Pess Release

Legislative Yuan

June 9, 2022

President You Received Delegation of National Council and Bratislava Region of the Slovak Republic

You Si-kun: Parliamentarians of the world should work hand in hand to fight against authoritarian dictatorship to safeguard freedom and democracy. 

Accompanied by Chairman Hsu Chih-chieh, Vice Chairman Chuang Jui-hsiung of Taiwan-Slovakia Inter-Parliamentary Amity Association, Taiwan People’s Party Director-General Jang Chyi-lu, New Power Party Chairwoman Chen Jiau-hua, Secretary General Lin Jih-jia, Consultant Chou Ya-shu and Director Kung Ping-chih, Deputy Minister Harry Ho-jen Tseng and Representative Martin Podstavek of the Slovak Economic and Cultural Office and Mrs. Podstavek, and Ambassador David Nan-yang Lee of Taipei Representative Office in Bratislava, President You today (9) received the delegation of National Council and Bratislava Region of the Slovak Republic.

President You started by extending welcome and expressing gratitude to the delegation for making long journey to Taiwan despite the pandemic. He was told that Deputy Speaker Milan Laurenčik, Chairman Peter Osusky did not feel well and could not attend the meeting and banquet. He wished them speedy recovery. President You showed his appreciation to Deputy Speaker Laurenčik, Chairman Osusky and Governor Droba for their support of Taiwan’s particiation in the World Health Assembly, for sending joint letters to World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on numerous occasions and for Slovakia’s donation of 160,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Taiwan last year to overcome the challenge when the pandemic was surging.

President You followed by stating that it has been 251 years since the two countries shared the bond in 1771. The statute of friendship which will be displayed near the Slovak adventurers’ initial landing site in Su’ao, will give the people of Taiwan a deeper understanding of the beautiful country of Slovakia.

President praised Slovakia’s Velvet Revolution employed nonviolent protests to overthrow a communist regime and replaced it with democratic constitutionalism. It is a true democracy, as well as a role model for Taiwan and the world. Taiwan endured 38 years of martial law, the longest in the world at the time and finally had its hard-won democratic political system. In particular, Taiwan still needs to face with the constant threat of Chinese hegemony.

President You continued to note that the Chinese Communist Party’s hegemony poses a tremendous threat to world peace. He stressed that the CCP claim that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.” It is not a fact. Instead, the Treaty of Peace with Japan is the international legal framework governing Taiwan’s status. In accordance with this treaty, it is an ironclad fact that Taiwan and China are two countries on opposite sides of the Taiwan Strait.

In closing, President you promised that the Legislative Yuan will fully support and assist in reviewing and prioritizing the Arrangement between Taiwan-Slovak on Judicial Cooperation in Civil and Commercial Matters. He hoped that bilateral relationship will continue to deepen. He also urged all distinguished guests and parliamentarians around the world to work hand in hand to fight against authoritarian dictatorship to safeguard the values of freedom and democracy.

In his remarks, Member of the Slovak National Council’s Committee of Finance and Budget Tomáš Lehotský expressed his honor to visit the Legislative Yuan, which is comprised of the Legislators elected by the people of Taiwan through free and democratic procedures. It was especially warm to visit the legislature. It was like coming home. He hoped that Chairman Hsu Chih-chieh of Taiwan-Slovakia Inter-Parliamentary Association will organize a delegation to visit Slovakia soon. He followed by saying that although Deputy Speaker Laurenčik and Chairman Osusky could not be there. They would like to convey the greetings to all. He continued to state that Taiwan and Slovakia share many similarities such as the history of fighting against authoritarianism, strong OEM countries, young democracies. He hoped that two countries will deepen cooperation. He took the opportunity to reiterate Slovakia’s determination to continue cooperation with Taiwan.

In his remarks, Governor Droba noted that parliament is the sacred temple of democracy. His mission was to make more friends and to promote cooperation such as the partnership agreement that he was going to sign with the Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chi-mai the next day. He hoped that both sides will further promote cooperation in the fields of research and development, science and technology, education and culture. He wished peace in Taiwan and in the Asia-Pacific region. As President You mentioned, democracies need to be united. Slovakia will always stands with Taiwan. He was pleased to have the opportunity to learn from President You, an experienced wise man.

