlighted that these parliamentary exchanges and substantive interactions have yielded positive results. Vice President Chiang also pointed out that European countries have become Taiwan’s largest source of investment and its fourth-largest trading partner, demonstrating that Taiwan–Europe relations have expanded beyond shared values to include exchanges at the levels of markets, industries, and knowledge. He expressed hope for continued mutual visits and cooperation with the European Union and the European Parliament. In closing, Vice President Chiang once again welcomed the delegation, wished the guests a fruitful visit, and sincerely invited them to return to Taiwan in the future to further strengthen the Taiwan–Europe partnership.
Legislator Wu noted that Taiwan and Europe face common “gray zone” challenges, including disinformation operations and sabotage of infrastructure. She thanked the European Parliament for adopting resolutions opposing China’s distortion of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, and noted that Vice President Hsiao Bi-Khim’s previous visit to Europe and her address at the European Parliament carried symbolic significance. She emphasized her support for the government’s efforts to responsibly bolster national defense capabilities to address these threats. She also expressed hope to lead a delegation on a return visit to the European Parliament in the future to deepen cooperation links between Taiwan and Europe in civil defense and international security through substantive exchanges.
Legislator Chen shared his observations on the global security environment, noting that while international attention on the Taiwan Strait has increased, Taiwan’s overall security situation remains manageable. He stated that national security depends on stable domestic governance and effective policy coordination. While seeking support from international partners, he emphasized the importance of maintaining communication channels with all parties to reduce the risk of miscalculation and avoid high-cost policy mistakes. On defense policy, he underscored that strengthening defense capabilities requires not only hardware development but also investment in education, talent cultivation, and the efficient use of resources.
Legislator Mai expressed high appreciation for Chair Gahler and the European Parliament’s long-standing and concrete support for Taiwan’s democracy, security, and international participation. She noted that the delegation members come from diverse fields including foreign affairs, defense, trade and economy, industry, and legal affairs, closely aligning with Taiwan’s core priorities such as democratic defense, supply chain resilience, and de-risking. She stated that Taiwan regards the European Parliament as a democratic model grounded in values and institutional practices, expressing hope for continued cooperation in Taiwan Strait security, economic and trade partnerships, and international participation.
The two sides exchanged views extensively on Taiwan–Europe cooperation and the international security situation. Conducted in a warm and lively atmosphere, the meeting lasted approximately 60 minutes and concluded successfully following an exchange of commemorative gifts and group photos. (2026.1.8)
