Senate President Vystrčil, Senators, ladies and gentlemen:
Good afternoon! Dobrý den!
As President of Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan, I am tremendously honored to address the Czech Senate, the nation’s highest organ of democracy. I want to thank President Vystrčil for having invited me here. On behalf of President Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan, and the 23 million people of Taiwan, I want to express my utmost respect and gratitude to the Senators present here today, as well as to the people of the Czech Republic.
Distant from each other, the Czech Republic and Taiwan have different cultures, religions, and geography, but we are like old friends. I think that is because we speak the same language of democracy. We share the universal values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. These values run deep, creating a foundation for us to stand tall in the world. This is why we can hold each other in such high regard.
The Czech Republic stands against authoritarianism and repression, fighting for democracy and freedom. While once ruled by German Nazis and Soviet Communists, whenever the Czech people have faced repressive rule by authoritarian regimes, they have continually pursued peace and freedom. The Prague Spring in 1968 and the Velvet Revolution in 1989 were indicative of the thirst for democracy of the Czech people. As Alexander Dubček said, “You can crush the flowers, but you can’t stop the spring.” The Czech Republic is a great democratic country that has prospered and enjoys advanced industry and a rich culture; it is a global innovation leader. The Czech Republic took over the rotating presidency of the European Union in July. I am certain that the nation will bring its spirit to the job, resulting in greater achievements for Europe and the entire world.
Taiwan shares many similarities with your country vis-à-vis democratization. Taiwan also was ruled by foreign forces and suffered authoritarian repression. Since 1921, four major political parties and movements were forced to disband as members were murdered or arrested. Not until the fifth such movement was the first opposition party formed. The abolition of martial law of 1987 and comprehensive parliamentary reforms of 1992 gave way to direct presidential elections in 1996. Fair and competitive democratic politics thus are possible among the four major political parties in the Legislative Yuan.
On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I want to take this opportunity to thank the Czech Republic for supporting Taiwan and for standing with us when we have been bullied by strong powers. Notwithstanding threats emanating from the Chinese Communist Party, Senate President Vystrčil led a delegation to Taiwan in 2020 to realize the unfulfilled wish of late Senate President Jaroslav Kubera. In so doing, he became the first incumbent Senate President from a country that does not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan to deliver a keynote speech at our legislative chamber. President Vystrčil, you are like the harbinger of spring, bringing a message for democratic Taiwan from the international community. Following in your footsteps, an increasing number of European friends have taken concrete steps to support Taiwan. Such work has strengthened the people of Taiwan. On behalf of the Legislative Yuan, I want to thank all the senators present today. Thanks to your staunch support, President Vystrčil delivered an encouraging speech in Taiwan. I also want to thank the Czech Republic for donating 30,000 vaccines to Taiwan in 2021 even when the pandemic situation remained serious here. That you provided help when we were in great need is very precious. This May, you adopted resolutions in support of Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization, Interpol, and other international organizations. Words cannot describe our appreciation. Friends in need are friends indeed. True friends are those who extend a helping hand at the darkest hour. I want to thank all of you for your contributions to promote cordial relations between Taiwan and the Czech Republic.
Today, I also want to take this occasion to encourage international advocates of freedom, democracy, human rights, and rule of law. In recent years, we have seen Taiwan’s international space gradually expand, but we are aware that the international democratic landscape is shrinking, being overshadowed by authoritarianism, autocracy, persecution, and bullying. Anti-democratic powers have taken over previously democratic states like Afghanistan and Myanmar. Moreover, Russia has invaded Ukraine and Hong Kong has suffered the passage of an anti-extradition bill. Such trends concern us. If we sit idle, it will be as Václav Havel feared: authoritarian regimes bring not only political crises but also cultural as well as humanitarian crises. Therefore, as he wrote in The Power of the Powerless, the mission is to work for freedom, truth, and dignity. He also wrote that if we do not stand up to defend the freedom of others, we abandon our own.
