The Legislative Yuan

Press Release

September 8, 2022

President You Si-kun hosted a luncheon in honor of a five-member delegation led by French Senator Cyril Pellevat, Vice Chairman of the Committee for European Affairs

You Si-kun: We appreciate the staunch support from France and for the enhancement of bilateral ties

Accompanied by Legislators Lin Chu-yin, Yu Yu-lan, Chiu Chen-yuan, and Wang Wan-yu, Secretary General Lin Jih-jia, and Consultant Chou Ya-shu, President You received and hosted a luncheon in honor of a five-member delegation led by French Senator Cyril Pellevat, Vice Chairman of the Committee for European Affairs starting at 11 a.m. The delegation is comprised of Senator Cyril Pellevat, Senator Alain Marc, Senator Pierre-Antoine Levi, and Senator Brigitte Devésa. Acting Director of the French Office in Taipei Cléa Le Cardeur and Director General of Political and Press Relations Pierre Goulange, Ambassador Francois Wu, and Deputy Director General of the Department of European Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lu Shi-fan were present.

After President You’s remarks, Vice Chairman Pellevat stated that this marked his third visit to Taiwan. He reiterated his friendship for Taiwan and expressed his firm support. Taiwan and France share many common interests, he stressed. In view of the latest developments across the Taiwan Strait, he believed that there is room for greater cooperation on technology, semiconductors, and fighting misinformation.

Bilateral meetings began after President You presented a token of friendship and group photos were taken. President You once again thanked the French Senate for the warm hospitality accorded to him and a cross-party delegation of legislators in July. He sensed tremendous progress in bilateral relations and was very touched. He especially thanked Senator Devésa for his companionship on the journey from Provence. Both sides then exchanged views on Taiwan-France relations.

Legislator Lin Chu-yin first stated that she had proposed cutting import tariffs on French champagne from 20 percent to 10 percent recently. This was supported by the legislature and passed by all political party causes. Bilateral friendship and economic and trade relations can be further deepened starting from this move, she stated. She also thanked France for supporting Taiwan on various international occasions, and stressed that Taiwan could make greater contributions to the international community, ranging from antipandemic efforts to economic and trade development.   

Legislator Yu Yu-lan stated that the concepts of democracy and freedom originated in the French Revolution in the 18th Century. This had had a profound effect on democratic waves in Asia and also on the Republic of China (Taiwan). Bilateral friendship stretches back generation, and Taiwan is indebted to France’s belief in freedom and democracy such that it has developed to where it is today.

Taiwan People’s Party Whip Chiu Chen-yuan expressed gratitude to France for its long-standing attention to Indo-Pacific security and stability across the Taiwan Strait. He noted that France is Taiwan’s 5th-largest trading partner and that the two could engage in greater cooperation on economics and trade, technology, and innovation.

Legislator Wang Wan-yu stated that she wanted to thank France for sparing no effort supporting Taiwan’s joining the World Health Assembly and for its warm friendship to Taiwan. She hoped to have more opportunities to discuss and exchange views on antipandemic efforts and postpandemic economic recovery.

After the meeting, President You and the delegation posed for photos and attended a joint press conference. Then they proceeded to tour the chamber followed by a luncheon banquet in the Chung Hsing Building.

Before the luncheon, President You noted that the meeting was too short to have in-depth discussions on many issues. All distinguished guests were welcome to exchange views on any issues they found most concerning. He continued to say that French cuisine is world renowned, but so is Taiwanese cuisine. He particularly mentioned Kavalan whisky, which is made in his hometown Yilan. Sorghum liquor from Kinmen is also a Taiwan specialty. In addition, moon cakes and pomelos are deserts and fruits eaten at Mid-Autumn Festival. He hoped the distinguished guests would enjoy them. President You mentioned that in the past, Taiwanese pomelos were exported to China and were very popular there. But in recent years, China had bullied Taiwan by targeting it with missiles and had banned the import of Taiwan’s fruit. Accordingly, President You hoped that the French senators would help Taiwan’s pomelos be exported to Europe. Participants then partook of the luncheon in an amicable atmosphere. During the luncheon, the two sides exchanged in-depth views on issues related to law, human rights, Taiwan’s constitutional reform, electoral systems, and economics and trade. The luncheon concluded at 2:10 p.m.

A translation of President You’s remarks is as follows:

Good afternoon! First of all, on behalf of the Legislative Yuan, I want to extend my sincere welcome to Vice Chairman Pellevat and all distinguished guests to Taiwan. It is a privilege for me to welcome you. I am especially delighted to see Senator Devésa here so soon after our previous meeting in France one month ago. It is a pity that Taiwan’s old friend Senator Cadic is not able to attend today’s luncheon because of COVID. I am pleased to see that the Lycée International Français de Taipei (LIFT) was opened. This will further enhance Taiwan-France relations.

I want to express my special thanks to the French Senate for affording me and my delegation of legislators from different parties with a high level of diplomatic courtesy when we visited in July. This included issuing us an invitation and providing services on the official budget, including a motorcade, police officers, protocol officers, the hanging of our national flag, a tour of the Senate chamber and a joint session in the Palace of Versailles, and the issuing of a press release on the official website. We are deeply touched by these arrangements, which demonstrate the great strides that bilateral relations have made. On behalf of Taiwan’s legislature, I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the French Senate.

France is an international power that loves democracy, freedom, and peace. It is concerned about the stability and security of the Asia-Pacific region. There are millions of French expatriates and 8,000 military personnel stationed in the Indo-Pacific region. France often sends warplanes and warships to defend the freedom of navigation, and is an indispensable force in the region. We are grateful to France for calling Taiwan a “key partner” in its new Indo-Pacific Strategy report in February. France expresses its concerns on security across Taiwan Strait at various international occasions, including the G7 Summit, EU-US Summit, and 2+2 international conferences. France is the first European country to rebut China’s claim of sovereignty over Taiwan Strait, and has publicly supported Taiwan as it underscores the freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region. As a Pacific power, France not only pays attention to the security of the Pacific region, but also has great influence in this region. Taiwan will firmly stand with France to safeguard the universal values of freedom and democracy, and the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. 

I recall when China’s Ambassador Lu Shaye in France attempted to intimidate Senator Alain Richard, Chairman of the French Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group, to hinder him from visiting Taiwan. In July, Lu even stated the need to “reeducate the Taiwanese people,” which concerned democracies around the globe. The UN Human Rights Office issued an assessment of human rights concerns in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on August 31. The report concluded that China has persecuted Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other Muslim minorities. The report accuses China of crimes against humanity. It is heartbreaking for a government to point a gun at its own people, and represents a blow to freedom, democracy, and human rights.

I want to underscore that it is Lu Shaye, not the Taiwanese people, who needs to be “reeducated.” Over the past 20 years, China has expanded abroad and repressed its people a home as it has adopted an imperial mindset. To prevent democracy from further being eroded, democracies must strengthen their cooperation and let the world understand the essence of Chinese Communist Party. I hope that very soon the people of China will be like our peoples and enjoy democracy, freedom, and human rights.

Before I conclude, I want to thank the French Senate for your support of Taiwan. Despite being more than 10,000 kilometers apart, Taiwan and France share the language of freedom and democracy, which facilitates communication. I hope that we will continue to deepen our relations to pursue the universal values of freedom and democracy and together defend global peace, stability, and development. I wish you a very pleasant stay to Taiwan and every success.