After exchanging gifts, the floor was open for exchanges of views. Chairman Hsu Chih-chieh of Taiwan-Slovakia Inter-Parliamentary Amity Association delivered his remarks. He wished the two countries everlasting friendship, which is the most important thing. New Power Party Chairwoman Chen Jiau-hua expressed her welcome to the delegation and thanked them for their long-term support to Taiwan. She suggested that Slovakia should emulate from Lithuania to withdraw from “17+1” mechanism in Central and Eastern Europe. She also hoped that Taipei Representative Office in Bratislava will be rectified as Taiwan Representative Office in Slovakia. Taiwan People's Party Director-General Jang Chyi-lu noted that Taiwan faces a tough situation in the international community. He thanked Slovakia for speaking up for Taiwan in its participation in international organizations. The two countries share many similarities. He hoped that there would be an ample rook for mutual cooperation and he wished the delegation a fruitful visit. Finally, the Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chuang Jui-hsiung stated that his favorite country around the world is Slovakia. He always cheered for Slovakia during the World Cup. Slovakia is not a large country in terms of its size, but has vibrant economic development. Moreover, it walks its own path with the independent will of its citizens. He wished both sides will have closer partnership and he hoped to visit Slovakia soon.

Both sides exchanged views on parliamentary oversight and democratic system in a very pleasant atmosphere.

President You’s welcome remarks are as follows:              

Deputy Speaker Milan Laurenčík of the National Council of the Slovak Republic;

Chairman Peter Osuský of the Slovakia-Taiwan Parliamentary Group;

Governor Juraj Droba of the Bratislava Region;

Member of the Slovak Parliament Anna Zemanová;

Member of the Slovak Parliament Tomáš Lehotský;

Member of the Slovak Parliament Miroslav Žiak;

Member of the Slovak Parliament Andrej Stančík;

Mayor of Malacky Juraj Riha;

Chief Secretary Andrea Urmaničová;

Deputy Director Michaela Kunska;

Ambassador David Nan-Yang Lee;

Representative Martin Podstavek;

Deputy Minister Harry Ho-jen Tseng;

Esteemed colleagues:

Good morning! 

I would like to warmly welcome Deputy Speaker Laurenčík and our good friends from the National Council of the Slovak Republic and the Bratislava Region. Thank you for making the long journey to Taiwan during the pandemic. Especially now, just as Taiwan is making the transition to coexist with the virus. Since I assumed office as President of the Legislative Yuan, this marks the first time that I have met our good friends from Slovakia in person. On behalf of the Legislative Yuan, I extend my heartfelt welcome to you all.

First of all, I would like to thank Deputy Speaker Laurenčík, Chairman Osuský, the National Council of the Slovak Republic, and Governor Droba for supporting Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly. You sent joint letters to World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on numerous occasions. Governor Droba also took pragmatic action by recording a video urging the world to invite Taiwan to participate in the WHA. Moreover, I wish to thank Slovakia for donating 160,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Taiwan last year when the pandemic was surging and we needed them the most. Your assistance helped Taiwan combat the pandemic and overcome the challenges it was facing. Truly, a friend in need is a friend indeed. Taiwan will never forget your kindness and we are deeply grateful for your genuine friendship. 

Taiwan and Slovakia have long shared a close bond, beginning in Yilan, my hometown, in 1771. To commemorate our precious friendship of over 250 years, Slovakia recently gifted Taiwan a statue, which will be displayed near the Slovak adventurers’ initial landing site in Su’ao. Once construction is complete, the statue will give the people of Taiwan a deeper understanding of your beautiful country and help promote further bilateral exchanges.

In 1989, the world-renowned Velvet Revolution saw Slovakia and the Czech Republic employ nonviolent protests to overthrow a communist regime and replace it with democratic constitutionalism. On January 1, 1993, Slovakia officially declared independence. This demonstrates that the peoples and governments of both countries had a high degree of democratic literacy and were able to leverage it to achieve victory in only four short years. Slovakia’s future will continue to be decided according to the will of its people. This is a true democracy, as well as a role model for Taiwan and the world. In the same era, Taiwan endured 38 years of martial law, the longest in the world at the time. In 1987, martial law was lifted. The first full election of the Legislative Yuan was held in 1992, and 1996 marked the first direct presidential election. Taiwan finally had its hard-won democratic political system. Ever since, faced with the constant threat of Chinese hegemony, we have continued to safeguard our democracy.

China is an authoritarian regime. Its traditional political stance can be summarized as “there cannot be two suns in the sky nor two emperors on the Earth” and “all lands under heaven belong to the emperor; the people of those lands are subject to the emperor.” After China’s economic rise, this imperial mindset further deepened. Actively promoted by the Chinese Communist Party, the so-called Chinese dream seeks the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. This has resulted in the vengeful attitude of “even though a thousand miles away, those who affront China must pay.” The CCP therefore utilizes wolf-warrior tactics and employs an imperial approach when engaging with the international community. China’s attitude creates tension in the Indo-Pacific region and poses a tremendous threat to world peace.

China recently cited the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Declaration to claim that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.” I would like to emphasize that the purpose of those two declarations was merely for the Allies of World War II to express their resolve and objectives. After the war, the Treaty of Peace with Japan, which was jointly signed by 49 countries and entered into force on April 28, 1952, became the international legal framework governing Taiwan’s status.