Today is July 20, the day President Havel stepped down as President of Czechoslovakia. Soon afterward, the Czech Republic and Slovakia parted amicably. I want to urge friends in the global democratic camp to properly understand the nature of the Chinese Communist regime to prevent its advance. Otherwise, this could cause a catastrophe for all of humankind. The danger is in traditional Chinese political thinking: There cannot be two suns in the sky, nor two emperors on the earth; and all land under heaven belongs to the King, and all people are subjects of the King. Such thinking has dominated Chinese politics for more than 2,000 years.
In recent years, China has sought joint control over the Pacific Ocean with the United States, put forth the notion of a “Chinese dream,” adopted “wolf-warrior diplomacy,” established Confucius Institutes, promoted the Belt and Road Initiative, and broke a pledge not to militarize the South China Sea made to US President Barack Obama. It has also broken with Deng Xiao-ping’s commitment to maintain “one country, two systems” in Hong Kong for 50 years. It claims that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and believes it has sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait. Moreover, it meddles in the affairs of South Pacific countries, enflaming tensions with the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries. These are the outcomes of such thinking. Chinese hegemony poses a major threat to the Indo-Pacific region and to world peace.
Standing in contrast to China, Taiwan upholds democracy and freedom. In February, Taiwan was ranked 8th globally and first in Asia among 167 countries and territories surveyed in the Democracy Index published by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Also in February, human rights organization Freedom House gave Taiwan a score of 94 in its Freedom in the World survey, making Taiwan 17th-freest in the world. This tied us with Iceland and second only to Japan in Asia. Looking ahead, we will continue to work with like-minded countries to safeguard freedom, democracy, and human rights around the world as we firmly oppose authoritarianism. In a word, ensuring Taiwan’s security will ensure the global public interest.
Democratic partners must let authoritarian regimes know that we will not allow them to obtain their selfish goals. A wrongful action, when not stopped, becomes a habit. If we choose to remain silent when we see injustice and allow aggression, it will corrupt the world and cause the backsliding of democracy. We must work hand in hand with courage and responsibly to safeguard the universal values of freedom and democracy. I look forward to the day when all Chinese people will live like the people of Taiwan and the Czech Republic, enjoying freedom and democracy. I believe in the Czech saying, “The truth shall prevail.” Democracy and freedom, I am convinced, will indeed succeed.
Before I conclude, on behalf of Taiwan’s Legislature, I want to thank President Vystrčil for opening a new chapter in cordial relations two years ago. Our legislature provides oversight for our executive branch. We hope to deepen cooperation. Since your visit, bilateral trade has continued to grow. Trade volume in the first quarter of this year increased nearly 20 percent compared to last year. Among the five MOUs we signed last October, those on cybersecurity and smart machinery have already yielded concrete results. We continue to work on the other areas. The day we arrived, we visited TGS. I was impressed by the cooperation between the Czech Technical University in Prague and Taiwan’s smart machine businesses to develop a digital intelligence automation monitoring and manufacturing management system. I have had many conversations with industrialists from both Taiwan and the Czech Republic and am glad to see that we have achieved so much together in smart machinery. In terms of cybersecurity, I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit beautiful Telc, a UNESCO World Heritage Center, and to speak with Governor of Vysočina Vítězslav Schrek. I found that there is a long history of cooperation between Taiwan and Vysočina. We have collaborated on digital tour guides, museum temperature and humidity monitoring systems, and information security systems from Taiwan at medical institutions and senior care centers there. Such locations are presently partnering closely with Taiwan on cybersecurity. These achievements demonstrate the power of cooperation. Our cultural exchanges are also moving forward. Through the Taiwan-Europe Connectivity Scholarship Program for Czech Republic, nearly 100 Czech students have come to Taiwan to study.
President Vystrčil, you are a Taiwanese. I hope you will come to your home in Taiwan as often as you can. I also want to extend an invitation to all of you to visit Taiwan. We are willing and able to contribute more to the world. We will continue to fight shoulder to shoulder with friends of freedom and democracy as we promote everlasting friendship. I also want to say, with great pride, “I am Taiwanese, and I am Czech as well, because we are all democrats.” I wish all of you health and happiness. May our countries enjoy continuing prosperity and solid friendship. Thank you. Děkuji.