At noon on May 14, President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜) of the Legislative Yuan, accompanied by Representative Vincent Chin-Hsiang Yao of the Taipei Representative Office in the United Kingdom, led a cross-party delegation of legislators to a welcome reception hosted by the British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) in the Churchill Room of the UK Parliament.
The reception was hosted by APPG Co-Chairs Lord Rogan and Sarah Champion MP. Among the nearly 100 distinguished guests were about 30 members of the UK Parliament, including APPG officer Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP; Lord Purvis of Tweed, Liberal Democrat Leader in the House of Lords; Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords; Navendu Mishra MP and Lord Spellar, Co-Chairs of Labour Friends of Taiwan (LFT); Dr. Ben Spencer MP, Shadow Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology.
The reception opened with welcome remarks by Lord Rogan, who greeted President Han and his delegation. Sarah Champion MP then delivered remarks, stating that President Han’s visit to the United Kingdom with a Legislative Yuan delegation marked an important milestone in Taiwan-UK parliamentary diplomacy. According to Freedom House’s 2026 assessment, Taiwan ranked 2nd in Asia and 15th globally for freedom, demonstrating the strength of its vibrant democracy and its commitment to freedom.
Ms. Champion further stated that the UK Parliament strongly supports Taiwan’s international participation and has spoken up for Taiwan through concrete actions, including the passage of motions. She added that the economies of Taiwan and the United Kingdom are highly complementary, and that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are closely tied to global interests. The APPG, she said, will continue to firmly support Taiwan’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and its participation in other international organizations, serving as a strong source of support for Taiwan.
Following a brief introduction by Representative Yao, President Han took the stage and opened his remarks with a bow, expressing his sincere gratitude to Lord Rogan, Sarah Champion MP, and all APPG members. President Han stated that the UK Parliament is known as “the world’s oldest parliament” and the “Mother of Parliaments,” and that the United Kingdom has made the world more diverse and vibrant. He cited the sword of King Arthur, Winston Churchill’s cigar, the magical world of Harry Potter, and the King’s public addresses as symbols of, respectively, the spirit of protecting the people, an unyielding will, a rich literary tradition and creativity, and a sense of humor and wisdom. Through these examples, he praised the soft power of the British people and their profound influence on the world.
Speaking about Taiwan, President Han noted that Taiwan accounts for only three ten-thousandths of the world’s land area and three-thousandths of its population, yet Taiwanese products make up three percent of the global market. He added that Taiwan has also earned international recognition for its semiconductor manufacturing, healthcare and National Health Insurance system, the strength of its small and medium-sized enterprises, and its democracy and freedom.
President Han said with emotion that although Taiwan often faces isolation internationally, the people of Taiwan are deeply grateful for the warm support extended by friends around the world. Democracy, he said, has long become part of the DNA of Taiwan’s 23 million people. Taiwan not only cherishes its democratic system, but also hopes to work hand in hand with democratic countries around the world to safeguard these hard-won achievements.
President Han again emphasized that although Taiwan often faces a lonely path on the international stage, it will continue to press forward. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to the APPG for its long-standing support and assistance to Taiwan in the international community, and said he looked forward to meeting APPG members again in Taiwan. After the exchange of gifts and a group photo, the reception formally began in a lively atmosphere and concluded after approximately 90 minutes. (2026/05/14)
