Press Release

Legislative Yuan

January 10, 2023

Legislative Yuan President You Si-kun hosted a banquet with Chairman of the Lithuanian Parliament’s National Security and Defense Committee Laurynas Kasciunas and Vice Chair of the Parliamentary Friendship Group Dovile Sakalien

You Si-kun: Taiwan and Lithuania have had similar experiences and are willing to cooperate to safeguard global democracy

Accompanied by Legislators Chou Chih-wei, Wang Ting-yu, and Hsieh Yi-fong; Taiwan People’s Party Convener Chiu Chen-yuan; New Power Party Convener Chiu Hsien-chih; Legislative Secretary General Lin Jih-jia; Consultant Chou Ya-shu; and Secretariat Director Kung Ping-chieh, President of the Legislative Yuan You Si-kun welcomed and hosted a luncheon in honor of Laurynas Kasciunas, Chairman of the National Security and Defense Committee of the Lithuanian Parliament and Vice Chair of the Lithuania-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group Dovile Sakalien today, January 10. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tsai Ming-yen also attended the meeting and the luncheon.  

President You began his remarks by extending a sincere welcome to Chairman Kasciunas and the delegation. He recalled that when he had visited Lithuania the previous July, he was touched by the warm reception of Speaker Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen and other members of parliament. He was happy to meet Chairman Kasciunas and other new friends and to be reunited with his old friend Vice Chair Sakalien. Both President You and Vice Chair Sakalien have been sanctioned by the Chinese Communist Party, which is equivalent to receiving an international medal for democracy and freedom. President You was pleased to meet her again following the 2021 Open Parliament event organized by the Legislative Yuan, which she had attended.

President You stated that Lithuania is one of Taiwan’s most important friends. He also praised Lithuania’s friendship based on the spirit of helping those in need. For example, Lithuanian members of parliament signed a letter backing Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization this year. In addition, Lithuania took the lead among European countries in sharing vaccine doses with Taiwan. President You was so moved by Lithuania’s friendship that he penned a poem:

A land along the Baltic Sea

Throughout the ages, our two countries had few ties

Lithuania has one-eighth of Taiwan’s population, but its courage is comparable to that of the United States and Japan

Taiwan and Lithuania share democracy and freedom, and both have experienced foreign rule and authoritarian oppression. The Baltic Way movement of 1989 was the inspiration for the 228 Hands for Taiwan movement in 2004. Today, both nations stand on the front lines against authoritarian coercion. Lithuania has also stood firm in supporting Ukraine despite the economic sanctions and diplomatic downgrade by the Chinese Communist Party this has incurred. This has been a concrete demonstration of how freedom-loving people support each other.

President You continued by saying that Taiwan is a beacon of democracy in the Chinese-speaking world. It is also an inalienable part of the global democratic landscape. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang has often repeated untruths concerning the Cairo Declaration and UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, claiming that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. President You explained that the Cairo Declaration was a wartime expression of intent made by the United States and China during World War II. The San Francisco Peace Treaty, which was signed by 49 countries in 1951 and came into force on April 28, 1952, is the international legal framework that formally addresses Taiwan’s status. However, it does not mention Taiwan’s sovereignty. In consequence, China cannot claim sovereignty over Taiwan. Taiwan has become a sovereign, independent country in line with the principle of self-determination as laid out in the United Nations Charter. President You underscored the point that UNGA Resolution 2758 dealt only with China’s representation in the United Nations, and did not mention Taiwan and as such has nothing to do with Taiwan’s sovereignty.

President You concluded by thanking Lithuania for its support of Taiwan. He also extended an invitation for Speaker Čmilytė-Nielsen to visit Taiwan. He said he expects to work with democratic countries in the fight against authoritarian regimes and in defense of freedom, democracy, and human rights and to safeguard global peace and stability. He urged democracies around the world to support Taiwan’s resistance to aggression and bullying and work for the democratization of China.

In his remarks, Chairman Kasciunas expressed gratitude for the warm reception on behalf of the delegation. He said the members come from different political groups, but reflect a national consensus in Lithuania to support Taiwan. Taiwan and Lithuania are democratic and free countries that face powerful authoritarian neighbors who want to undermine freedom and independence. Democratic friends, he stressed, should cooperate and support each other. A year and a half ago, when Lithuania decided to engage Taiwan, it was subjected to Chinese economic sanctions. However, Lithuania has not only survived, but has become stronger and more resilient as a result. It is autonomous and cannot be criticized. Taiwan has created the All-out Defense Mobilization Agency. In a like manner, Lithuania is also promoting national mobilization to defend the country. The chairman closed by saying that Taiwan’s anti-communist nature has brought the two countries together, and he paid the highest respects to Taiwan on behalf of the speaker.

In remarks that followed, Vice Chair Dovile Sakalien said that she was honored to visit Taiwan again. Russia and China, she stressed, are similar in their methods, behaviors, and ambitions: Both spread disinformation and engage in cyberwarfare, the intensity of which is growing. Russia threatens Lithuania just like China threatens Taiwan. Russia wants to establish an authoritarian empire and annex the Baltic states, just as China wishes to annex Taiwan. These authoritarian countries do not understand that democracy and human rights are universal values and as a result continue to militarily threaten their neighbors. The two sides, she suggested, can share both historic and present experiences to further cooperation among global democracies. This will help authoritarian nations understand that there are red line they may not cross. She also mentioned that when Lithuania was facing troubles during the pandemic and due to threatened sanctions, Taiwan lent a helping hand. Taiwan and Lithuania, she said, are on the same side and should cooperate on reaching common goals in the areas of economics, medicine and health, security, and human resource development.

