On the afternoon of January 15, Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang (江啟臣) of the Legislative Yuan met with a five-member delegation of Canadian Members of Parliament, accompanied by KMT Legislator Adm. Chen Yeong-Kang.
Vice President Chiang, on behalf of the Legislative Yuan and its President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜), extended a warm welcome to the visiting delegation from the Parliament of Canada at the start of the new year. He also thanked Canadian delegations for their continued visits to Taiwan in recent years, noting that these exchanges reflect Canada’s steadfast support for Taiwan. Vice President Chiang expressed pleasure in learning that some members of the delegation would travel to Taichung following the conclusion of their official itinerary. With a population of nearly three million, Taichung is a major city in central Taiwan known for its cuisine and cultural heritage. He expressed hope to have the opportunity in the future to host the delegation in Taichung for further exchanges.
Vice President Chiang further remarked that over his more than ten years in academia, he visited Toronto and Vancouver on multiple occasions. Noting that MP Melissa Lantsman, head of the delegation, is from Toronto and a fan of the Toronto Blue Jays, he added that Taiwan and Canada are both set to participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC). He wished both sides every success in the tournament.
In his concluding remarks, Vice President Chiang expressed hope that this visit would further enhance the delegation’s understanding of Taiwan. He emphasized that Taiwan is not only a key hub for artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing, but is also actively engaging with the international community. He noted that Canada is one of the countries most favored by the people of Taiwan. Vice President Chiang stated that Taiwan and Canada should continue to expand diverse cooperation in light of reciprocal tariff measures imposed by the United States and an increasingly complex international political and economic landscape. He particularly pointed out that Taiwan submitted its application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in September 2022, and expressed hope that Canada, as a member state, would support Taiwan’s accession, thereby helping to advance bilateral and regional trade and further deepen mutually beneficial cooperation.
In her remarks, MP Lantsman stated that this was her second visit to Taiwan and expressed appreciation for the warm hospitality extended by Taiwan and the Legislative Yuan. She added that she would lead another delegation to Taiwan in the future. Emphasizing that Canada highly values its relationship with Taiwan, she described Taiwan as a reliable and indispensable partner and expressed confidence in Taiwan’s ability to make meaningful contributions to the international community. She further highlighted Taiwan’s resilient economy, well-established democratic system, and open society, and expressed hope for strengthened exchanges and cooperation in areas including security, national defense, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
MP Lantsman also noted that, amid a complex and evolving international environment, she wished to convey clearly to the people of Taiwan that many members of the Canadian Parliament support Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). She added that upon returning to Canada, she would continue to advocate for Taiwan’s international participation and for the further development of bilateral relations.
During the bilateral exchanges, Legislator Chen noted that in the face of external threats, strengthening national defense capabilities requires not only the procurement of equipment, but also enhanced personnel training, improved cross-system coordination, greater societal resilience, and strengthened energy security. He added that Taiwan’s national defense budget continues to grow steadily, and expressed hope that Taiwan and Canada can work together to cultivate outstanding young talent and further deepen exchanges in national defense and security cooperation.
The two sides also exchanged views on issues including educational cooperation, demographic challenges, immigration security, and the electoral systems of Taiwan and Canada. Conducted in a warm and lively atmosphere, the meeting lasted approximately 60 minutes and concluded following the exchange of commemorative gifts and group photos. (2026/1/15)