A luncheon began following the remarks and an exchange of gifts.

As the luncheon began, President You once again welcomed the guests on behalf of Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan. He said that Lithuania and Taiwan are like brothers, and that Lithuania is very important to Taiwan. He introduced the gift, which was a fine porcelain depicting Taiwan’s highest peak, Mt. Jade. During lunch, the two sides exchanged views on the war between Russia and Ukraine, military service reform, national defense autonomy, and parliamentary exchanges. President You especially mentioned that following his visit to Lithuania, he had presented Vilnius University with books on the history of Taiwan, hoping to increase Lithuanian’s knowledge of Taiwan.

After the luncheon, President You presented the delegation with a group photo, departing at 14:30.

The following is a translation of President You’s remarks:

The Honorable Laurynas Kasciunas, the Honorable Dovile Sakalien, co-chairs of the delegation; Deputy Chairman Audronius Azubalis, Honorable MP Eugenijus Sabutis, Honorable MP Edita Rudeliene; Honorable MP Ieva Pakarklyte; Legislator Chiu Chih-wei; Convener Wang Ting-yu; Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong; Taiwan People’s Party Convener Chiu Chen-yuan; New Power Party Convener Chiu Hsien-chih; Legislative Secretary General Lin Jih-jia; Consultant Chou Ya-shu; colleagues from the Legislative Yuan; friends from the press: Good afternoon!

I am delighted to have the opportunity to meet with Chairman Kasciunas and all the distinguished guests! On behalf of Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of you. When I visited your country last July, I was very touched by the warm reception by Speaker Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen and other members of the Lithuanian parliament. Today, I am very happy to meet Chairman Kasciunas and new friends and to reunite with my old friend Vice Chair Sakalien!

When the Legislative Yuan organized the Open Parliament forum in 2021, Vice Chair Sakalien came to participate. Both she and I have been sanctioned by the Chinese Communist Party. This is akin to receiving an international medal for democracy and freedom. Now, I feel like I am in the same class with her. Last year, we were unable to meet due to COVID-19. So it is a real pleasure to see you today in the pink of health.

Lithuania is one of Taiwan’s most important friends. Last year, 61 members of your parliament signed a letter backing Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization. In 2021, when vaccines were considered a precious commodity by all countries, your country donated 260,000 doses of vaccines to Taiwan, despite threats by the Chinese Communist Party. Lithuania thus became the third country after the United States and Japan—and the first European country—to send aid to Taiwan. Your efforts to help those in need touched the hearts of the Taiwanese people. I was so moved that I wrote a poem to express my gratitude:

A land along the Baltic Sea

Throughout the ages, our two countries had few ties

Lithuania has one-eighth of Taiwan’s population, but its courage is comparable to that of the United States and Japan

Taiwan and Lithuania had a similar route to democracy and freedom, and both have experienced foreign rule and authoritarian oppression. The Baltic Way movement in 1989 inspired Taiwan’s 228 Hands for Taiwan campaign in 2004. Today, both Taiwan and Lithuania are on the front lines of authoritarian coercion. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Lithuania imposed restrictions on shipments across the border to Kaliningrad and helped resettle Ukrainian refugees. I was touched to see the national flag of Ukraine lining the streets when I was there. Your country has stood firm in supporting Ukraine despite threats and economic sanctions and diplomatic downgrades imposed by the Chinese Communist Party. You have admirably demonstrated the support freedom-loving people give each other.

Taiwan is a beacon of democracy in the Chinese-speaking work and an inalienable part of the global democratic landscape. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang has repeatedly misquoted the Cairo Declaration and UN Resolution 2758 to claim that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. In truth, the Cairo Declaration was only an indication of the intentions of the United States and China during World War II. The San Francisco Peace Treaty, which was signed by 49 countries in 1951 and came into force on April 28, 1952, is the international legal framework that formally addresses Taiwan’s status. According to Article 2 of the Treaty, Japan renounces all right, title, and claim to Taiwan, Penghu, the Spratly Islands and the Paracel Islands. Taiwan’s sovereignty is not mentioned here; hence, China cannot use this to claim sovereignty over Taiwan. Indeed, Taiwan has become a sovereign, independent country in line with the principles of national sovereignty and self-determination as laid out in the United Nations Charter. It has done so following comprehensive parliamentary elections, direct presidential elections, and three transfers of political power between parties. In line with international law, Taiwan and Penghu do not belong to China. Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other, and Taiwan is definitely not a part of China. As for Resolution 2758, it only dealt with China’s representation in the United Nations and does not mention Taiwan. It does not authorize the People’s Republic of China to represent Taiwan in the United Nations system, nor does it claim that Taiwan is a part of the People’s Republic of China.

I want to reiterate that Taiwan is part of the democratic alliance and will firmly uphold the universal values of freedom, democracy, and human rights. Democracies around the world should support Taiwan’s resistance to aggression and bullying so that we may together defend global peace and stability and catalyze the democratization of China as soon as possible.